Marlins' Stanton returns with new pregame routine
Giancarlo Stanton returned to the lineup Tuesday for the first time since July 7, and the Miami Marlins had a different look from the last time he played.
"It's a new clubhouse, for the most part. But it's cool. We're ready," he said before Miami's game with the Mets at Citi Field in New York.
Stanton, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee July 8, went 0 for 3 with a sacrifice fly in Miami's 4-2 victory.
"He just has to try to be himself. He's not our savior. He's got to go out there the way he is," manager Ozzie Guillen said.
Stanton, who leads the Marlins with 19 homers and 50 RBI, said he plans to pay closer attention than ever to his legs during pregame preparations.
"It wasn't like I was less before, but just monitor them a little better," he said. "I'm not nervous, but it's just (because) I want no more problems with the legs, so I'm kind of like excited to get out there but not trying to do too much."
Stanton batted fifth Tuesday, but Guillen said he hoped to bat him third later this year. Jose Reyes has been batting third since July 27, with Carlos Lee batting fourth.
"Right now I'm not going to move (Reyes) because he is swinging the bat well. But the ideal thing is to put Stanton third and Jose first. That's a better lineup," Guillen said.
Catcher John Buck said Stanton's presence will help the rest of the batting order.
"Before he left, he was swinging pretty good. That's huge bat to be missing," Buck said of Stanton. "I'm happy to have him back. I'm mostly happy that he has gotten some stuff ironed out with his knee."
