Barry Bonds Enjoying Giancarlo Stanton's Power At The Plate
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FORT BRAGG (CBSMiami/AP) – Who would've thought that it would be this good of a fit?
Barry Bonds sounds relaxed and at ease in his new role as a hitting coach for the Miami Marlins.
He's also enjoying his close-up view of perhaps the best power hitter in the game.
Giancarlo Stanton, Miami's 26-year-old slugger, has already surpassed 30 homers three times in his career, and he has a good shot to do it again in 2016.
"He could be the (Miguel) Cabrera of the young age to now," Bonds said before a game at Detroit last week. "I like that — Bryce Harper and those guys — that's what's fun to see, that's what I like to see, with those younger guys. ... You see yourself in those kind of guys.
"You think, look back and like, 'Wow, man, I remember those days and how he's learning, and look at all that talent. He's fast and he's swinging the bat good, he's got pop.' So many good things."
The Marlins are having a nice season so far with Bonds and new manager Don Mattingly on their staff. Stanton and outfielder Marcell Ozuna — who is a year younger — are two players who have caught Bonds' attention.
Bonds says it's important for players to discover how they can be successful as hitters, instead of worrying too much about what made him successful.
"They just have to understand themselves. They don't need to understand me. I was a different hitter than all of them," Bonds said. "It's just trying to find the little things that work for them. My job is to find out what works for them."
One thing Bonds didn't want to do was start talking about Stanton breaking his career home run record — not at this stage, at least.
"I hope he stays healthy long enough — let alone, forget that kind of pressure — stays healthy long enough to have that opportunity," Bonds said.
Here are a few other developments from around baseball:
PITCHERS PLUS
It was a big week for pitchers who were asked to do more than just throw from the mound.
In a 15-inning win at Cincinnati on Tuesday night, Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon used three pitchers in left field. The Cubs ran out of position players, and relievers Travis Wood and Spencer Patton moved between left field and the mound in the 14th. Wood then finished the game with reliever Pedro Strop in left.
On Thursday night, San Francisco kept Madison Bumgarner's bat in the lineup instead of using a designated hitter, even though the game was in an American League park. Bumgarner went 1 for 4 with a double. He's now hitting .182 on the season, but he does have two homers on the year and 13 for his career. The Giants beat Oakland 12-6.
FANTASY FOCUS
Lucas Giolito's owners will be happy to know he's staying in Washington's rotation for now. The Nationals reinstated Stephen Strasburg from the disabled list Sunday but also moved Joe Ross to the DL with right shoulder inflammation. That leaves a spot for Giolito, the 21-year-old who threw four scoreless innings in his debut June 28 against the New York Mets.
Fantasy owners have had to be patient with the Nationals when it comes to Trea Turner, but Giolito is a prospect who is getting a nice opportunity now.
LINE OF THE WEEK
A tie between C.J. Cron of the Los Angeles Angels and Wilmer Flores of the Mets. They both went 6 for 6 with two home runs.
Cron helped the Angels to a 21-2 victory over Boston on Saturday night, and Flores led the Mets over the Cubs 14-3 the next day.
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