Giancarlo Stanton has been playing head games with pitchers this postseason, and it’s turning into home runs. In Game 2 against Shane Bieber, Stanton found himself in a full count after two borderline pitches went against him. Instead of stepping out or calling time in a normal way, he stayed in the box, motioned for time without moving, then squared up like he was ready to go. Bieber glanced up, saw Stanton locked in, and threw a pitch that Stanton crushed for a two-run homer. It looked like Stanton baited him into throwing the fastball he wanted.
He pulled the same move in Game 5 against Aaron Civale. On a 2-0 count, after two pitches missed low and away, Stanton did the same rhythmic “time time time” call while never leaving the box, never adjusting his stance, and never breaking eye contact. Civale threw the next pitch, and Stanton launched it again, this time a three-run shot. He’s not stepping out to reset like most hitters. He’s pretending to call time just to rattle the pitcher — then staying locked in, waiting for the pitch he can hammer.
It’s subtle, but effective. Stanton isn’t just hitting. He’s picking spots, messing with timing, and turning it into real results. Two at-bats, same trick, two home runs, five runs driven in.