What Is A Giancarlo Cruz Michael Stanton?

And how did this get by me? I know this isn't exactly breaking news but I'm bored. Apparently, young Marlins slugger Mike Stanton has a whole front half of his name that I didn't know about. The full, and much awesomer, name of the outfielder is Giancarlo Cruz Michael Stanton. Here's the origin story behind the full name which will be what I call him on this site henceforth...

The Jacksonville Suns [published on 4/28/10 - Ed.] right fielder’s name is listed on his birth certificate as “Giancarlo Cruz Michael Stanton,” a long name for a long-ball hitter. The first half was given to him by his mother of Puerto Rican and African-American descent, and the second half is the same name as his Irish father.

By 5th grade, Stanton's name had been abused so much by teachers that he just went by Mike. I like to think that he was so hurt by the mispronunciations that he took his frustrations out on baseballs.

Legend (that I made up) has it that he used to come home so upset that his mom would toss him batting practice to cheer him up. This was where he developed the crushing power he now displays with the Marlins. As a 9-year-old, he routinely belted his mom's 15-mph pitches 400 feet into Panorama City's neighboring town of Rustic Gardens.

When he was 10-years-old he hit a ball so far it landed in a crabby old-man's backyard where he kept a giant, angry dog that chewed up baseballs. Little Mikey Stanton had no idea that that ball was his dad's prized possession and signed by Babe Ruth. Hijinx would ensue but I can't tell you the rest of the story due to copyright laws.

In Giancarlo's first 396 plate appearances with the Marlins, he hit 22 homers and a .259/.326/.507 line. The power is legit and 40 home runs are in his future. Bill James has him pegged for 38 homers and .268/.355/.556 for 2011. I thought I owed you guys some actual facts after wasting your time with the rest of that nonsense.

Curveballs for Jobu

Curveballs for Jobu is Off Base Percentage's daily trip around the ballparks.

Today's honorary bat boy: Amos Otis




Mariners 1, Reds 0. Cliff Lee is really good. The lefty pitched a complete game, six-hitter and didn't walk anyone. Again. Lee has walked four batters in 10 starts and hasn't given up a base on balls in 27 2/3 innings. Unfortunately, the Mariners are terrible, so Lee will be not walking batters for someone else in about 41 days.

Padres 3, Orioles 2. If David Hernandez is your closer, you probably stink. I think I'm going to make that into a t-shirt. Julio Lugo, who also has an odor, singled in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth for Baltimore, but Hernandez loaded the bases with no one out in the bottom half, then quickly allowed the winning runs to score.

Indians 4, Pirates 3. Carlos Santana Watch: 2-for-2, 2 walks. The rookie phenom also ripped an RBI-double in a four-run seventh for the Indians, who had to get a save from the appendage formerly known as Kerry Wood's arm to hold off the Bucs. That's 12 consecutive losses for Pittsburgh. I'm all out of Pittsburgh Pirates jokes.

Marlins 7, Devilrays 4. Rookie Mike Stanton belted his first major league home run-a first-inning grand slam-to lead Florida. According to a number of published reports, Stanton came out for a current call, but I'm sorry, I just don't believe that actually happened.

NL East Full of Phenoms

When Washington called up Stephen Strasburg and Florida promoted Mike Stanton Tuesday, the pair joined Atlanta's Jason Heyward to form a electric trio in the NL East.

Stanton



All the 76th pick in the 2007 draft did in his first full minor league season was hit 39 home runs with a .993 OPS. He did strike out 153 times, but as the saying goes, chicks don't give a shit about strikeouts as long as you're a ridiculous power hitter. Last season, Stanton split time between Jupiter and Jacksonville and in about the same number of at bats, dipped to just 28 combined home runs and a .341 OBP. But Stanton wasn't fooling around when the Jacksonville season began this spring. He hit 21 home runs, the OBP shot back up to .441 (OPS: 1.167) and the Marlins couldn't wait any longer, calling him up for his big league debut Tuesday.

Heyward



Also a member of the '07 draft class, Heyward went from the No. 14 overall pick out of Henry County High School (McDonough, GA) to the starting right fielder on opening day in two years. He was a sandlot legend during his youth baseball days and the Braves always scout heavy in their own state. So it was no surprise when Atlanta chose the 6-5, 240-pounder with its first pick. In his first full year of pro ball with the Rome Braves, Heyward tore up the Sally League, collecting 217 total bases, a .323 batting average and a .388 OBP in 120 games. His promotion to Myrtle Beach was brief, and uneventful (22 at bats), but in 2009 Heyward split time between Myrtle Beach, Mississippi and Gwinnett and hit a combined .323 with a .408 OBP. The Braves thought he was ready, he broke camp with the big league club this spring and is the current favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year.

Strasburg



Unless this guy wins it. Strasburg has been hyped so much that after his big league debut, someone said Strasburg and Walter Johnson in the same sentence and didn't include the words "has always been a fan of". That debut was sparkling-7 IP, 14 K, 0 BB-and while its only one start, it's clear Strasburg has stuff, mainly a blazing fast ball and a filthy curve ball, that's there with the best in baseball. I would have a detailed account of Strasburg's journey to the big leagues, but there's not much to say. He was drafted No. 1 overall in 2009, made 11 starts combined at Harrisburg and Syracuse this spring, allowing eight earned runs in 55 1/3 innings (1.30 ERA), and the Nats called him up faster than you can say we need to try and save Jim Riggleman's job!


That's three potential superstars in a division that already includes Hanley Ramirez and will soon include Bryce Harper.

Super Tuesday

I'm all drafted out. The first round was fun and had some surprises. I'm looking at you, Chicago Cubs. The second round was the landing spot for most of the first round fallers. But when I realized I was listening to the eighth round, it was time to reassess what I was doing with my day. So I took a nap. What? I needed to be well rested for tonight's debuts.

Tonight we get the debuts of the top two prospects in the minors. I can't remember the last time that happened and quite frankly, it seems like a lot of work to find out. I've briefly mentioned that Stephen Strasburg and Mike Stanton were on their way to the bigs. Well, tonight is the night. Let's take a look.

Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg makes his debut against the Pirates tonight in perhaps the most hyped game the Pirates have been a part of in over a decade. When the Nationals selected Starsburg first overall last year, he immediately became their best pitcher. They sent him to the minors to keep his arbitration clock in check but he had nothing to prove there. Between AA and AAA, he went 7-2 with 1.30 ERA and 65 strikeouts against 13 walks. The game will be on the MLB Network and if Strasburg doesn't no-hit the Pirates, riots might break out in D.C. Alternate possibility, Strasburg ho-hits the Pirates and riots break out in D.C.

Mike Stanton. The 6'5, 230 pound power hitter has tore up the minor leagues, but this year he's been downright ridiculous. At 20-years-old in AA, Stanton hit 21 home runs and .311/.441/.726. That .441 OBP suggests he's not merely a one-trick pony. The 53 strikeouts in 52 games isn't great. For him. For me, I smell golden sombreros. Smells like queso. Stanton faces Kyle Kendrick and the Phillies tonight. Certainly, a couple of big flies aren't out of the question.

I'll be watching all of the action. Feel free to join me on Twitter. You never know when I might think of a Strasburg drinking game for us to play.

He's Coming...

Now that Super Two season has just about wrapped up, it looks like we'll be seeing the influx of the surefire, can't miss Hall of Fame prospects. Stephen Strasburg is set to make his debut on Tuesday. I believe his game will interrupt every television broadcast like a Presidential State of the Union.

The 6'5, 230 pound home run machine, Mike Stanton, will probably make his MLB debut on Tuesday as well. The Marlins' top prospect has 21 home runs and is hitting .311/.441/.726 in AA this year. It's rumored that he has the Eye of Thundera embedded in his bat to help him hit those moon shots.[citation needed] What are you waiting for fantasy nerds? Go pick him up. And baseball nerds, buckle in. We have a busy week ahead of us.