Giancarlo Stanton's postseason value to the Yankees is evident in the potential defining moment in the ALDS Game 3 win at the Royals

Giancarlo Stanton ruined a game on Wednesday night. Therefore, he is allowed to “clog” the designated hitter spot in the Yankee lineup and sometimes the basepaths.

If you have that kind of power and can deliver in the most tense moments, it doesn't matter if you're not a plus baserunner.

All the hand-wringing about the things Stanton can't do seems so ridiculous after his great performance in Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the Royals. Essentially, Stanton beat the Yankees to a 3-2 victory in what he called a “huge swing game.”

He hit a game-winning solo home run in the top of the eighth inning, giving the Yanks the final margin of victory. That came after he hit an RBI double earlier in the evening to drive in their first run.

He finished the game 3-of-5 with two RBI. Stanton even stole a base.

It was a great performance on a night where the rest of his teammates posted a combined 1-25 finish. The only other hit was a Anthony Volpe single.

Without Stanton's swings – and the bullpen, which has been great throughout the series – the Yankees' season could be in the balance in this best-of-five affair, not the Royals', who will try to stay alive by They win Game 4 on Thursday.

“He’s a killer,” Yankee manager said Aaron Boone Stanton said in the postgame interview room. “It's remarkable, or I just admire, how well he can focus in those big moments and go to another place mentally.” The home run hit was phenomenal. I think he went there to do that and made a really tough substitution (Kris) Bubicwho is a neutral guy who gets right and left handed players out.

“I thought he made all the right pitches and got what he was looking for and didn’t miss it. Obviously it was a big night for him.”

“That’s why I came here,” Stanton said in the interview room. “It won’t always be successful, but you just have to keep working and give yourself the best opportunity.”

It is the first home run by a Yankee in the eighth inning or later in a postseason game since then Raul Ibanez in ALDS 2012.

That's one reason why Stanton's big night was crucial for these Yankees Aaron Richtertheir best player, is 1 of 11 in the series. While Stanton said of Judge, “He's definitely going to do some damage, it's just a matter of time,” it's still clear that Judge's October fights will continue to be a pinstripe issue for as long as they last.

The rotation hasn't fared well, posting a 6.08 ERA through the first three games, although they're hopeful Gerrit Cole is better in game 4. However, the bullpen (13.2 innings pitched, one unearned run allowed) was always a joy.

But if the Yanks actually move forward and accomplish something wonderful this October, Stanton's home run will likely become a defining moment for every run they make.

And that's how it should be. Stanton has been a regular contributor in October since wearing the pinstripes in 2018. He now has 12 home runs and 27 RBI in 30 postseason games for the Yankees. Yes, there were some playoff at-bats where he waved off unbeatable break balls in the other batter's box. But he remained dangerous in a postseason era in which the Yankees as a team struggled too often on offense.

Giancarlo after the season could be the best Giancarlo.

In fact, his .964 OPS in the playoffs compares well to some big Yankee names. It's not a complete list, just a select few, but it's pretty interesting. Baby Ruth And Lou Gehrigtwo of the greatest postseason beasts of all time, each had a 1.214 career OPS entering October. Hard to compare. But Stanton has a higher postseason OPS than Mickey Mantle (.908), who hit 18 World Series home runs, Derek Jeter (.838) and Joe DiMaggio (.760).

Make of that what you will, but this is at least an indication of Stanton's value to the Yankees in vital, heart-rate-elevated games like this.

Before Wednesday night's game, Stanton said he went to an early batting practice hoping to familiarize himself with the Kauffman Stadium setting and assess how the ball was moving. He also liked the idea of ​​“working when it’s a little quieter, doing nothing but working and seeing what I can do.”

It worked. His homer came on a 3-1 slider from Bubic that he blasted 417 feet into left field. MLB's Statcast measured the exit velocity at 112.9 miles per hour.

“It wasn’t a bad pitch,” Stanton said. “I just got in shape, was on time and was able to get it out.”

He got his stolen base early in the game when the Royals paid him no attention to the bases, and he made a huge jump to reach second. It was his first theft – it was his first attempt! — since 2020. He joked that his teammates' reactions to the swipe were “probably better than the home run, to be honest.”

But that's not really his game. And that's okay. He's not the gutsy single-hitter you'd hope can hit an infield hit or two. His game is pure power like he showed in Game 3, and that suits the Yankees, who led the MLB with 237 home runs.

If the Yankees get another dose in Game 4, they could potentially close out the series. This will bring them another step closer to being truly memorable and, with or without another stolen base, give Stanton more games to potentially ruin.