He spoke for a few minutes just to the right of the first-base line, fully outfitted in his pinstripes and a dark blue pullover jacket, the interlocking white “NY” on the front of the chest. Giancarlo Stanton listened as a trainer and coach Reggie Willets offered a few last hopeful thoughts.
And then he was off.
First was a 50 percent “sprint,” from approximately home plate to first. Then came a jog from first to third — maybe 50 percent, maybe less. He did both again. Then he walked off the field, and up in the press box, three things were abundantly clear:
1.