By WFAN.com
Giancarlo Stanton was almost set for a return to the Yankees lineup, but now that return will have to wait.
The team announced that the slugger has been placed back on the injured list due to a calf strain, which is a different injury than the bicep and shoulder strains that had sidelined him in the first place. Stanton had been undergoing a rehab assignment in the minors at high-A Tampa.
To this point, Stanton has only played in the three games of the series with the Orioles that began the Yankees season.
"Boomer and Gio" kicked off their Thursday show by talking about the ailments currently affecting key players on both the Mets and the Yankees. They agreed that pressure would be ramped up even higher on Stanton when he does make his return to the field.
"I understand that Giancarlo Stanton is going to be like public enemy No. 1 when he comes back," said Boomer Esiason. "Especially if he goes into a prolonged slump or strikes out late in a game with men on and they need the hits, and they're playing against better teams."
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Stanton will be shut down for 7-10 days and then he will be re-evaluated. That means Stanton is expected back sometime in June, barring any more setbacks. New York hasn't had too many issues without Stanton, as the team has moved into first place with a 30-17 record.
Gregg Giannotti suggested that, if polled, Yankees fans would say they don't want Stanton back at all.
"I bet you if we did a poll right now … that Yankee fans would say 'not on the team.' Which is crazy, if you think about it. The guy was an MVP, you acquired an MVP for nothing, and I bet you that they don't want him on the team."
Despite the cascade of injuries the team has dealt with, and despite frustration with Stanton, the Yankees are playing well. Boomer pointed to their recent surge to the top of the AL East as proof that the team just doesn't need Stanton at the moment.
"I think in the case of Stanton, it's okay. It's not bad, because everybody is just doing their job. Torres is just eating the Orioles alive, Sanchez is doing his thing and Luke Voit hasn't had a home run barrage here for about two weeks now."
Click on the audio player above to listen to the full open from Thursday's "Boomer and Gio" show.
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