Miami Marlins Morning News: Mattingly, Bonds working closely with Stanton

Giancarlo Stanton has been struggling in the month of May, hitting .164, and is hitless in his last 16 at-bats with nine strikeouts. That is where Barry Bonds and Don Mattingly come in to play and they have been working closely with Stanton.

In an article by Joe Frisaro on MLB.com Bonds said "You have to be careful with what you say and how you present it. I've got to have the right questions for him, and we have to be on the same page. He expressed some things that he likes to do, and that also helps me. Now, when I'm looking at things or watching film, or whatever, I can see what he likes to do, and I can help guide him back to what he needs to do, and what has worked for him in the past and what can help him in the future."

The main thing for Stanton is tracking pitches and Bonds said to improve it takes consistent work in the batting cage. The struggles could be linked to getting hit the face last year as pitches have used up and in fastballs to throw him off. Whatever the reason the Marlins and us loyal fans hope he can make the adjustments needed to get back to be a feared hitter.

So far in May the Marlins are 9-8 with Stanton being invisible and that is reason to be optimistic. Obviously the Marlins need Stanton to raise his play to where it was to contend in the division and for a wild card spot. However, the fact they have soon the ability to be a .500 team when he is terrible shows that they have pieces to contend. Nothing has gone perfect for the Marlins this year but considering the things that have gone wrong it's pretty good where they sit currently.

Even with Stanton's struggles the Marlins sit 4.5 games back of 1st in the NL East and 2 games out of a wildcard spot. Stanton is a great player and has great former players as his coaches which means it is only a matter of time until he turns it around. As we have seen in the past Stanton can carry the Marlins but right now Stanton, the Marlins, and the fans need the other guys to carry us.

News from around the NL East

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