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The Home Run Derby may have been the coming out party Giancarlo Stanton needed to prove a point. The point being that he is ready to stake claim to a throne that Bryce Harper and Mike Trout currently share.

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Stanton put on a performance that can only be obtained with a TV, game console and joystick. Stanton smashed a record with 61 home runs in the contest. While the night was about the big bats, Stanton came with something to prove even though he won’t admit it.

Last season, before his injury he was on pace for the MVP with 27 HRs and 67 RBIs in 74 games before he went down for the year. This year he has already played in 76 games, and while his overall numbers are lower (20/50) the Miami Marlins are winning. As you know with voters they hate giving awards out to players on losing teams. If the Marlins can keep up their winning ways and manage to make the playoffs Stanton will be in the discussion for the award.

Harper of the Washington Nationals may have a thing to say about this as he sits on 19 HRs and 52 RBIs. Tight race between the two. It’s only the halfway mark but the Marlins needed this, Stanton needed this but most importantly baseball needed this. The Marlins have been on the receiving end of so many jokes that LOL needs to be stitched to their jersey’s, but no longer. They are in a fight for respect and Stanton is leading the charge.

The Nationals are known as chokers, and with the Marlins only 6.5 games back in the NL East anything is possible but it all begins with the leader. If he can manage to turn the heat up and be the player everyone thinks he can be and the player that is getting small country economy money, then last night was his coronation.

And if history serves correct, this was just the beginning.