having fallen down the pecking order under Jurgen Klopp. Mer

DETROIT -- What you see when Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton steps to the plate is a hulking 6-foot-6 and 245-pound star, blessed with the combination of power, speed and athleticism that makes scouts eyes water. His natural attributes are only fortified by the insatiable work ethic that has allowed the 26-year-old slugger to emerge as one of the top young talents in the game -- and to cash in on a historic 13-year, $325 million payday in 2014.But for all of Stantons preternatural gifts and talent, he is not impervious to struggles, and never was that more apparent than during a protracted stretch in the first few months of this season. From May 1 through June 7 -- a span of 27 games, Stanton was hitting .149 (14-for-94), the worst mark among qualified hitters in the majors during that period, according to ESPN Stats & Information.During this time he leaned on someone within his own dugout for advice -- Barry Bonds. Who better to ask than the all-time home run leader, in his inaugural stint as the Marlins hitting coach?Hes like a technician; hell get as technical as you can understand or as simple as you need, Stanton told ESPN.com, laughing when asked which he preferred. Id say we grew together with that. Now, I want every last bit of knowledge -- which he knows some may not understand -- but I wanna be as far into it as I can.Bonds also chuckles when asked about his tacticians approach, and how that is received within a clubhouse that has myriad different learning styles and personalities.I just look at it this way: You either look at it right, or you like it wrong, Bonds said. Thats their choice. Thats the bottom line.That choice was an easy one for Stanton, and one for which he is already reaping rewards.Stanton offered up an Exhibit A in the case that he has put a prolonged slump behind him: the 86-mph slider he sent 441 feet on a rope to center field in the second inning of last Tuesdays loss to the Detroit Tigers. The line drive left his bat with a 17-degree launch angle at a blistering 115 mph.According to ESPN Stats & Info, thats almost 10 degrees lower and five miles per hour faster than the average home run of 440 feet or more hit by major league players this season (26.1 degrees; 110 mph).Tigers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia just shook his head when recalling the hit the next morning. Thats the sort of feat he witnessed every day while teammates with Stanton in Miami.That wasnt even one of his most impressive, Saltalamacchia told ESPN.com. Hes so strong and so big. I wish I had that. Id never have to pull the ball. Id just have to be making contact and Id be hitting home runs.Stanton is now showing tangible signs of escaping the abyss, and the Tigers learned the hard way that his bat is heating up. Since June 8, Stanton is batting .261 with 3 HRs and 14 RBIs.Its nice to see him getting going again, Marlins manager Don Mattingly, one of the most prolific hitters of his own generation, said following Tuesdays game. Obviously, hes been swinging better for a while now and it seems like the way he was swinging earlier in the year is kind of behind us.Stanton is thrilled about that after having to answer for his struggles for months while he was himself trying to figure out exactly what was wrong. People tend to forget that even the biggest bats in the league can go dormant. Its not always simple to figure out. But, by the second week of June, Stanton started to gain some clarity about his swing. Making those adjustments took time, however, and it was not a seamless transition.Id say around the West Coast trip I started to get a grasp of everything going wrong, Stanton said. Then I had to refine it because the muscle memory, even if its negative, its gonna stick with you. Thats what you practice, thats what you master, even though you know it may not be the right way of doing it. You have to retrain it and still be out there playing every night, too. Thats the biggest juggle.Stanton isnt the only one trying to maintain a juggling act; Bonds is doing the same as he learns to handle his new responsibilities as a coach after playing more than two decades in the majors. Hes having fun, though, and enjoys the daily grind of being back in the game. And what he enjoys most is working with young players like Stanton.Hes in that position where he has the potential to be best home run hitter -- his natural power, his natural ability ... thats what I like, Bonds said. He can be the [Miguel] Cabrera of the young age to now. I like that. Bryce Harper and all those guys. Thats whats fun to see. Thats what I like to see in those younger guys. You see yourself in those guys. You think, looking back, like, wow, I remember those days. Hes learning and look at that talent. Hes fast, he can swing the bat good, hes got pop, theres so many good things that you can see, which is nice, because thats what I like to reminisce about.Stanton said he and Bonds would get entrenched in long conversations during that slump -- more technical than philosophical -- and just space out to everyone and everything else in the clubhouse while the two tried to make things right.It was a lot mechanical. Its not in his head, Bonds said, brushing off the suggestion. Hes got a lot of confidence. Hes a confident person. It was a lot of mechanical and hes making those adjustments.Because of Stantons star status, his history of production and the heft behind his contract, his early-season struggles were scrutinized from just about every angle.His batting average against both right-handed (.223) and left-handed (.245) pitching has dropped significantly from his career averages (.261 vs. RHP; .286 vs. LHP).Some theorized that he has a blind spot that causes him to lose the ball as it approaches the plate. Others felt there may be a psychological component to his dropoff, stemming from his harrowing injury, when he suffered multiple facial fractures, dental damage and a facial laceration after getting hit by a pitch in the face by Milwaukees Mike Fiers in September 2014.Stanton denied the injury got in his head (I have a lot of years left in the league; if Im going to be worried about that, for a year, or even a month, its not going to go well, he said) but admitted that he felt pitchers were initially trying to attack him differently when he returned in 2015, potentially trying to exploit any fear he may have harbored of getting beaned again.I noticed they tried to go up and in when I came back from the face, Stanton said. In the first bit of this [recent] bad stretch, guys came up and in and just because of how bad I was playing, they started doing that more thinking that thats why [opponents] were having success.But, as he explained, his hand injury in June 2015 -- a hamate bone fracture in his left hand -- was much tougher to come back from. Doctors told him that it was some of the worst bleeding and swelling they had ever seen. His finger tendons were messed up. It took a long time to regain his grip. What began in June as a four-week injury eventually lingered until December.I was in the five percent that go wrong, in that sense, Stanton said.Stanton wont deny that the unfortunate slew of injuries have had an impact on him the past few seasons, but he also wont chalk up his recent slump to that, either. Now that is in that past, hes not too interested in dwelling on it.What he will say is that the tough spell endured this year gave him a new appreciation for his hitting coach and helped forge a strong relationship. Stanton isnt exactly the type to get star-struck, but he knows the novelty is real. Friends and family members ask what Bonds is like. Sometimes they arent expecting the answer he gives them.What surprises people?Id say how much he cares, Stanton said. He has the image, or whatever you want to call it, of being nonchalant or however you, whatever people want to put it [as], but he cares a lot. Once he gets to know you to help you, he wants you to do the best.Bonds bristles at the notion that the best athletes in any sport often fail at coaching because they have such a different grasp on the game. He thinks that is unbelievably false. He feels he has plenty of insight to provide.He doesnt expect Stanton to be Barry Bonds 2.0. Hell be happy if he helps to make him better.I dont expect any player to be me, he said. I expect them to be who they are. And the best they can be. And if that happens to be better than me ... God bless them. Thats what you do as a coach. You want them to be the best they can be. And if that happens to be better than me, great. Im fine with that. Danton Heinen Jersey . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. Jake DeBrusk Jersey .C. -- Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. http://www.thebostonbruinshockey.com/terry-oreilly-hockey-jersey/ . LOUIS -- St. Jakub Zboril Bruins Jersey . Louis Cardinals. Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after missing two games because of back tightness. Derek Sanderson Bruins Jersey . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle.England would be better off starting with Harry Kane instead of Daniel Sturridge in Fridays World Cup Qualifier against Scotland, according to Danny Higginbotham. The Liverpool striker is expected to get the nod to lead the line for Gareth Southgates side at Wembley, but tactical expert Higginbotham believes Scotlands deep defensive line might make it difficult for him to use his pace.Daniel Sturridge is a fantastic player who likes to play on the shoulder of opposition defences, he told Sky Sports. The problem youre going to find is that the back four are going to be happy to play deep and narrow. The midfield are going to come tight and deep too. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. What you are going to find then is that there isnt going to be the space for Sturridge to run into. It doesnt matter how quick you are, theres not going to be any space to expose the oppositions lack of pace, unless you get an early goal. Danny Higginbotham thinks Daniel Sturridge could struggle to find space Youre not going to shift that back four around too much and that becomes a bit of an issue because youll find a lot of players are grouped together with a lack of movement.ddddddddddddSouthgates apparent decision to start with Sturridge raised eyebrows in some quarters. The 27-year-old scored in Englands recent 2-0 win over Malta, but he is yet to net a Premier League goal this season having fallen down the pecking order under Jurgen Klopp. Merse on England v Scotland England must put Scotland under pressure at Wembley, says Paul Merson Higginbotham believes Tottenhams Kane, who scored from the penalty spot on his return from injury against Arsenal at the weekend, could be better equipped to break Scotland down.What you see with Harry Kane is that hes quite happy to drop deep, said Higginbotham. The problem you then have as a centre-back is, do you go with him or do you not? If you dont then hes able to turn and look for the likes of Raheem Sterling and Theo Walcott. But if you go tight, then youre still leaving space between the centre-backs and full-backs. Thats why I think its key for Kane to play.Higginbotham also discusses how Wayne Rooney could help unlock Scotlands defence from midfield, and assesses Scotlands attacking options. Watch the video above to see his full analysis. Also See: Merse on England v Scotland Sturridge no risk, Rooney is Poppy action down to match chief VOTE: England or Scotland? ' ' '