Exclusive: Former Reliever Mike Stanton Weighs In On Current Outfielder Mike Stanton Now Going By Giancarlo Stanton

The news came across the wires this morning that thumping Marlins outfielder Mike Stanton, who finished 5th in the NL with 34 home runs last year, will now go by Giancarlo Stanton, his birth name. (His full name is Giancarlo Cruz Michael Stanton, and he says he prefers Giancarlo.)

This is big news not only for Marlins fans but for baseball historians, because lefty reliever Mike Stanton—who pitched from 1989 to 2007 and made the All-Star Game in 2001—is once again entrenched as the greatest Mike Stanton in MLB history. We called up that Mike Stanton, who's now coaching in Texas and appearing on pre- and post-game shows for the Houston Astros, to break the news to him and gauge his reaction.

"Uh, I don't really have a reaction. I know there was a lot of confusion. He's probably getting a lot of my baseball cards, like I get a lot of his baseball cards," Stanton said.

"I know he's of Latin heritage, and maybe he wants people to know that," Stanton said. (The other Stanton told the AP that Giancarlo was an Italian name, and not one of any particular relevance—his parents just liked it.)

"But if he keeps hitting home runs like that, though, probably no one will care what his name is," Stanton added.

For now, former lefty reliever Mike Stanton is back on top of the Mike Stanton pyramid ( 80s righty reliever Mike Stanton was supplanted years ago), until another Mike Stanton comes along and tries to snatch the crown.

Marlins RF prefers Giancarlo Stanton [AP via ESPN]