The New York Yankees are feeling the heat to capture their first World Series title since 2009, a pressure that seems to grow with every home run Aaron Judge launches. The expectation is driven by the shadow of past Yankees dynasties, including the era when Derek Jeter clinched his fifth and final championship.
At the recent Old Timer’s Day at Yankee Stadium, Jeter reignited this mindset, suggesting that Aaron Judge’s stellar season would be meaningless without a championship ring to show for it. This comment drew the ire of Michael Kay, a well-known radio host on ESPN New York and play-by-play announcer for the YES Network.
“Saying that yesterday, when Judge is having this sort of season, kind of like putting a little shade on Judge,” the long-time Yankees voice claimed. “(It’s like) don’t hit me 65 home runs, win me a championship.”
The following day on his radio show, Kay pushed back against Jeter’s remarks. He argued that such statements might downplay Aaron Judge’s extraordinary achievements this season by implying that individual success is secondary to team glory.
Aaron Judge’s numbers certainly speak for themselves. Through 122 games, he leads the majors with 51 home runs, on pace to match his 2022 total of 62. He also ranks first in RBIs, OPS, and OPS+, while running a close second in batting average behind Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr.
Kay’s co-host, Don La Greca, chimed in by mentioning legendary players like Ted Williams and Ernie Banks, who had remarkable careers despite never winning a championship. This raised the question of whether Jeter’s comments might have missed the mark.
Kay expanded on his argument by comparing Aaron Judge’s accomplishments to those of lesser-known players who have World Series rings, such as Luis Sojo, Clay Bellinger, and Homer Bush. He emphasized that while baseball is a team sport, individual excellence shouldn’t be overshadowed by the absence of a championship.
“Let’s say that Aaron Judge doesn’t win a ring ever. I mean, I would bet that he would, but let’s say that he never wins a ring,” the Yankees booth commentator argued. “Does that mean Luis Sojo is better than him? Is Clay Bellinger better because he won? Homer Bush, is he better? No! Baseball is a team sport.”
ESPN host faces heat over Aaron Judge remark
ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith recently found himself in hot water after making a factual error regarding Aaron Judge’s standout season with the New York Yankees. On a segment of “First Take,” Smith claimed that Judge’s MVP-caliber performance was being boosted by Juan Soto‘s presence in the lineup, suggesting that pitchers were forced to challenge Judge more because Soto was waiting in the on-deck circle.
“But you do got Juan Soto batting behind you,” he stold. “They can’t get around you. They gotta pitch to the brother — you understand what I’m saying? — because you got Soto waiting in the wings. All of those things facilitate Aaron Judge being who he is.”
However, Smith’s argument was built on a fundamental misunderstanding. Contrary to his claim, Soto has actually been hitting ahead of Aaron Judge all season, occupying the second spot in the batting order in all 129 games he has played. This placement directly contradicts Smith’s suggestion that Soto was providing protection for Judge by batting behind him.
While Soto and Aaron Judge have indeed been a powerful tandem for the Yankees, their effectiveness is not due to the lineup configuration Smith described. Soto has excelled this season with a .294/.424/.595 slash line, 37 home runs, and 95 RBIs. Meanwhile, Judge has been even more dominant, boasting a .333/.465/.732 line, 51 home runs, and 122 RBIs.
Interestingly, despite Judge’s extraordinary numbers and an OPS+ of 229, the Yankees’ cleanup spot has offered little support, producing a lackluster .227/.288/.365 line with just 16 home runs and 73 RBIs — a wRC+ of 84, which is 16% below the league average.
Smith’s erroneous comments quickly drew backlash on social media, where users criticized his lack of knowledge about the Yankees’ lineup and questioned his credibility as a fan of the team. Many mocked his mistake, pointing out that his loud delivery does not make up for a lack of accuracy.
These episodes serve a stark reminder of the need for careful research and fact-checking, even for high-profile sports analysts.
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