A lifeless offense was the main culprit for the Yankees losing Game 3 of the American League Championship Series to the Houston Astros by a score of 5-0 on Saturday at Yankee Stadium. This has put the New York Yankees on the brink of losing the playoffs for 2022 and fans against their offensive leader Aaron Judge.
As soon as the results were clear, fans began to blame Aaron Judge. The slugger also admitted that he should do better to keep the Yankees in the chase of the championship.
I’ve got to step up and do my job, Aaron Judge said to reporters after his team’s Saturday ALCS loss.
In Saturday’s ALCS Game 3, Aaron Judge went hitless in four at-bats, but it should be noted that the Yankees managed just three hits in total. Giancarlo Stanton, Harrison Bader, and Matt Carpenter all contributed one hit apiece.
Despite this, Aaron Judge has maintained an unusually low profile throughout this matchup with the Astros. In the first game on Wednesday, he went 0-for-4, but in the second game on Thursday, he went 1-for-4. Through the first three games, he does not have any runs batted in or home runs.
This has been a continuation of Judge’s relatively disappointing postseason performance. During the American League Division Series, he had a batting average of 4-for-20 with two home runs, three RBI, and 11 strikeouts while playing against the Cleveland Guardians.
Aaron Judge had been the most valuable player for New York during the regular season, compiling a .311 batting average with 62 home runs and 131 runs batted in across 157 contests. In the Bronx, it was his best season, and it was also the season in which he broke Roger Maris’ record for the most home runs in the American League.
To keep their season going for as long as possible, the Yankees will need everyone on the team to contribute. It is imperative that everyone in the lineup, including Aaron Judge, Stanton, and the rest of the team, plays their best game of the season on Sunday night.
If they fail, the team could look very different next year. New York has been trying to win its first World Series since 2009. Judge’s possible departure could be one of the most important changes.
After turning down a seven-year, $213.5 million offer from the Yankees prior to the start of the 2022 season, the player, who will turn 30 this winter, is set to become a free agent without any contractual obligations. It is anticipated that Aaron Judge will become one of the players in baseball who earns the most money.
Even though the Yankees have stated on multiple occasions that they intend to make him a competitive offer, it is still possible that he will not be returning to the Bronx in the year 2023. He is already out of the MLB list for Gold Glove finalists.
Aaron Judge’s dismal performance in the playoffs has led to baseball fans starting to criticize him.
What do you think? Is Aaron Judge responsible for all the mess the Yankees are in?
