The Texas Rangers join the trend of walking Yankees’ slugger Aaron Judge seeking safety on Sunday. However, they paid for it as Giancarlo Stanton punished them with a three-run homer enabling the New York Yankees to win the series at Yankee Stadium.
As soon as the Rangers faced Aaron Judge in the fifth, their manager Bruce Bochy raised a four-finger signal instructing lefthander Andrew Heaney to allow a free pass to the Yankees captain. This intentional walk was Judge’s 13th of the season and the sixth in the past eight games. While the strategy had successfully neutralized the Yankees’ offense in previous instances, it backfired on Sunday.
Bochy took caution by making a pitching change from lefthander Heaney to righthander Jose Leclerc. But Stanton, who was down in the count initially, turned the situation around dramatically. He connected with a low-and-away slider on a 2-2 count, sending it into the left field stands with an exit velocity of 114.9 mph and a distance of 405 feet. His three-run homer increased the Yankees’ lead from 4-2 to 7-2, a critical boost in their eventual 8-7 win.
Despite a crowd of 45,318 missing the chance to see Yankees’ Judge hit in that inning, the game showcased the potential impact of the intentional walk strategy. Opposing managers, recognizing Judge’s prowess, have increasingly used this approach, particularly as the postseason looms.
Stanton acknowledged the strategic intent behind walking Judge and stressed the importance of making opponents pay for such decisions. “It’s part of the game,” the Yankees slugger remarked about walking his captain. “I mean, he’s an all-time talent. So that happens. I’ve got to do what happened today in order for it not to happen. It’s part of the game. You have some fun with it.”
Sunday’s game underscored the Yankees’ ability to capitalize on the strategy of walking Judge, with Stanton’s key hit serving as a prime example of how to counteract this common tactic.
Judge, reflecting on his experience with intentional walks given to other batters, relished the opportunity to succeed in high-pressure moments. According to him, “I’ve been in the position before where they’ve walked some guys in front of me to face me. So it’s always a little sweeter when you can come through in those spots.”
Opposing teams are increasingly reluctant to use intentional walks to face Aaron Judge, given his dominance at the plate. While Austin Wells has been effective as the Yankees’ cleanup hitter against right-handed pitchers, Stanton remains the key player who could make teams reconsider their pitching strategies.
Stanton once hailed as a potential generational talent despite past injury concerns, still represents the archetypal cleanup hitter. He emphasized the importance of capitalizing on the opportunities created by such strategic moves, suggesting that failing to take advantage would only encourage continued use of this approach.
Juan Soto also provides a potent alternative for shielding Judge in the lineup. Soto demonstrated his power during the game with two home runs—one that traveled 413 feet to right field at 110.1 mph, and another that reached 406 feet to right center at 106.6 mph, bringing his season total to 30.
After Soto’s second homer, which put the Yankees ahead 7-3, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy decided to pitch to Judge. This decision led to Judge’s 42nd home run of the season—a 374-foot blast to right-center at 108.4 mph, completing a perfect 3-for-3 day.
Yankees out to punish teams intentionally walking Judge
The combination of Soto and Judge in the Yankees‘ lineup creates a significant challenge for opposing pitchers. While manager Aaron Boone has considered moving Soto to protect Judge in the lineup, he has not yet made this adjustment. Thus, Wells handles the protection of Judge against right-handed pitchers, and Stanton against left-handed ones.
Austin Wells has made a notable impact in the cleanup spot for the Yankees, hitting .362 with two home runs and 13 RBIs over 15 games (14 starts) in the fourth position. This strong performance from the rookie catcher is a promising indicator for the Yankees, potentially signaling a future All-Star behind the plate.
Despite Wells’ impressive numbers, it’s unlikely that opposing managers will choose to pitch to Aaron Judge based on Wells’ presence alone. The stakes are higher in critical situations, such as potential late-season matchups against the Orioles or playoff scenarios, where Wells may face tough left-handed relievers following intentional walks to Judge.
Wells’ performance against left-handed pitchers shows some vulnerability, with only nine hits (all singles) in 35 at-bats, and he went 0-for-2 against Heaney. Notably, all eight of his home runs this season have come against right-handed pitchers.
Giancarlo Stanton, when healthy and in peak form, remains one of baseball’s most formidable hitters. However, his health issues and inconsistent performance due to his streakiness are well-known among Yankees fans.
A common critique of Stanton is his tendency to hit significant home runs in situations where the game outcome appears settled. This was evident in Saturday’s doubleheader when he hit a towering 451-foot two-run homer in the eighth inning of a 9-4 loss after the Yankees were trailing 9-1.
These insights underscore the intricate dynamics of the Yankees’ lineup and the strategic decisions faced by both the team and their opponents in high-pressure situations.
Statistics reflect Giancarlo Stanton’s tendency to shine in less competitive game situations. Before Sunday’s game, when the Yankees were ahead or behind by more than four runs, Stanton had posted a strong .327 average with six home runs and a 1.071 OPS over 55 at-bats.
Yet, this data only partially captures the picture. Stanton’s streaky nature means that even home runs hit in less critical moments can signal potential future performance. His powerful shot on Saturday, though it came in a game where the Yankees were trailing, might indicate a forthcoming impactful performance, such as his blast on Sunday.
Stanton’s postseason prowess is well-documented, highlighted by his standout 2020 performance where he slugged six home runs over two playoff rounds.
With opposing teams continuing to intentionally walk Aaron Judge and Juan Soto holding his spot in the lineup, Stanton could become a key player in countering this strategy. Sunday’s game illustrated Stanton’s potential to fulfill this role effectively.
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