Yankees’ Soto warns Aaron Judge’s critics: ‘Never count him out’

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Following an extraordinary regular season where Aaron Judge hit 58 home runs and set a personal record with 144 RBIs, seemingly positioning himself for a second American League MVP award in three years, the New York Yankees are still anticipating a breakthrough postseason performance from their captain. But, despite being recognized as one of baseball’s most formidable hitters, Judge has yet to fully demonstrate his prowess in the playoffs.

In the recent Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals, which resulted in a 4-2 loss for the Yankees and evened the series before shifting to Kansas City, Judge’s performance was modest. He managed an infield single in the eighth inning, drew a walk, and struck out once in his three official at-bats. This outing has brought attention to Judge’s postseason strikeout rate, which now stands at 33.4% – the second-highest in history among players with at least 200 playoff plate appearances. This rate is only surpassed by Martín Maldonado’s 34.2% and slightly higher than Cody Bellinger’s 32.6%.

These strikeouts highlight two significant challenges Judge faces in postseason play: difficulty in capitalizing on scoring opportunities and struggles when facing two-strike counts. His overall postseason batting average with runners in scoring position is a disappointing .171 (6-for-35). More concerning is the decline since his impressive 2017 postseason, with his average in such situations dropping to a mere .087 (2-for-23), accompanied by 12 strikeouts.

Despite these statistics, Judge’s teammate Juan Soto remains confident in his abilities. Soto expressed his belief in the Yankees captain’s resilience and talent, referring to him as the best hitter in baseball currently. He acknowledged Judge’s recent difficulties with fastballs but predicted a strong comeback.

“You can never count him out,” Soto said. “He’s the greatest hitter of all-time right now. He’s just doing his thing. He struggled a little bit with the fastball today, but I know he’s going to bounce back.”

Is pressure a factor in Aaron Judge’s postseason failure?

In the current series, Judge’s performance has been underwhelming, with just one hit in seven at-bats and four strikeouts across nine plate appearances. He has failed to deliver in crucial moments, such as striking out with runners on first and second with no outs in the opening inning of both Games 1 and 2. These missed opportunities have prevented the Yankees from establishing early leads.

Addressing his performance, Judge conveyed his dissatisfaction with anything less than perfect hitting. He emphasized his commitment to getting on base for his teammates and driving in runs when opportunities arise. Judge also noted the length of baseball games, expressing his desire to give his team an early advantage while remaining optimistic about future chances to contribute effectively.

“If I’m not hitting 1.000, I’m not feeling good,” the slugger said. “I’ve just got to keep getting on for the guys behind me and if they get on I have to drive them in. You play nine innings and it’s a long ballgame, so you’d kind of like to get it there in the first and give your team the lead but haven’t been able to come through so we’ll do it the next time.”

The Yankees’ postseason struggles extend beyond Aaron Judge, but the spotlight remains firmly on their star as the team’s struggles with runners in scoring position continue to mount. Collectively, the Yankees have gone 3-for-19 in clutch situations, leaving 19 men on base during the series. Yet, Judge is keenly aware of the added expectations placed on him and the responsibility he carries as part of the Yankees’ storied championship history.

Heading into the series, Judge openly acknowledged the pressure he feels to lead the team to a World Series title. He admitted that not winning it all weighs heavily on him, and he holds himself accountable for the team’s shortcomings in those pursuits.

“Well, it eats at me every time we don’t finish the job,” Judge admitted. “I take a lot of responsibility for that, being on the team. “If we don’t win it all, I feel like it’s my fault.”

Judge’s postseason record has been uneven, with relatively few standout moments, and the absence of a championship ring remains conspicuous. His struggles were particularly glaring in the 2022 ALCS against the Houston Astros, where he managed just one hit in 22 at-bats as the Yankees were swept out of the series.

Entering Game 2, Judge’s postseason stats reflected a .206/.307/.451 slash line, with a .758 OPS, 13 home runs, and 25 RBIs over 45 games in seven playoff series. However, his numbers in the postseason during this decade have been more concerning, with his batting average dipping to .135/.207/.338 and his OPS plummeting to .545. In that span, he’s hit just five home runs, driven in eight runs, and struck out 28 times in 82 plate appearances.

Despite the pressure, Judge remains focused on his role within the team. He discussed the importance of sticking to the fundamentals—driving in runners when the opportunity arises, advancing them when possible, and maintaining the consistency that has led to regular-season success.

While the Yankees’ championship hopes do not rest solely on Judge’s shoulders, the team’s captain remains a focal point as they navigate the high-stakes postseason, aiming to break through the struggles that have plagued them in recent October.

Aaron Judge’s postseason struggles are particularly surprising, given his standout performance during the regular season. Far from just a power hitter, Judge showcased his all-around hitting ability, leading the majors with a 1.220 OPS with runners in scoring position, among players with at least 75 plate appearances. His .811 OPS in two-strike counts was the second-best in the league, a mark 80 points higher than his previous career best.

Postseason challenges, however, are not unique to Judge. Even the best players can find October difficult. For example, the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts entered his Division Series Game 3 with a .245 postseason batting average and a 0-for-22 slump. Similarly, Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr., expected to finish second to Judge in MVP voting, began the series 0-for-10 with four strikeouts.

In terms of regular-season achievements, Judge stands alongside Yankees legends like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, and Yogi Berra. Yet, he remains the only current player with the potential to join this pantheon of Yankee greats. To truly solidify his legacy, Judge knows that winning a championship is essential, a fact not lost on fans or the franchise.

When asked about the possibility of the judge missing hittable pitches in Monday’s Game 2, manager Aaron Boone put things into perspective. He noted that hitting is incredibly difficult, emphasizing that Judge still contributed with a base hit and a walk. Boone expressed confidence that Judge’s struggles are temporary.

“I mean, baseball,” he said. “It’s hitting. Got a base hit and a walk in a game. I get it, but hitting is hard. You’re not going to hold him down long.”

As the Yankees head into Game 3 in Kansas City, there is optimism that Judge and the rest of the lineup will regain their form. The Yankees’ offensive capabilities remain a point of strength—they were one of just three teams in Major League Baseball to average over five runs per game during the regular season.

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