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A Yankees legend explains why Aaron Judge is ice cold

A Yankees legend explains why Aaron Judge is ice cold

MLB: World Series - New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers
Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

This is not a secret for anyone Yankee superstar batsman Aaron Judge has been very cold this postseason. Despite being named the regular season MVP, Judge’s playoff numbers have been underwhelming, and his struggles resumed in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night.

Disappointing game of judges 1. Execution

Judge struck out three and managed just one hit in five at-bats in Game 1, but the Yankees need his power to reach his peak. If Judge doesn’t hit home runs, the Yankees’ offense relies heavily on Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton to lead the offense, putting a lot of pressure on them to maintain the lineup.

MLB: World Series - New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers
Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Judge is missing pitches that he usually sends out of the park, and Yankees legend Alex Rodriguez offered some insight into what might contribute to that struggle.

“What Aaron Judge does is he goes out and chases the ball,” Rodriguez said.

The Yankees need an umpire to calm down

According to Rodriguez, Judge may be overthinking his at-bats, chasing pitches instead of waiting for the right one. This change in approach suggests that he is putting too much pressure on himself to achieve great results rather than allowing his natural instincts and strength to guide him.

for now Judge has played nine games this postseason and is hitting just .167/.304/.361 with two homers and six RBI. His strikeout rate increased by more than 10% to 34.8%, while his walk rate dropped to 15.2%, a 3.7% decrease. Judge’s 85 wRC+ puts him 15% below league average, which is a concern for the Yankees, who rely on him for offensive output.

A legacy is on the line

Ultimately, Judge’s legacy will be shaped by his performance in the playoffs. Right now, he’s struggling in the most critical streak of his career, and the Yankees are feeling the impact. However, the second game against Yoshinobu Yamamoto could be the turning point, as Yamamoto showed vulnerability against right-handed hitters. If Judge can make a breakthrough, his struggles will be quickly forgotten. Until then, his cold streak remains a key factor in the Yankees’ uphill battle in the World Series.