The New York Yankees should have been happy when Aaron Judge came back to play right field. The AL MVP frontrunner has a .328 batting average, 51 home runs, and a league-leading 1.136 OPS. He is the main player on a team that is trying to win its first championship in more than ten years. But Judge’s defensive problems have become a growing worry since he came back from an elbow injury that kept him from the outfield since late July.
Judge shared his DH duties with Giancarlo Stanton while he worked his way back into a part-time defensive role. Now, he has been back in right field for almost three weeks, but his performance against the Toronto Blue Jays still shows troubling weaknesses that could cost the team in October. In that important first-inning play, the three-time MVP chose not to try to throw home to stop Dalton Varsho from scoring on a two-run single, even though it looked like he had a good chance to make the play.
Clint Frazier, a former Yankees outfielder, has talked about Judge’s situation. “I would love to see how Aaron Judge’s arm’s going to look in right field,” Frazier stated. “I would love to think that game on the line, Judge is going to let it eat with no regard of what could happen to his arm. That’s just the kind of guy that he is.” Frazier’s worries went beyond individual plays. He thought that other teams would specifically go after Judge’s arm during the playoffs.
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Then, Frazier highlighted another troubling development: Judge’s recent throwing patterns and route-taking in the outfield. “I think that teams are going to test that arm in the playoffs, given the fact that…he’s lobbed some balls in or they’re getting interesting with the routes that he’s taking in the outfield, creative routes,” Frazier observed. “It just begs the question of where does that arm really stands?”
When pressed about his decision-making on the controversial play, Judge’s responses revealed the complexity of his situation. “Just dropped the ball in,” Judge explained. “Throw it into the cutoff, man. It’s a two-run single. What do you mean?” But his follow-up comments were more telling.
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“My first thought was to get it into Jazz, get it into whoever, just for them to make that throw. Because my first thought was trying to make the play, and it just kind of died before it got to me.” These comments felt like Judge’s instincts might not be as good because of his physical issues. But with the playoffs looming, it looks like the Yankees may soon be playing Judge every day, even as their opponents are sure to test his health as much as they can.
While these defensive issues are still being talked about by analysts and fans, Judge’s performance at the plate tells a very different story. His offensive skills have become the Yankees’ most reliable weapon, putting to rest any doubts about his throwing ability and reminding everyone why he is the team’s most valuable player.
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Yankees’ Judge continues historic tear despite defensive questions
The captain’s bat has helped this team get through tough times by turning individual brilliance into team success when it matters most. Judge’s latest milestone came on Wednesday night.
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He hit home runs 50 and 51 during New York’s 8-1 blowout win over the White Sox at Yankee Stadium. This accomplishment puts him in an exclusive group of three (Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa) who have had four 50-homer seasons. Judge’s clean path to greatness is what makes this achievement so special. He is the first player since Babe Ruth to reach this milestone without any steroid scandals affecting his legacy.
Judge’s historic night speaks volumes about his championship mentality. “I can’t,” Judge declared when asked about reflecting on the accomplishment. “If you sit back and admire it, you’re going to stop your momentum. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done. Hopefully, I have a long career here, and we do some special things. We can talk about it at the end.” His refusal to celebrate too soon shows how focused New York is on making the playoffs.
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The Yankees need this offensive explosion right now, as they are locked in a brutal AL East battle with Toronto. They are now tied with the Blue Jays after winning on Wednesday. With only four games left, Judge’s bat could mean the difference between a wild-card spot and a division championship, so the Yankees seem willing to take the risk of his defensive problems.