As the New York Yankees sit on the brink of elimination in the 2024 World Series, Aaron Judge and his undying struggles in October have become a focal point of discussion. On Monday, he went 0-for-3 as his team lost 2-4 in Game 3 to suffer a 0-3 deficit in the World Series.
Credit to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitchers for keeping Aaron Judge quiet, especially with the kind of season he had in the 162-game stretch. However, the AL-MVP front runner is suddenly behaving like a rookie in October. Ahead of Game 4, let’s explore the weakness that the Dodgers have picked to control Aaron Judge.
Aaron Judge Contained By Dodgers Due To Glaring Weakness
The AL MVP favorite and New York Yankees captain has not yet found his form at the plate, and his postseason slump is fueling frustration for both fans and analysts. In Game 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Aaron Judge went 0-for-3 with one walk, extending his postseason woes and drawing increased attention to his ongoing challenges against breaking pitches. Meanwhile, hitting coach James Rowson remains optimistic, believing Judge is “one swing away” from changing the story. However, Rowson’s confidence is tempered by Judge’s noticeable pattern of chasing pitches outside the zone, a vulnerability that the Dodgers have been quick to exploit. According to an AL scout, the Dodgers are relentlessly feeding Aaron Judge breaking pitches, which he’s been unable to handle.
Notably, Aaron Judge is hitting just .071 against breaking balls in the postseason, significantly below his regular-season average of .258 on similar pitches. This approach from the Dodgers limits the number of fastballs he sees, making it difficult for him to find pitches he can hit with authority. While Judge’s issues with breaking balls have been notable, his ability to crush fastballs remains intact. He has a .364 average and a 1.429 OPS against pitches 95 mph or faster in the playoffs, yet the scarcity of such pitches has contributed to his struggles. His confidence is further shaken by the lack of pitches in his preferred zones, resulting in a higher strikeout rate and an increased sense of urgency in each at-bat. One possible solution is to adopt a more patient approach, allowing pitchers to either come into the strike zone or give him free passes. But will that be enough, remains to be seen.
Yankees Brutally Criticised After Game 3 Loss
The New York Yankees’ performance in the 2024 World Series has not met the expectations of fans or analysts, and MLB insider Ken Rosenthal didn’t hold back in his criticism. In his scathing column, Rosenthal labeled the Yankees “not very good at baseball, highlighting a systemwide breakdown.
Down 3-0 in the series, the Yankees are staring down a potential sweep, with Game 4 serving as a last chance to salvage their season. And Rosenthal’s critique suggests the Yankees’ issues are not just a one-series anomaly but rather symptoms of deeper flaws that have been visible throughout the season.
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