New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge is a once-in-a-generation player known for his prodigious power and impeccable swinging skills. He is on pace to rewrite history by beating his own 62-home run record this year. Across 111 games, he’s already slammed 41 moonshots.
However, Aaron Judge might not accomplish his ultimate home run goal as the opposition isn’t allowing him a chance to take a swing. For the past couple of months, Judge has been on the receiving end of Barry Bonds’s treatment, which might seem unethical to a few fans. While the tactic is legal in the rulebook, let’s explore why only Judge?
Blue Jays Manager Got Tired Of Aaron Judge’s Monstrous Swings
Aaron Judge, the man of the hour and New York Yankees captain, has become a frequent target of intentional walks by rival teams this season. With his form scaling new heights each day, the opposition has also resorted to tactical means to put a stop to his rampage. Recently, Toronto Blue Jays intentionally walked him four times in the series finale held on Sunday, in addition to two traditional walks. His season total reached 11, while his career-best is 19. Notably, Blue Jays manager John Schneider admitted that his team deliberately walked Judge as he was sick of seeing his swings. “He’s in a different category than anyone else in the league. He can flip the script of a game with one swing,” Schneider said.
While intentional walks may not be the most exciting aspect of baseball, they are a strategic tool used by managers to neutralize the game’s most dangerous hitters. For Aaron Judge, it reflects on his prowess at the plate and a challenge he must navigate. As long as Judge continues to be a dominant force, rival teams will likely keep employing this strategy to try and contain his impact on the game. As far as rule changes are concerned, Joel Sherman suggested a cap to allow for walks per game and also increased the reward from one base to two bases. However, implementing such changes is a daunting task, and MLB authorities have already faced backlash from the pitch clock and dirt rules. Hence, any changes in the near future are unlikely. Regardless, not every team is the Blue Jays. Hence, it’s unlikely that Aaron Judge will continue to be treated the same by all the opposition.
Juan Soto Disgusted By Jays Intentionally Walking Aaron Judge
Meanwhile, Aaron Judge’s Yankee teammate Juan Soto had enough of the Blue Jays’ tactics on intentional walking and lashed out at the opposition in the post-game interview. “It sucks. You want him at the plate. It just really makes me mad. I don’t like that,” Soto stated.
Juan Soto, who bats at second above Aaron Judge, revealed that in his every bat, he tried to bring the Yankees captain on the plate by getting an extra base hit. And when the opposition intentionally walks him, its not only a waste of his efforts but a disheartening missed opportunity to score some runs.
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