Over the past three-plus months, Aaron Judge has been on a tear, terrorizing pitchers and putting up video game-like numbers. His performance this season has been nothing short of spectacular, with a batting average of .321, 41 home runs, and a 1.147 OPS in 114 games. With such impressive stats, teams are starting to take notice and adopt a new strategy to neutralize the towering New York Yankees superstar.
Teams like the New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays have recently resorted to intentionally walking Judge to prevent him from inflicting further damage. In a late July matchup, the Mets walked Judge four times, with one of them being intentional. Following suit, the Blue Jays issued three intentional walks to Judge after he hit a home run in the first inning of a game. This strategy, while unconventional, raises questions about whether avoiding Judge is a smart move in the long run.
Comparisons have been drawn between Judge and legendary player Barry Bonds, who holds the record for the most intentional walks in a single season. While Judge’s numbers this season are impressive, with 92 walks and 41 home runs, the intentional walks have limited his opportunities to hit and contribute to his team. Yankees manager Aaron Boone jokingly referred to this strategy as the “Judge treatment,” highlighting the unique challenge that opponents face when dealing with a player of Judge’s caliber.
Strategic Considerations
Intentionally walking hitters has become less common in recent years due to advanced data and analytics. However, teams now see it as a viable option, especially when faced with a player like Judge who poses a significant threat at the plate. The Yankees’ struggles following Judge’s walks have prompted discussions about lineup changes to force opponents to pitch to him. Suggestions of moving Judge in the batting order or altering the lineup dynamics have been floated as possible solutions to counter the intentional walks.
Challenges and Opportunities
While intentional walks may limit Judge’s opportunities to hit, they also create opportunities for other players in the lineup to step up and deliver. Rookie catcher Austin Wells has seen an uptick in his performance, becoming Judge’s primary protection in the lineup against right-handers. Wells’ success has demonstrated the potential benefits of intentional walks, as they can shift the focus to other players who can capitalize on the opportunities presented to them.
Managers, like Ron Washington of the Los Angeles Angels, have acknowledged the challenge of facing a player like Judge. Washington’s decision to intentionally walk Judge in a recent game illustrates the strategic dilemma that teams face when dealing with a player of Judge’s caliber. While the tactic may seem extreme, it is a testament to Judge’s impact on the game and the lengths to which teams will go to neutralize his threat.
Aaron Judge’s dominance at the plate has forced teams to adopt new strategies to contain him. Intentional walks, while effective in limiting Judge’s opportunities to hit, also present challenges and opportunities for both teams and players. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how teams continue to adjust their tactics to deal with the unstoppable force that is Aaron Judge.
Leave a Reply