Aaron Judge’s remarkable performance in the 2024 MLB season has certainly been a topic of great discussion and strategic contemplation among rival teams.
Leading the league with an impressive 41 home runs and 121 RBIs, coupled with a .322 batting average, Judge’s dominance is making a significant impact in the baseball world.
In a recent match-up between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels, the conversation around intentionally walking Judge resurfaced.
Los Angeles Angels’ manager Ron Washington addressed this strategy, especially after a similar decision by the Toronto Blue Jays in a previous game. The Blue Jays’ decision to walk Judge intentionally sparked a debate within the MLB community, dividing opinions on the merits of such a strategy against a player of Judge’s caliber.
During their recent encounter, which saw the Angels securing an 8-2 victory over the Yankees, Washington discussed his approach to pitching to Judge.
He mentioned that while he would not choose to intentionally walk Judge with no one on base, he would consider it if the situation warranted.
Washington expressed his rationale, stating, “I would be a fool to just let him beat up on us. It’s no disrespect to anyone. You gotta do what you gotta do. I mean, he’s a bad boy. You just can’t come into this ballpark and let him beat up on you if you don’t have to.”
The Yankees, having recently navigated through a rough patch, have seen a resurgence in their performance following the acquisition of Jazz Chisholm Jr. This addition has bolstered their offensive capabilities and propelled them to the top of the AL East standings.
In the context of intentionally walking Judge, Toronto Blue Jays’ manager John Schneider also weighed in. Speaking on SiriusXM, Schneider praised Judge’s exceptional ability, stating, “Whenever Aaron Judge is putting the bat on the ball, it’s a home run.” He elaborated on their decision to intentionally walk Judge in their recent game, noting that avoiding Judge’s powerful swing was a strategic move to prevent additional runs.
Schneider admitted that Judge is “in a different category” from other players, highlighting his capacity to alter the outcome of a game with a single swing.
Schneider remarked, “If there’s a chance where we can avoid a run, or a couple of runs with one swing, we’re going to do it. He’s in a different category, I think, than anyone else in the league. He can flip the script of a game with one swing.”
This decision by the Blue Jays led to Judge becoming the first player in the past fifty seasons to be intentionally walked with the bases empty in the early innings of a game.
Such a tactic reflects the high regard in which Judge is held, and has led to comparisons with baseball legends like Barry Bonds.
With Judge showing no signs of slowing down and the Yankees benefiting from a stronger start to their season, the strategic decisions made by opposing teams continue to reflect the impact of Judge’s exceptional performance.
