Ill never forget the ppl on this app that actually believed something was wrong with Aaron Judge
— John Grimaldi (@_JohnGrimaldi) May 9, 2024
This is just a taste of how people were reacting to Aaron Judge’s slow start to the regular season. If you go to Yankees Twitter, the fans there are way worse. Many were flat out panicking that a guy, who has literally never been bad when he is healthy, had suddenly fallen off a cliff.
I am here to tell you all that I never wavered.
It was always just a matter of time, and Judge is on an absolute heater right now; he went full en fuego, MLB Slugfest style, against the Minnesota Twins this week. The Yankees are now a laugh-out-loud 120-44 in their last 164 games against Minnesota. Judge has been hitting the cover off the ball, which included a 4-4 day in game two of this three game series, where he went: home run, double, double, double, walk.
AARON JUDGE
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 16, 2024
467 FT
113 MPH
his 54th 113+ mph HR. only Giancarlo Stanton (80) has more under Statcast (2015, incl PS)
his 12th 460+ ft HR, tying Ronald Acuña Jr. + Kyle Schwarber for 2nd-most in span, behind only Stanton (18) https://t.co/b7ijdhLyLQ
Aaron Judge 4/26 vs. 5/15 pic.twitter.com/YSSnTjasLc
— Yankeesource (@YankeeSource) May 15, 2024
This is all happening just as Juan Soto started to cool off a bit after his own scorching hot start; a start that helped propel the Yankees to several wins (he was often the only contributor offensively in losses). What happens when they sync up? it’s going to be an absolute nightmare for a lot of teams. The Yankees became the first American League team to get to 30 wins this season.
The Rest of the Team
The Yankees team average is up to .254, which is good for sixth in MLB. They’re third in OPS, fourth in RBI, and fourth in total bases, and second in home runs. The offense is humming right now and so well-balanced.
Something that needs far more credit than the offense is the starting pitching for New York. I will be the first to admit that I was worried how this rotation would hold up without the services of 2023 AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. They have all been fantastic. Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt have far exceeded anyone’s expectations of them coming into this season, and this situation. They’ve both been lights out. Nestor Cortes has struggled in comparison, but a 4.02 ERA is nothing to hang your head about, and he is still second on the team in strikeouts, behind Schmidt.
The other veterans, Marcus Stroman and Carlos Rodon, have been excellent. Both provide a fire and passion to this team on the mound and in the clubhouse. Stroman is always the first guy out of the dugout to congratulate the starting pitcher that game when their day is over.
This team is fun, this team is good, and this team has been well coached in every aspect; from Boone’s lineup and roster decisions, to how hitting coach James Rowson changed the approach of this entire lineup, and pitching coach Matt Blake being a total guru. When Gerrit Cole gets back, that’s just another HUGE piece to an already dominant team.
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