Aaron Judge came up big for the Yankees on Tuesday night, blasting a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth off Orioles closer Felix Bautista.
Judge has come up big for the Yankees time and time again since the start of last season, though many still point to his lack of big moments in the postseason in what has otherwise been a decorated pinstriped career.
But Sal says Judge has what it takes to carry a team in October, and it’s coming to the Bronx soon.
“He’s got the ‘it’ factor. Now, he hasn’t gone on a run in the postseason yet that has carried the Yankees to a World Series appearance…but this year feels different,” Sal said. “There are certain guys I would say don’t get it done in the postseason, or don’t have that clutch gene…I don’t feel that with Judge. I just see a guy, for whatever reason, hasn’t been playing at the highest of levels in the postseason. Maybe it’s a credit to the great pitching he has faced, or changing the way they pitch to him, or pitching around him, in the postseason.”
Judge has had his moments in postseason games, like his home run in the 2017 Wild Card Game, or even as recently as game five of the ALDS last season. Judge has by no means been bad in October, as he holds a .772 OPS in his playoff career, but Sal says the explosion is coming in 2023.
“He’s a gamer,” Sal said. “The guy is just a ballplayer.”
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