Aaron Judge went 1-for-5 in Game 1 of Tuesday’s doubleheader, which drops his average to .310 as he chases the potential Triple Crown.
That’s likely what Judge is most upset about – a 1-for-5 that has him in a 7-for-35 slide (.200 average) when he has had an actual at-bat over the last 12 games (and 9-for-39 since hitting No. 60 two weeks ago) – but for the fans, it’s been disappointing that No. 62 hasn’t been one of those nine hits.
“That might have been the best ovation I’ve ever gotten,” catcher Kyle Higashioka smiled after Game 1, referencing the walk he drew with two outs in the ninth to give Judge a fifth plate appearance. “It just shows you how special his season has been, and how much the fans want it for him and want to see him get that one extra chance.”
Higashioka admitted that all of his teammates want to see No. 62, too, so any chance they get to keep the baton moving to get to Judge is a blessing – but given that he’s not hitting (although he has 17 walks in the last two weeks), is it clear that he’s pressing a bit trying to get it done?
“I mean, I’m sure he wants to hit it, but I don’t know. It hasn’t been much different than what I’ve seen or heard from him all year,” manager Aaron Boone said when asked about Judge slamming his helmet after one at-bat in Game 1. “He lets out a little down there, not much typically, but I think he’s fine.”
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As the YES Network postgame show noted, Judge swung at the first pitch in four of his five at-bats in Game 1, potentially looking for a first-pitch fastball, and on those swings he got two ground balls, a foul ball, and a single – not quite Judgian, but
“I do think he’s still getting good swings; at times you go through stretches (of adversity), and he’s gotten some pitches to hit lately and he’s gotten a good swing off and fouled it off – and that’s the fine line between really rolling and just a tick off,” Boone said. “He’s gotten some pitches and instead of sticking them, he’s fouled some off. So, I don’t think he’s far off. As far as his at-bats and where he is physically, he’s fine.”
Boone also noted that the fact that both the Yankees and Rangers (and Orioles before that) are playing out the string adds a little bit of an “odd wrinkle into the competition,” but like his skipper, Higgy doesn’t think Judge is doing anything different.
“He’s just going about his business like normal. He’s the ultimate professional, and we all look up to him in terms of his demeanor and how he carries himself,” Higashioka said. “Every day he’s an inspiration for us in terms of composure.”
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Boone said it was likely for Judge to be in the Game 2 lineup, making it 55 games in a row for Judge – all of which have been starts, and only a handful of which have seen him leave early.
And if he doesn’t go deep in the nightcap, well, expect something you rarely see when Judge comes up: more booing from the fans in Texas, if only because of the circumstances:
“I don’t necessarily look at that as towards Aaron, more just wanting to see the moment,” Boone said. “You see a different level of intensity in the crowd and sense of anticipation. I don’t think it’s anything more than that.”
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