CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 21: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees runs out a double in the top of … More
New York Yankees right fielder, Aaron Judge appears to have no equal this season.
Sure, the Dodgers Shohei Ohtani remains great, but Judge is currently as hot as any player this old scout has seen in years and years.
In his tenth season with the Yankees, if Judge isn’t hitting home runs, he is banging balls off the walls, or hitting the gaps for extra bases.
Judge is taking exactly what opposing pitchers are offering. To get his timing and his stride, Judge slightly lifts his front foot, and barrels the ball all over the field.
At one point in the Yankees recent three game series in Cleveland, against the Guardians, Judge smoked six straight hits. He had one triple, one double, and four singles. He walked in the seventh at-bat.
He left Cleveland, heading for the Yankees next series at home in New York against the Toronto Blue Jays, hitting a cool 415. Of his 39 hits, seven are home runs.
Judge is now hitting .415.
A patient hitter, Judge studies pitchers and has an outstanding awareness of how pitchers try to get him out.
Imagine what the opposing pitcher must think facing the 6-7, 282 pound Judge? While his strike zone is large, Judge has the ability to hit the pitch wherever it is thrown.
But Judge can’t do it all for New York. The team needs help on both offense and in the starting rotation.
BALTIMORE, MD – APRIL 29: The New York Yankees logo on a ball bag during batting practice prior to a … More
The American League East:
The Yankees may win the American League East.
However, as great as Judge has been, and he has been great, the Yankees have issues that must be resolved if they wish to win the 2025 World Series.
The Yankees left Cleveland with a record of 15-10. They are winning their share of games, but a rejuvenated Boston Red Sox team is nipping at their heels, only two games behind New York at the start of play April 25.
As the season progresses, the Yankees might even be challenged by the Blue Jays, who have their own star power, led by Vlad Guerrero Jr., who was just rewarded with a mammoth contract extension.
The Baltimore Orioles, once considered to have an open window to playoff success, have pitching concerns. The Orioles rotation is in a bit of a shambles.
The other team in the American League East, the Tampa Bay Rays, have not presented a serious threat to New York.
Yankees Issues:
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 29: Paul Goldschmidt #48 of the New York Yankees celebrates after hitting … More
Offense-
Aaron Judge can’t carry the offense by himself.
Remarkably, at 37-years-old, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has been a steady offensive contributor.
Signed to a one-year, $12.5 million contract, Goldschmidt has driven in runs, and has gotten some big base hits.
The Yankees cleanup hitter, most of Goldschmidt’s hits have been singles. Both Goldy and Judge would benefit if outfielder Cody Bellinger, who hits behind Judge, and ahead of Goldschmidt in the three-hole in the lineup. would be more productive. So far in this young season, Bellinger is having trouble reaching a .200 batting average.
Jazz Chisholm, who hits behind Bellinger has flashed some power, hitting seven home runs so far. But, like Bellinger, he isn’t hitting for average. And like Bellinger, he has left too many runners in scoring position.
Left-handed hitting Ben Rice has been helpful to the Yankees offense. He has spent time in the leadoff role, after Yankees manager pivoted off of catcher Austin Wells, who spent early games at the top of the lineup. But Wells really didn’t produce.
Rookie Jasson Dominguez has flashed moments of the talent projected by analysts. Not unlike many others in the Yankees lineup, Dominguez has been inconsistent. He has, however, flashed power and driven in some runs.
New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York … More
Pitching-
The Yankees really miss right-hander, Gerrit Cole, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Right-hander Luis Gil is also gone from the rotation, as he has a strained lat.
A third starter, Marcus Stroman, is on the Injured List with knee inflammation.
Free-agent pitcher Max Fried has been outstanding as the new ace of the Yankees staff.
He and Carlos Rodon are the only Yankees starters with an ERA of less than 4.0.
Here are the relevant pitching statistics of the Yankees starting rotation:
Max Fried-5 starts, 1.42 ERA, 1.01 WHIP
Carlos Rodon-6 starts, 1.06 WHIP
Will Warren-five starts-4.79 ERA, 1.26 WHIP
Carlos Carrasco-four starts, 6.53 ERA, 1.45 WHIP
Marcus Stroman-three starts, 11.57 ERA, 2.04 WHIP (currently injured)
Clarke Schmidt-two starts, 7.45 ERA, 1.66 WHIP
Righty Devin William was acquired as a free agent to close out games. So far, Williams has four saves, and a 7.88 ERA, with a 1.66 WHIP.
Right-hander Luke Weaver, who has closing experience, has really stepped up and responded to late inning high-leverage innings.
So while Judge is great, he can’t do it all.
The Yankees have to find more timely hits, and improved performances from their starting rotation to stay in the hunt for a World Series Championship.
