It’s the approach. It’s all about the approach when it comes to the struggles of Aaron Judge. As I write this column, the Yankees have played 8 postseason games (1 WC, 5 ALDS, and 2 ALCS games). Game 3 of the ALCS is coming up at the Stadium tonight with the Yankees trailing in the series 0-2. Aaron Judge in 8 games is batting .129 with a .270 On-Base %. To make matters worse, he has struck out an astounding (& record setting) 19 times in 31 AB’s !! You may be thinking that the headline of this column is suggesting that Judge take a seat on the bench. Not at all !! What I am suggesting is that Aaron Judge needs to go back to the APPROACH which he utilized from the start of the 2017 season all the way through the All-Star Break in mid-July when he had a .329 BA & .448 On-Base% to go along with 30 HRs & 66 RBIs. Simply stated Judge needs to think up-the-middle & opposite field on all fastballs, and ONLY LOOK TO PULL OFF-SPEED PITCHES. This was the secret to his success that has gone unnoticed & now he has gone back to the hitting approach of late 2016 when he struck out 42 times in 84 AB’s. The elite pitching certainly has something to do with his lack of production. Because he is looking to pull the ball he is leaving himself vulnerable to off-speed pitches on the outside corner. In addition, umpires have been an additional challenge. They have given pitchers called-strikes on balls that are below the bottom of the 6″7″ Judge’s strike zone. Aaron never argues bad calls. That is admirable, & he shouldn’t start now, but maybe a subtle look or gesture might help get his point across. If that doesn’t work, an assistant coach might want to be a bench jockey, even if he gets tossed. Umps are expanding the zone on Judge & the Yankees need to voice their displeasure. There is another reason Judge has struggled in the 2nd half of the season. He has a slightly more upper-cut swing than in the 1st half. He drops his right shoulder slightly. He has popped-up a number of balls that he was driving with authority.
Here’s the good news. Aaron Judge used the right approach consistently from mid-March to mid-July. He can focus & get it back if he understands this and is disciplined. The Yankees are home now for 2 games and hopefully 3. This is a big deal. Judge dominated at home all season. He had a .312 BA & hit 33 HRs at the Stadium (a Yankee franchise record). Judge just needs to think up-the-middle, with a level swing. Take advantage of the short porch. Go to the opposite field. Ironically just like Carlos Correa did in game 2 of the ALCS. The Yankees lost 2-1 and Correa knocked in both runs. The 1st was a HR off a Severino FB that he drove just over the right field wall on a line drive.The other was a 9th inning walk-off line-drive double into the gap in right-center.
The entire Yankee team is flying open & trying to pull everything. It’s disappointing because the whole team was using the whole field in the 1st half of the season.
I wrote a column entitled OPPOSITES ATTRACT back in March. I complimented the teams new and improved approach. I said keep it going & everyone will notice. I also emphasized how valuable that approach would be in the POSTSEASON when the pitching becomes elite.
The time is now to re-establish the right APPROACH.
As always,
GO NYY !!
