How should we judge Aaron Judge? On the basis of the first 10 weeks of the season? On his performance in the 11 weeks since then? Or should we wait for him to play the remaining six weeks and maybe post-season games, too, before making a final decision?
It is a conundrum. Look up that word in a Thesaurus, and you’ll find these synonyms: puzzle, mystery, challenge, problem, riddle. Choose any of those, and that’s what Judge’s season has been.
In the first 10 weeks, he was a rookie phenomenon, leading the major leagues or the American League in practically every significant offensive category. Look for his name now among the offensive leaders. Where did he go?
He was so good in the first 10 weeks and produced so many impressive statistics that as much as he has waned in the past 11 weeks he still is ahead of everyone else in some categories. For example, he finished the Yankees’ three-game series in Boston No. 1 in the American League in home runs, runs, walks, slugging and slugging plus on-base percentage.
Still, Judge’s drop off in production the past 11 weeks has been eye-opening. In that Boston series, he had a single in 12 at-bats.
The broadcasters for the Yankees and other outlets trace the start of Judge’s decline to the All-Star break, usually citing statistics since the break, which for Judge included the home run derby. Some players have declined to participate in the derby because they fear they will change their swing to hit more home runs in the Derby and that change would affect their production after the All-Star game.
Judge, however, started slipping nearly a month before the Derby and the All-Star game. The tipoff was the increase in his strikeouts.
In his first 59 games of the season, Judge struck out more than twice in a game only twice, and those games were five weeks apart. But in a five-game span in mid-June Judge struck out three times in three of the games. He has not stopped striking out.
When he struck out for his first of three times against Chris Sale of Boston Saturday night, Judge extended his consecutive-game strikeout streak to 36, one short of the record of 37.
The record was held by Bill Stoneman, who was a pitcher with the Montreal Expos and accumulated the streak over two seasons, 1971 and ’72. Bob Veale struck out in 36 consecutive games but also did it in two seasons, 1967 and ’68 with Pittsburgh.
Among non-pitchers Judge was tied with Dunn, who struck out in 36 straight games with the White Sox in 2011-12. Judge, however, cleaned out the record book Sunday by striking out in his fourth and final at-bat against the Red Sox.
Records aside, the Yankees’ concern has to be the increased frequency of Judge’s strikeouts. No matter how awesome a hitter he was in the first 10 weeks, Judge can’t be any kind of hitter if he is missing pitches or taking them for strikes.
In his first 59 games, Judge struck out 72 times, averaging 1.22 strikeouts a game. In his next 60 games, through Sunday, he struck out 95 times, or 1.58 a game. His offensive production has shrunk commensurately, his batting average plummeting from .347 in his first 59 games to .217 in his last 60 and runs batted in from 49 to 31.
As with all rookies who taper off as pitchers get to know them, it seems that word has spread around the league on how to pitch Judge, but he apparently made such an early impression that pitchers are still treating Judge carefully and cautiously. He has walked more often in his last 60 games (51 times) than in his first 59 (39 times).
ESPN.COM ENABLES JUDGE DEFAMATION
Given Aaron Judge’s meteoric start to the season, would this headline catch your attention:
“Aaron Judge Benched While Under Investigation By MLB.”
It caught mine because it was too bizarre to believe, but it appeared on a respectable website, ESPN.com, so I at least had to ask about it. Any truth to it, I asked, almost embarrassed.
“None whatsoever that I know of,” came the reply.
I looked at the phony article again and saw something I hadn’t noticed. “Sponsored headlines,” the site warned. I say warned, I suppose, because ESPN.com, was telling viewers “we didn’t post this.”
But ESPN.com did post it and was responsible for its content.
The website might not have written what was there, but it approved it and accepted it.
I asked an ESPN.com spokesperson about it.
“For your knowledge,” came the reply, “as is pretty common in the industry, there is an outside company that curates those stories and we can obviously flag and push back any stories that are problematic.”
And ESPN.com saw nothing with an article that makes up an imaginary investigation into Aaron Judge?
In an e-mail a few minutes after the first, the ESPN spokesperson wrote, “Thanks for flagging. Appreciate it.”
Yeah, I guess someone has to.
RECORD REMAINS INTACT—THEIRS AND MINE
Giancarlo Stanton, the Miami Marlins monster man, did not hit a home run last Wednesday. Bad for him. Good for me.
When the Marlins began their game with the Giants last Wednesday, Stanton had hit home runs in each of six successive games. When the game ended, Stanton was not in position to tie or break the record for home runs in eight consecutive games.
Dale Long set the record in 1956 with Pittsburgh, and Don Mattingly (1987) and Ken Griffey Jr. (1993) subsequently matched it. Why do I care about that particular record?
To be honest, I think I share it with Long, Mattingly and Griffey.
Long died in 1991 so he’s not around to express his opinion, but I have a unique perspective about that record that even Mattingly and Griffey don’t have.
I claim to be the only person who saw – in person – a home run in each of those streaks. It’s highly unlikely that anyone else saw Long, Mattingly and Griffey hit a home run in their eight-game streaks. I should mention that I have previously made this claim, and no one has disputed it.
NO LIKE QUESTION, NO RESPOND TO QUESTION
John Henry, the principal owner of the Red Sox, has initiated a campaign to change the name of Yawkey Way, one of the streets that border Fenway Park, where the Red Sox play.
Henry, whose 15 years of ownership and three Red Sox World Series championships give him plenty of public power, recently talked publicly about his mission and didn’t have to explain it.
Tom Yawkey, Red Sox owner from 1933 to 1976, was seen in Boston as a racist, who passed up chances to sign such African-American stars as Jackie Robinson and Henry Aaron. The Red Sox were the last major league team to employ a black player, adding Pumpsie Green in 1959, 12 years after Jackie Robinson became the first black major league player.
I thought Henry’s quest was admirable, but it prompted me to ask Henry a question.
“While I appreciate your admirable effort to eradicate vestiges of racism at Fenway,” I wrote in an e-mail, “it prompts me to ask a question about practices under your ownership. The Red Sox media guide is filled with pages of photos of Red Sox officials. I see no black faces. As far as I remember, under your ownership, the Red Sox have not had an African-American general manager or other top baseball operations official.
“In a column I am writing today, I plan to include an item about your effort to change the name of Yawkey Way. I would appreciate a comment from you on the issue I raise here.
“Please do not misunderstand. I am not accusing you of being a racist or suggesting that you are. I am asking the question because for many years I have written about minority hiring and raise the issue in that context. I would appreciate a reply any time today or tonight. Thank you.”
Because of technical problems that delayed the on-time posting of this column, Henry had an extra day to reply, but he has not.