Mintz: Judge could be booed at home if World Series struggles continue | Baseball Bar-B-Cast
Yahoo Sports senior MLB analysts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss Aaron Judge's struggles in the World Series so far. Hear the full conversation on the “Baseball Bar-B-Cast” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
And Aaron Judge looks awful.
Looks terrible.
Where are you at right now?
On Judge, I'm curious, Jordan, I want your opinion first as someone who has not spent a ton of time around him all year who is kind of looking at this through clean eyes and then I'll tell you where I'm at.
You know, the reality of judge is, yes, there has been swing of us in his game, but not to this point.
And when you're striking out this much, which is now approaching, I believe a almost a 50% strikeout rate this postseason that is untenable, even with some, a couple of big swings in between.
So a judge kind of do something I really hadn't seen in a long time.
It gave me a bit of concern for a player whose steadiness defines him.
It was the third at bat against Flaherty.
It was a 32 count and Flaherty threw him a heater and judge just swung right through.
It is in the strike zone.
It was clear that judge was looking for a breaking ball in that spot and if you watch the swing, he's just so late to it.
And you kind of just see him cuss at himself 14 letter F as he walks back.
And now granted, I don't wanna peel that out and be like judges in full panic mode because he said this right.
That's too simple.
But you don't see that a lot for this guy after the game today said all the right things.
We just gotta go and do it.
I think with a player like Aaron Judge, he's gonna do it.
He's too good for this not to turn around for him, but he's running out of time.
And if the Yankees get swept or losing five, he will be the story because he did not perform when the lights were at their brightest.
Why did he not perform?
Probably just the small sample size randomness that is inherent in baseball.
That's not what we're gonna be talking about.
Yankee fans are not sitting around being like, oh, it's fine.
It's small samples.
No, it will be about Aaron Judge not being able to perform in the World Series, which is both unfair to him because it is two games so far and completely understandable because he is the captain of the New York Yankees.
There is no player.
I am more fascinated about the judge.
He could get booed in game three, which is exactly what I was about to ask you if he strikes out in his first plate appearance.
I think he gets booed in game three at Yankee Stadium in the first game he's ever played in the World Series at Yankee Stadium.
Yes, I do think that could happen.