Baseball season is back for broadcasters, too.
Michael Kay, known for his long tenure with the Yankees and as an ESPN radio host, has come to the defense of U.S. captain Aaron Judge amidst criticism following a subpar showing at the World Baseball Classic.
In the championship game, Judge managed to go 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, which understandably raised questions among fans regarding his performance and commitment on the international stage.
Kay responded to this backlash on his radio show, expressing his frustration over what he perceives as an overreaction to a single game. He pointed out that many Hall of Famers have faced similar scrutiny. “You can look up and down a lineup of Hall of Fame candidates, and they’ve all had their off days—except for Harper,” Kay remarked. He emphasized that Judge has had an impressive World Baseball Classic overall, noting that he has had as good an experience as anyone representing Team USA.
Throughout the tournament, Judge tallied 6 hits, including 2 home runs and 5 RBIs over 27 at-bats.
Despite hitting .222 with an OPS of .845, Judge wasn’t among the top performers on his team. Kay made the point that even Derek Jeter, a five-time World Series champion, is seen as overrated by some. Judge, who has yet to win a World Series, faces similar criticism. “There are a lot of haters out there,” Kay stated, reflecting on the current culture around athletes. He believes Yankees fans sometimes look for flaws in their own players. “I don’t understand that mindset,” he said. “Since 2009, he’s given his all to get the team to the postseason.”
Looking ahead, Judge and the Yankees are expected to be contenders for the American League championship again next season. The soon-to-be 34-year-old boasts a career playoff batting average of .236 and an OPS of .822.
