For the fans in Yankees Stadium, there was nothing better than before the game when they had to say goodbye to John Sterling. That’s because during the game, he once again greeted the team’s offensive line for the 2022-23 season.
Juan Soto is currently playing the role of Aaron Judge, who is trying to carry the team on his shoulders.
As for the judges, fans flocked to the venue earlier than usual to get their bobbleheads to land. However, in the ninth inning, Judge struck out for the fourth time in four at bats and retreated to the dugout to boos, his batting average dropped to .179 and his whiff rate exceeded 28 percent.
The Rays won 2-0 in 10 overtime innings, as the Yankees’ offensive line, other than Soto, continued to be confused by the opposing starting pitchers, and the lineup was filled with empty at-bats by players other than Judge.
The Yankees have won two of their last six games. In both wins, the attacks were more timely than expected. They won the final against Toronto last Wednesday, scoring four of their six runs in the ninth inning. They won the opener Friday night at home against the Rays, scoring all five runs in the seventh inning.
A run is a run. But the addition of Judge to Soto, along with a left-handed slugger and a more experienced (Volpe) and healthy (Rizzo) Anthony, is expected to provide a 1-for-9 lineup with 1-for-9 innings. Ta.
Instead, the overall offense fits into a Venn diagram from last season, with a slash line of .237/.332/.378 and .227/.304/.397 in 2023. Judge covered up a number of offensive sins with a historic 62 home runs in 2022, but an injury to his right big toe that forced him to miss eight weeks in the middle of last season completely disrupted a batting lineup that relied too much on one star. It was exposed.
But that has often been the case this season, despite the Yankees getting off to a 14-7 start. Volpe got off to a strong start, Oswaldo Cabrera surprised, and Giancarlo Stanton hit a couple of timely home runs. But Soto is the only one who has been consistent thus far, never having a bad at-bat.
On Saturday, he had two of the Yankees’ four hits and also lined up on the warning track at the top of the ninth inning in a 0-0 game. He made three of the Yankees’ four hardest-hit pitches. Soto was expected to perform with Judge in a long lineup that would crush his opponents. But that’s too often the case with Juan Soto and the Pips. Soto leads the Yankees by a wide margin in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage, and if you subtract Soto’s .354 batting average, the Yankees’ remaining batting average is .222.
Manager Aaron Boone decided not to start Gleyber Torres, who had hit .139 over the last 10 games and had six strikeouts in the past two games, dropping his season batting average to .195. Austin Wells, whose bat was supposed to be his calling card, has seen his batting average drop to .091. Trent Grisham had an unusual start but is 0-for-12 this season. Rizzo (.232) and Alex Verdugo (.233) had little pop. Wells, Grisham, Rizzo and Verdugo were supposed to be the keys to adding left-handed versatility and strength beyond Soto.
But Judge has gotten the most attention because of his talent, contract, track record and size due to his lackluster offensive line. He has two hits and 12 strikeouts in his past 20 at-bats, including a game-winning single in Toronto. So when he struck out in the ninth inning of a game against Jason Adam that should have delighted 47,629 people with a hit, he was booed by some in the audience.
Nestor Cortez, who pitched seven shutout innings, admitted he didn’t like the reception given what Judge has done for the organization. The judge said: “I have heard worse things and I would probably do the same thing.” [booing] In that situation. ”
The judge said he was feeling well and had no physical illness. He said there was more than one reason for the slow start, citing both mechanical issues and pitch recognition issues, but mainly because he knew he didn’t have many pitches to do damage based on reputation. , said we must seize the moment. — and has so far failed. He cited the long season and not worrying. about himself or his crime as a whole.
On Saturday, Cortez pitched so well (8 singles and no runs in 15 innings at home in 2024) that Judge’s high and far launch meant “Yankees Wein.” Instead, the offensive line without him and Soto continued to have empty at-bats. For a lineup that was supposed to be special, he still fell far short of Sterling’s effort.
