BOSTON — Aaron Judge does something surprising almost every day, and both he and Juan Soto are performing beyond even the loftiest expectations.
But at the end of the day, they still need help. We know it, and they know it.
Judge and Soto are like the modern-day equivalent of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. It’s one hell of a show.
Judge threw a 97 mph ball from center field on Saturday, but it had no momentum whatsoever. From deep center field, Judge nearly got Masahiro Yoshida out at home plate.
Then on Sunday, Judge hit a ball at 114 mph with a 45-degree launch angle that seemed impossible. And yet this impossible ball shot through the air and over the Green Monster in left field.
The phenomenal Soto had 11 straight games with at least two on-base hits, a streak that was finally snapped on Sunday after he reached base just once on a walk. That’s tough to do, but it’s even tougher when you factor in a three-day rest period with an elbow injury.
Both are great, but despite co-MVP-like performances from both, after two straight losses to the Red Sox, the Yankees are 1.5 games behind the gritty, talented Orioles. The Orioles come to the Bronx on Tuesday to begin a series with a chance to take over first place in the American League East, the best division in baseball. The Orioles have injury issues with their starting pitching, which could make things tough in the long run, but they’re currently tied with the Yankees in losses.
The O’s are by no means weak, they even have an edge.
The Orioles have a deeper lineup and much deeper fielders.
They have youthful enthusiasm.
They’re on a roll, coming off a series win over the Phillies, the best team in the National League, over Zack Wheeler, who may be the best pitcher in baseball until Gerrit Cole returns (and I think he’ll be back soon).
Fenway Park was packed with Yankees fans, but the sellout crowd for the second straight game was the best part of the Red Sox’s second straight victory over what was considered the best team in baseball. The 36,718 fans enjoyed another stellar performance from a young, hungry team that stole a franchise record nine bases and beat the Yankees 9-3 despite a towering first-inning home run by Judge.
At 50-24, the Yankees remain arguably the best team in baseball, but some flaws are beginning to show.
Nine stolen bases seems like it came out of nowhere, but it’s a lot (the last time the Red Sox stole eight was in 1940) and it could serve as a blueprint for other teams.
“We need to get that under control better,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I’m very confident in us controlling the running game. We didn’t do that today.”
The old cliché “The Yankees suck” was thrown out after the record-setting ninth stolen base, but in this instance it seemed appropriate.
There are some rare concerns in this wonderful season.
Gleyber Torres is again unhittable. He hit a home run in Kansas City but is now hitless (0-for-11). He seems to get into a pull-up-heavy mode at times, and that may be what’s happening here.
DJ LeMahieu’s hitting has only gotten worse. The two-time batting champion has yet to get above the Mendoza Line.
Anthony Rizzo has shown signs of success recently, but was forced to leave the game after colliding with Red Sox relief pitcher Brennan Bernardino while reaching base on a throwing error by Red Sox first baseman Dom Smith. Rizzo is in significant pain from an injury to his lower arm, and his absence will exacerbate an already shaky infield.
When Rizzo reached base, the Yankees were trailing slightly, 4-3, in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and no outs. The Yankees had a chance to take their first lead since Judge’s stunning home run, but Torres had a brutal at-bat, striking out after leading 3-0.
The comeback ended when Jose Trevino struck out and LeMahieu, who hit a laser-like ball to center field, was out on a line drive.
Boone praised LeMahieu’s at-bat but acknowledged that the player is “not complete yet” as he is batting .188 in his recent return.
A generally solid bullpen allowed five extra runs, and while the Yankees are rumored to be prioritizing relief pitching at the deadline, that’s no surprise, as their starting pitching is excellent (and will be even better with the addition of Cole) and their flashy lineup of stars and former stars has been a bit top-heavy but has generally been productive.
The Yankees still have the most dynamic duo in the league, and it might just lead the team: Soto and Judge are first and second in the league in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, runs scored, adjusted RBIs and time on base.
They can’t do much more than that, but they can’t do it alone, and we believe they need more help than they got in Boston.
