Only God Can Judge Judge

jon abbey

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Rereading this thread from the start, pretty fun. Here was one tidbit I did not remember, two months into his incredible 2017 rookie season (June 11), he was at least temporarily leading the AL in all three Triple Crown categories, which he is very close to doing again with his late BA charge.

"4-4 today has him at least temporarily leading all three Triple Crown categories, .344 with 21 HRs and 47 RBIs."
 

SemperFidelisSox

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Off topic but I was just looking at the numbers from Mantle‘s Triple Crown season in ‘56. Ridiculous no matter how many times you see them. 11.2 WAR. 1.169 OPS. He only struck out 99 times. Judge has 158.
 

Max Power

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League K/9 this year is 8.4 in 1956 it was 4.7. So on an adjusted basis, they're roughly equal.

It's going to be a fascinating offseason. Judge is putting up numbers that are going to make it impossible for Cashman to let him go, but there's no way he's going to want to give a contract that long and valuable to someone in their 30s. I think he's just going to have to give in and accept that he's going to have a lot of wasted money on the roster in a couple years.
 

Koufax

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Babe Ruth still holds the record for the most non steroid-assisted home runs in the first 156 games of a season. Maris's record had an asterisk for many years and for good reason. Judge is about to smash the asterisk ceiling, having 59 home runs in 146 games.
 

Koufax

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I look at it differently. 13th all time, excluding Bonds, behind 6 seasons of Babe Ruth and 3 of Ted Williams.
 

E5 Yaz

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I now find myself rooting for Judge to win the Triple Crown and the MVP.
 

Mr. Stinky Esq.

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Anything to drive up the cost!

And yeah, I can't find a way to root against the guy. I hate that he's so likeable.
He is very likeable and seems like a genuinely good dude. I hope he keeps it up this year and breaks as many records as he can. The Sox are out of it and it hurts me none to see an individual player have an incredible season. (I sincerely hope he goes 0-fer in the playoffs along with every other Yankee though). As a small and dated footnote, I would note that he did beclown himself at least this once: SPORTS Aaron Judge Leaves Fenway Park Blaring 'New York, New York', which set up the retort: Red Sox troll Yankees by playing 'New York, New York' in Yankee Stadium clubhouse after advancing to ALCS.
 

dhappy42

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I know OPS+ adjusts for ballparks, but has anyone seen an analysis of what Judge’s 2022 season numbers would be if he played half his games at Fenway?
 

gryoung

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Sox fan here (just a disclaimer). I was listening to a radio show over the weekend where the interview was with the long-time announcer for the Cape Cod summer league.

He noted how Judge, when he played there, was not the power guy he is today. He had a long swing and didn't hit may HRs. However, batting practice was an event where he launched them.

Apparently, he shortened that swing.

He does seem like an overall nice guy.
 

E5 Yaz

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By the time the season is over, Yankee fans will have convinced themselves that Judge, after being born in a log cabin that he built himself, proceeded to invent baseball.
 

bellowthecat

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He does seem like a prime candidate to run high BABIPs with that ridiculous hard hit rate and only a minuscule IFFB% (2.8% this year). However the HR/FB% doesn't seem likely to stay that high. His 41.4% would best Ryan Howard's mark of 39.5% set in 2006 (Jim Thome has the career record at 27.8%). Once more fly balls start to stay in the park his BABIP will fall a bit, but are still likely to remain at elite levels. Not exactly a news flash, but what Judge is doing right now is amazing.
Judge's career has been remarkable. Probably the most I have ever been able to enjoy a single Yankee's success. I posted this during his torrid rookie season. He finished the year with a 35.6% HR/FB rate, good for second best all time and currently fifth. Yeah he did see sorta some regression in that rate, but barely. Currently he has the the highest career HR/FB rate in the 21 seasons there is data for it.

1) Judge 32.3%
2) Tatis 31.4%
3) Thome 27.8%
4) Ohtani 27.1%
5) Stanton 26.9%
 

cromulence

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The funny part is that the guy who got the ball actually slipped out of the scrum pretty quickly, so there's a decent amount of time there where it's just a pile of people fighting to get absolutely nothing.
 

BaseballJones

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Sox fan here (just a disclaimer). I was listening to a radio show over the weekend where the interview was with the long-time announcer for the Cape Cod summer league.

He noted how Judge, when he played there, was not the power guy he is today. He had a long swing and didn't hit may HRs. However, batting practice was an event where he launched them.

Apparently, he shortened that swing.

He does seem like an overall nice guy.
I was in the Alaska Baseball League in 2011 (not as a player; as a team chaplain), and it turns out that Judge was in that league at that time. I had no idea who he was. But I saw him live in that league, which is kinda cool.
 

E5 Yaz

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I'm actually looking forward to Hill's strategy for pitching to him.
 

Daniel_Son

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If you haven't read this ESPN article yet, please read it; it epitomizes why we all follow baseball and how it truly can be a bonding experience.
"That's a really special thing that you did," Judge told him. "You impacted people around the world with your kind gesture. It doesn't matter what uniform you wear. Bringing people together is what it's all about. Thank you."

Judge continues to be an absolute class act. I really hope he signs with us next year.
 

mauidano

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I had tears in my eyes when this happened and the story first came out. And then again today after reading the story. Everything you read and hear about the guy is just down to Earth classy. I’m pulling for him big time.
 

luckysox

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I had tears in my eyes when this happened and the story first came out. And then again today after reading the story. Everything you read and hear about the guy is just down to Earth classy. I’m pulling for him big time.
I just flat out wept reading that. I hadn’t seen it before now.
 

Sin Duda

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"That's a really special thing that you did," Judge told him. "You impacted people around the world with your kind gesture. It doesn't matter what uniform you wear. Bringing people together is what it's all about. Thank you."

Judge continues to be an absolute class act. I really hope he signs with us next year.
I'm a Sox fan and even I hope he signs with you too. "Kids" of all ages should have their heroes, and Aaron Judge is legit.
 

Murderer's Crow

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It wouldn't bother me because they would so very likely have to overpay. In a scenario where Judge is going to the Mets or Sox, I would have to predict today that the contract is so far and away above what we expect that I almost would be happy we don't get "stuck" with it. However, if we go to $320 and he signs somewhere else for $335, I'd be furious.
 

jon abbey

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When I started this thread after he was drafted nine years ago, I certainly did not expect to end up posting a New Yorker cover of him.

 

bankshot1

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Bank's not cashing Jame's check.

NSF

That's a lot of hyperbole for a guy with one monster season.

I'm surprised James never saw Mays or Griffey the younger (pre-injuries) play.

For context the greatest season I ever saw a player have was Yaz in '67.

But he was not in Willie Mays league as an all-time great
 

Yaz4Ever

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Not accusing Arraez of ducking, but is he injured? Judge hasn't helped himself with a .192 BA over his last 10 games, but I'd be really pissed if he does well today and tomorrow and barely misses the Triple Crown without Arraez putting up another AB. I hate that I'm rooting for a Yankee, but as Ale Xander's list shows, there are a few that are nearly impossible to hate - Rivera, Bernie, and Judge would certainly make that list of recent players.