Aaron Judge’s October struggles and a watchful eye on Juan Soto as the Yankees advance to the ALCS

Hand up, I’m nothing more than a miserable Philadelphia Phillies fan right now but that doesn’t excuse Aaron Judge hitting 2-13 this postseason with the New York Yankees.

It’s not just this season either. Judge, clearly afraid of the bright lights, is hitting .207 with 38 hits, 13 homers, 25 RBIs and 31 runs scored in 48 games in the postseason in his career.

I gotta be honest. A stat like that from the New York Yankees’ poster boy puts a smile on this depressed face, even more so when it could move one of Aaron Judge’s teammates right down the New Jersey Turnpike next season.

The main benefactor of the Yankee Stadium “Short Porch”, Aaron Judge remained the American League home run leader this season and the face of the Bronx Bombers. He’s a total superstar in the regular season, that turns into a Halloween pumpkin every October.

Aaron Judge disaster class

Aaron Judge has the worst strikeout rate in MLB postseason history pic.twitter.com/SrxIQOg7S7

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 8, 2024

Even with Aaron Judge being a ghost in the ALDS, the Yankees, led by Gerrit Cole’s masterclass performance Thursday night, hurled their way back into the American League Championship Series with a solid 3-1 win over the Kansas City Royals.

In seven innings of work, the six-time All-Star limited the Royals to just one run, scattering six hits and striking out four batters. After his impressive stint, Cole handed the game over to the Yankees’ bullpen, which continued to shine in the AL Division Series.

Clay Holmes came in for a flawless eighth inning, and Luke Weaver wrapped things up in the ninth, pushing the scoreless streak for Yankees relievers to an impressive 15 2/3 innings this postseason.

With this victory, New York is set to face either Cleveland or Detroit in the ALCS, kicking off Monday night at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees are back in business and ready to chase another championship and Judge’s teammate, who doesn’t come up small in the post season, Juan Soto has been doing the heavy-lifting.

Soto, Gleyber Torres and Game 3 star Giancarlo Stanton drove in runs for the Yankees, who fittingly clinched a spot in their fourth ALCS in eight years on the road.

They won 50 games away from home in the regular season, their most in 21 years.

Juan Soto will be a free agent at the end of the 2024 MLB season and is expected a MASSIVE payday. His connection to the current lineup in Philly that includes former teammates Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber has Phillies fans keeping a watchful eye on the Yankees for the remainder of the postseason.

Fans are hoping that after a disappointing NLDS loss to the New York Mets, Dave Dombrowski and John Middleton may swing for the fences this offseason.

New York may have won the battle with the Knicks ending the Sixers season and the Mets ending the Phillies, the focus now is preparing to win the war.

The bidding war for Juan Soto.

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