Few tasks in baseball are more daunting than staring down at Aaron Judge from the mound. Towering at 6-foot-7 with a wingspan to match, Judge isn’t just an imposing figure — he’s a nightmare for pitchers of all kinds. Thus, facing Judge isn’t just about talent; it’s about surviving an at-bat against one of the most complete hitters the modern game has seen. And that’s something the Blue Jays tried against Judge in their series against the Yankees.
While the Yankees took the series by 2-1, the Jays’ pitching strategy, particularly against Judge, is catching all the limelight. Well, Aaron Judge, with his rare blend of raw power, elite plate discipline, and the ability to cover the entire strike zone, forces pitchers into a near-impossible game of precision and nerve. Even the best arms often find themselves trapped between two bad choices: Challenge him and risk getting crushed, or pitch around him and watch him walk to first base.
“He does such a good job of understanding that pitchers are going to pitch him carefully,” the Blue Jays manager, John Schneider, said. “And when they do that, mistakes happen, usually, and he does not miss those.”
Seems like the Blue Jays scrutinized Judge’s hitting minutely and planned their pitching accordingly. They reportedly stuck to their game plan, never backing down from the challenge. They didn’t give Judge any freebies, refusing to issue intentional walks and instead trusting their lineup.
What followed was barraging Aaron Judge with a mix of sinking fastballs and nasty sliders, keeping him off balance. This forced him to either chase or settle for weak contact. The result? Aaron Judge was limited to three singles and no RBIs in his first 10 at-bats against them. But was that enough?
No, when the name is Aaron Judge. He certainly made the Jays’ slugger, Chris Bassitt, pay for leaving one cutter over the plate in the sixth inning. That homer was another example of Judge’s ability to capitalize on pitches that don’t quite hit their mark.
Incidentally, it was more satisfying for the Yankees, considering the home run came against Bassitt. His track record against the Yankees is nearly historic with that absurd 0.82 ERA. Moreover, he was rolling through the first month of the season without allowing a homer, which makes him a formidable opponent. But what about the Jays’ offense?
It’s going to be brutal for the Blue Jays
Currently ranked #4 in the AL East, with a 13-15 record, the Blue Jays are far from taking a lead. Yes, their pitching is relatively good, including restricting Aaron Judge to a large extent. But it’s been a rough stretch for their offense.
Take the example of the Astros series last week. Only two runs and nine hits in three games against the Astros highlight the issue, right? They just haven’t been able to generate consistent power or timely hits. Thus, without the ability to hit the ball over the wall, it becomes a grind to score. That too in a ballpark like Daikin Park, where power hitters can make a huge difference (.242 BA).
The series against the Yankees witnessed the Blue Jays’ offense collecting 32 base runners in three games. However, managing only four runs is brutal, especially against a team like the Yankees, where you need to capitalize on every opportunity. So, the lack of timely hitting, especially power hitting, is sinking them right now (92 runs). Yes, Alejandro Kirk’s clutch hit was a rare bright spot. However, two homers in the whole series aren’t nearly enough when you’re constantly leaving runners stranded.
Well, the Jays got plenty of talent in that lineup, so it’s a head-scratcher as to why the bats have been so quiet. If they want to contend, they’ll need to find a way to get the offense going and avoid relying solely on their pitching staff.
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