Even the biggest of stars couldn’t save themselves when a minute slip happens. It was the mid-week game between the Yankees and the Padres, and the tension was in the air. Every run and every pitch mattered. Suddenly, the stadium had a nostalgic moment from October 2024. Who was behind it? The Captain America, Aaron Judge. And there was yet another catch drop…

A collective yap from the crowd was heard in the fifth inning. No, not the highlight of Monday’s game. It was a new day and a new game. While it was a whole different story of unsaid pitcher rule on Monday, this time, there were no such rules to blame. The Padres were leading 1-0, and the game could have gone anywhere. But fans, commentators, and even Judge were left in disbelief at what had just happened!

At the plate, it was Martin Maldonado of the San Diego Padres. And at the mound, Max Fried was efficiently throwing 70 pitches with a 45% strike rate. Maldonado hit a fly ball to right field. Tracked the ball and set himself for the grab, Yankees skipper and usually dependable right fielder, made a rare mistake. And the ball fell out of Judge’s glove, causing an error and letting Maldonado safely go to second base. The reactions? A Deja Vu for fans!

The moment Talkin’ Yanks posted the video on their X handle, fans started recalling October 2024. Did they hold it back? Well, we are talking about MLB fans here – unfiltered MLB fans.

Remember the final battle between the Dodgers and the Yankees in the WS? A similar incident occurred in that game. A mistake that gave the Dodgers the championship ring. Fun fact, it also happened in the 5th inning, and who dropped the catch? It was Aaron Judge. He dropped the normal fly ball, which caused a huge defensive error, and let the Dodgers wipe out a 5-0 hole and finally win the game 7-6.

It’s not something Judge is very proud of. Obviously! “I think falling short in the World Series will stick with me til the day I die, probably,” Aaron Judge shared on his error. “Just like every other loss, those things don’t go away. They’re battle scars along the way. Hopefully, when my career is over, we’ve got a lot of battle scars, but also a lot of victories, too.”

Back then, it cost the championship, but luckily, this time, the Yankees saved the game against the Padres and won it by a close margin, 4-3. The Yankees might have won the game, but fans didn’t spare a second to criticize the incident.

Fan Reactions: A blend of nostalgia and disbelief

The groan that echoed through the Yankees’ stadium didn’t take much time, and the same was seen on social media. The Bleacher Creatures are known for their fierce and witty responses, and this time, too, it was the same. A single word that captured the scrutiny of the whole incident, “Déjà vu.” Yes, the Dodgers’ final game of 2024. It’s like fans singing, we have seen it before, it’s nothing new to us. Are they normalizing it?

The mistake wasn’t only one play; it triggered memories that Yankees fans never wish to relive. “The memories I never wanted.” It points out the emotional involvement supporters have in their team. A seemingly ordinary play mishap can bring back the agony of prior losses, the “what ifs,” and the “if onlys.”

Sarcasm served at best: “No wonder he’s never won a Gold Glove lmao.” He is a two-time MVP winner and is standing strong to get the third one. But the fielding error? A straight question on his defensive abilities, and these errors are the perfect example of why he has not won that award as of yet, at least.

Talking about Judge and Yankees, and wondering if you won’t hear Soto’s name? Impossible!“BUT I THOUGHT SOTO COULDN’T PLAY DEFENSE.”  Soto was once a part of a team, and his defensive skills weren’t good either. This clever comment humorously turns the narrative on perceived defensive strengths and shortcomings shared by these two former batting duos.

Echoing with others, but in a more witty manner, one comment read, “These plays are for October not May lol.” It underscored the final game highlight from the previous year. Interestingly, that year it was Judge’s first error, and that too coming in the most crucial game. So, was it something fans are expecting this October, too?

Aaron Judge’s dropped fly ball against the Padres was not only a regular mistake; it was a lightning rod for the Yankees fanbase’s mixed feelings. It’s not the first time the Yankees have dropped the catch against the Padres, but repeating these mistakes might not save the team every time.