In the modern MLB era, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are two names that shine above the rest. Both players have done amazingly well and won multiple awards since their debuts in 2016 and 2018, respectively. Apart from individual glory, both have become crucial parts of their team’s core and lead the pack on and off the field. But even after all this, something is missing for the two MVPs.
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Winning a Word Series is a dream for every MLB player. Judge and Ohtani are no exception to it. But the problem is that they have not made a single Fall Classic appearance, and their dream of winning the championship is still far-fetched. As it has happened after all their personal success, the question arises, are both the star players wasting their time on the wrong teams?
Post-season Bad Luck Continues for Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani
In the last few years, Judge and Ohtani have ruled most of the charts. Whether of the home run, MVP, or all-star voting. The two find their place in the top five. It has all happened because of their brilliance and success on the diamond.
If they account for the last season’s stats, Judge averaged 0.311 with 131 RBIs and 62 HRs at an OPS of 1.11. In comparison, Ohtani scored 34 HRs, 95 RBIs, and averaged 0.273. He also claimed 219 strikeouts at an ERA of 2.33, a WHIP of 1.01. Both are highly touted players in not just the American League but in all of MLB.
But even after all was said and done, both their teams still failed to make it to the World Series. Judge finished his 2022 campaign with a loss in the championship series, while Ohtani’s season was limited to the league stage. It begs the question of whether their effort is enough or their failure is because of the uniforms they wear. The stats say that it’s the team’s failure, not individual error.
Are Teams Letting Down Judge and Ohtani?
Baseball is a team game, and for success, equal contribution from each player is necessary for success. And even if someone is talented and doing everything correctly, wrongs from others can hamper their win. This seems to be the case with Ohtani and Judge. Although both players seem to always give it their all, the lack of contribution from other teammates has let them down constantly. This is why Judge’s AL HR record last season could not empower the New York Yankees’ World Series dream.
The same is the story of Ohtani, who is experiencing a similar result this season. Though he has scored 43 HRs and 95 runs with 195 strikeouts, the Los Angeles Angels are languishing in the division. The latest 18-4 loss, without him pitching, adds to the claim of a team failing him. The story is very much true for Judge, who, despite missing almost two months of the regular season, is still the best contributor to the Pinstripes. And with the Yankees languishing last in the AL East, this will most likely be another without a world series, the last being the 2009 win.
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