The last few years have been tough for the New York Yankees, but there seems to be a change in their fortunes. The most successful team in the American League again showed promise after winning AL East and made it to the playoffs in style. Moreover, they defeated the upbeat Kansas City Royals to claim a place in the ALCS. It looks like the mojo of the pinstripes is back. But what about their captain, Aaron Judge—has he found his rhythm too?

The 2022 AL MVP dominated throughout the season, posting remarkable numbers that set him apart from the rest of the league. Aaron Judge also came closer to breaking his HR record in the league stage itself, only to fall short. Besides that, he also became the fastest to reach 300 HRs in MLB history. With such impressive accomplishments, expectations soared for him to carry this form into his seventh postseason. However, that is not the case, as the Judge failed to meet expectations. Given that 14-time MLB champions have been trophy-less since 2009, few think, the Yankees captain shares a part of the blame.

Is Aaron Judge’s struggles in the postseason to blame for the New York Yankees’ World Series drought?

Star players shine and earn immense admiration and respect. However, this also brings a flood of hopes and expectations. When things don’t go as planned, the criticism can be magnified. This has certainly been the case for Aaron Judge. The New York Yankees captain has been in the MLB since 2016 but is yet to win a World Series. Although on the personal milestones, the two-time MVP has done well, all thanks to league-stage dominance, his contribution to the postseason has been poor.

As Aaron Judge struggled again, journalists put him in a courtroom with blame for World Series Draught. In a conversation on the Rich Eisen Show,  Mike Hill questioned whether Aaron Judge was the cause of New York’s struggles in the postseason. Jayson Stark disagreed, labeling that view as an overreaction. He compared it to other sports, stating that eight swings cannot define the performance of any star player.

However, Rich Eisen countered and said, “Aaron Judge is a great guy, a media-friendly guy, people love him but once again if you don’t show up when it matters the most, I think it’s fair you can put the onus on him.” He added that “he has gone to the ALCS four times. Since 2021, he has not done a jack for the New York Yankees.” Is it true? If yes, can Aaron Judge change it in upcoming games?

The onus is on Aaron Judge to win a World Series

Winning a World Series is a dream that Aaron Judge undoubtedly shares. However, he has yet to achieve this goal despite numerous opportunities. One factor contributing to this is his postseason batting average, which stands at just .207, with only 12 home runs and 38 hits in 48 games. In stark contrast, his regular-season batting average is an impressive .288, highlighting a significant disparity. Yet, there is hope for change this year; notably, in the last four games, Judge has scored four runs.

Going by this, we can expect him to add more. As the World Series draws closer, the 32-year-old Aaron Judge will aim to change his fortunes, with his next eight swings potentially setting the tone for his performance. Will he rise to the occasion?

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.