Aaron Judge has pummeled pitchers in this 2024 season in a mind boggling rate. Teams have tried to slow down Judge this season, but suddenly last weekend versus the Toronto Blue Jays a new strategy was developed.

After hitting another one of his gigantic home runs, he was walked three times in the game.

For the season so far Judge’s stat’s have been incredible. He is batting .323 with 41 Homers 105 RBI, a slugging percentage of .689 and a 1.147 OPS. If you take out his numbers in April when he usually struggles, those numbers are much higher, with an average of .368 and 37 home runs and 78 RBI’s in the last 78 games. Plus, Judge is on pace to hit 58 over the fence this season.

However, in recent games with teams intentionally walking Judge he hasn’t been able to produce as much as he and the Yankees have liked. With this New strategy employed buy teams, the Yankees must figure out a way to use this to their advantage.

Intentionally walking hitters is not a new strategy, pitchers have done this forever.

why are teams doing it?

The strategy became more prevalent in mid July when the Yankees went into a bad losing streak, and the players around Judge and Juan Soto couldn’t produce. Since June 4, Yankee hitters have gone 4 for 39 after teams have intentionally walked Judge 47 times. This has to change as the Yankees make a push for the division or wild card spot, to make the playoffs.

what can the yankees do to combat it?

Manager Aaron Boone has indicated that he might switch Judge and Soto’s batting order in the lineup. Instead of them hitting 3 and 4 respectively they might be switched to hitting 2nd and 3rd respectively. This might force teams to actually pitch to Judge.

Has a yankee player actually benefited from the judge strategy?

One player who has benefited from this is catcher Austin Wells. The Rookie catcher was stuck in the doldrums on June 27 hitting a lowly .217, but since this new strategy with Judge he has been hitting .313 with 6 home runs since then.

Wells was slotted in the cleanup role after regular catcher, Jose Trevino was put on the 10 day disabled list, with a injury. As Giancarlo Stanton battled back from injury as well, Wells will be called on to pick up the slack as the season comes to a close, but it will take more than Wells to come thru to change the actions by opposing teams.

Will walking Judge intentionally work? If teams do that, and other Yankee players can produce like Wells this strategy will backfire. And it will actually backfire twice, the Yankees will have a more complete line-up and teams will have to pitch to the talented Aaron Judge. Both will give the Yankees the desired results, which is closer to a play-off berth.

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