ALCS-bound Yankees have to hope Aaron Judge's Game 4 is a sign of things to come

Gary Phillips, New York Daily News on Oct 11, 2024

Published in Baseball

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As reporters entered the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday night, a loud chant echoed throughout the dark room.

With champagne spraying and music blasting, the Yankees thunderously yelled over it all.

“MVP, MVP,” they bellowed from the back of the room.

As players screamed and jumped for joy, they encircled Aaron Judge. With the Yankees minutes removed from a 3-1, series-ending victory over the Royals in Game 4 of the ALDS, this was how they kicked their party into high gear.

Judge is a virtual lock to win his second MVP award in a few weeks, but he was far from his best self in the ALDS. Prior to Game 4, he went 1 for 11 in the first three games of the series, reinforcing the narrative that he’s failed to deliver throughout his postseason career.

A first-inning double play in Game 4 only accentuated that point after the Yankees spent the previous day expressing steadfast belief in the slugger. However, Judge snapped out of his funk in the sixth inning, smoking a 115.5-mph double off Royals closer Lucas Erceg, who entered the game early with Kansas City’s season on the line.

The knock was Judge’s first extra-base hit in the playoffs since the start of the 2022 ALCS, which the Yankees lost to the Astros in four games.

“It felt good,” said Judge, who also walked twice, scored a run and stole a base. “It’s about getting results. I’ll take four bloop singles at this point.

“It’s been a while, but just glad to get something going.”

With the Yankees now awaiting a matchup with the Tigers or Guardians in the ALCS, their hope is that Judge’s Game 4 is a sign of things to come.

While his bat showed some signs of life on Thursday, Judge is still hitting .154 this October. He has a .389 on-base percentage, but he’s yet to homer after leaving the yard 58 times during the regular season.

“For all the talk around it, he’s on base seven times in four games,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Man, I was rolling, I was playing good when those things were happening. He’s in a good spot, and we’re excited for the next challenge.”

Judge will enter his fourth ALCS with a .207/.316/.446 slash line, 13 home runs and 25 RBI over 48 playoff games. His 32.9 K% is the second-highest ever among players with at least 200 postseason at-bats.

“All I’m doing is trying to treat it just like the regular season,” Judge said. “Whatever the situation calls for, go out there and do it and help the team win a game. It was good to start off the winning right there.”

The Yankees will count on Judge improving his postseason numbers in the ALCS, which starts Monday at Yankee Stadium, and possibly beyond. They were able to escape Kansas City with a series victory despite their biggest star mostly staying quiet at the plate, but they’ll need more form Judge if they want to win it all.

For now, Judge and the Yankees have their sights set on a pennant.

“It means everything,” he said. “Since I’ve been here with the Yankees, we haven’t secured a pennant. The group that we have, how special this is, I’m just excited for this opportunity. It’s going to be something special.”