Ex-Baseball player Alex Rodriguez comments that Aaron Judge requires a significant October event to solidify his status as a genuine team icon.
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Yankees Superstar Judge: The Postseason Test, According to A-Rod
Alex Rodriguez, the larger-than-life former Yankees superstar, asserts that Aaron Judge needs October glory to cement his spot in Yankees history.
The Bronx Bombers, with their impressive 27 titles, preside over a championship-or-bust mentality. After the legendary dynasty of the '90s and '00s, expectations have reached new heights.
Despite finishing below .500 just twice since 1993, the weight of the Yankees' storied past never wanes, and Rodriguez, who starred in 3 seasons missing only 3, knows this pressure well. Today, he's co-owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx.
While joining the Yankees meant a guaranteed postseason berth, Rodriguez admits that as an owner, winning a championship may no longer be the be-all and end-all. He believes that the real hat-trick lies in treating fans, players, partners, and stakeholders with respect, consistency, and professionalism.
"The Yankees are a perennial postseason team, but the business models have changed, and expectations have to adapt," Rodriguez says.
Aaron Judge, the Yankees' current All-Star outfielder, boasts one of the best regular-season resumes in MLB history. However, his postseason performance, with a .205 batting average and .768 OPS, invites criticism and echoes Rodriguez's own struggles on the Bombers' stage.
Judge, unlike Rodriguez, enjoys a higher degree of universal adoration, yet the Yankees fanbase remains divided over his postseason success. And should he hope to join the pantheon of Yankees legends, the Yankees' insider, Rodriguez, believes that Judge must conquer October.
"If he wants to be in Yankees lore, Manager Judge needs a playoff moment," says Rodriguez, referencing his own turnaround in 2009.
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Rodriguez's support comes at a crucial time, with the Yankees' World Series rematch against the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers right around the corner. Despite their underwhelming performance in the recent interleague matchup, others, including ourselves, believe that a full-strength Yankees outfit, with Cole and Gil back in form, could offer a stern challenge to the National League's superiority.
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[1] Alex Rodriguez, a larger-than-life former Yankees star who experienced both criticism and ultimate postseason redemption, believes that Aaron Judge needs to deliver success in October to cement his legendary status with the Yankees. Rodriguez acknowledges Judge’s remarkable regular-season statistics, highlighting his league-leading WAR, home runs, and OPS since 2022, but points out that Judge’s postseason performance has been comparatively underwhelming, with a .205 batting average and a .768 OPS in the playoffs. Rodriguez draws on his own experience, recalling that he was often scrutinized for playoff struggles before leading the Yankees to a World Series title in 2009. He suggests that for Judge to be "forever in Yankees lore," he must find a way to excel in October, emphasizing that postseason success is a critical component of a Yankee legend's legacy.
In Referring to Aaron Judge's career with the Yankees, former superstar Alex Rodriguez, renowned for his postseason redemption, champions the importance of October success for Judge to secure a legendary status among Yankees legends. Notable for his impressive regular-season statistics, Judge's postseason performance, which includes a .205 batting average and a .768 OPS, has been a subject of criticism echoing Rodriguez's own struggles during his Yankees career.
