Yankees Manager Responds as Aaron Judge’s Struggles Continue

Getty New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone meeting with reporters after a 4-2, Game 2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 26.

After giving up the first-ever walk-off grand slam in World Series history in Game One, the New York Yankees went cold at the plate in Game Two. They’re headed back to the Bronx down 2-0 to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

And none of them colder than captain Aaron Judge, who is 1-for-9 with 6 strikeouts in the 2024 World Series.

Yankees skipper Aaron Boone was asked if the slugger is pressing at the plate, following the 4-2 loss in Game Two.

“It’s just not getting in the good position,” Boone said on October 26. “When you get into that good, and everyone’s different in how they do it, you get in that strong position, where the swing decisions follow that. I think he’s kind of working through that. Once it happens, it happens like that.”

And when asked if the issue could be a mechanical one, Boone says that always plays a part in cold streaks at the plate.

“It always can be a little bit of a mechanical thing, when guys go through a little funk,” Boone continued. “When they’re just easily getting into their move and firing, then that’s when you make your best swing decisions.”

Whatever it is, New York needs Judge to snap out of it. Down two games and headed home, the Yankees have an opportunity to swing the momentum back onto the Dodgers with a strong performance in Game 3.

Aaron Judge: ‘Gotta Get the Job Done’

Judge told reporters postgame that his base hit at the end of Game One gave him some confidence going into Game Two. But, that ultimately, he’s not getting the job done at the plate against the Dodgers.

“Yeah, definitely, even the at-bat I had off of (Brusdar) Graterol,” Judge said on October 26. “I think the at-bat before that, getting a base hit. Felt some good things. (Blake) Treinen, he threw me a four-seamer, kind of up-and-in, and just missed it. Gotta get the job done in that situation. Felt better, but like I said, it comes down to I’ve gotta get the job done.”

Judge, Yankees Excited to Return Home

There’s no better place for Judge to get right than Yankees Stadium.

He hit .328/.478/.740 with 31 home runs and 71 RBIs at home during the regular season. New York’s captain, like many of his teammates, is excited to get back home in front of a crowd of friendly faces of the Bronx faithful.

“We’re excited,” Judge said on October 26. “The fans are gonna be rowdy, they’re gonna have our back, from the first pitch all the way to the ninth. We’re definitely looking forward to it. Wishing we were going home up two, but this is the spot we’re in. We’ve got a tough team, we can handle any adversity.”

Juan Soto echoed those same sentiments when speaking with reporters in the visitor’s locker room at Dodgers Stadium.

“I think the fans are gonna bring their energy,” Soto said on October 26. “When they bring their energy, they get the team going. It’s not easy to play in front of 40,000 fans against you. It’s not only the team, you’ve got to go against those 45 to 50,000 people that are against you. That’s why every team wants to get the top seed to start the series at home.”

For the Yankees to return to Dodgers Stadium and play a Game Five, they’ll have to win one game on their home field. And more than likely, Judge will have to find some contact of his own.