Being the captain of the New York Yankees means you will always be in the spotlight.
Take the case of Aaron Judge, the current owner of the Yanks’ captaincy.
He just hit 62 home runs last year, breaking an American League record from 1961.
Fans, and even some media members and analysts, always want more.
They want to see him improve that mark, as hard as it may be.
Not only that, but everything that comes out of his mouth will be scrutinized.
People are continually testing him, his resolve, his patience.
He was recently asked whether he could hit 62 homers again in 2023.
Could we see another record season from Aaron Judge? 👀 pic.twitter.com/BNjTn9G2Ug
—SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 21, 2023
The good thing is that Judge always knows what to say, which is frankly a trait that most Yankees captains have had throughout history.
He said “you never know what could happen. We’ll see about 62,” leaving the door open to the possibility but without vowing that he will reach the number.
He knows, better than anybody, how hard it is to hit 62 blasts in today’s game.
Pitchers can throw 103 or 104 mph, curveballs are sharper and with more sudden break, changeups are nasty, and pitchers are coming with entirely new and mysterious offerings.
Not only did Judge hit 62 round-trippers, but he also had a .311 batting average and a .425 OBP.
In other words, he completed the trifecta of hitting: he showed some excellent contact, he hit the ball with authority, and he knows how to get on base.
The Yankees don’t need him to hit 62 homers again: they need Judge’s supporting cast to show up to its fullest.
He needs support, other stars offering some reliability.
He can’t do it all by himself.
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