'It's scarier than Otani and Bonds?' For the first time in 52 years → New York's heart has written down, another 60 home runs challenge

Aug 05, 2024

애런 저지. AFP Yonhap News

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees is literally having a "heart of New York" year. Neither Barry Bonds (former San Francisco Giants) nor Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers) are being treated.

Judge is enjoying his best year since his debut. After 2022 (62), he is once again trying to hit 60 home runs. Currently, there are 59 faces, but there is no way that once you 'push away', you can't exceed yourself two years ago.

He has played in 111 games until the 4th (Korea time) with a batting average of 322, 41 home runs and 103 RBIs. The OPS (On-base plus slugging) for the season reaches 1.157. This is the best performance among players who have filled regular at-bats in a season that has progressed normally since Bonds in 2004.

It ranks first in the home run category of the Major League Baseball. He is overwhelming Ohtani (33), who ranks first in the National League. Based on the American League (AL), he placed his name in the top five batting categories except for stolen bases, including the first place in home run on-base hits, the third place in batting, the fifth place in most hits, and the second place in walks.

The Toronto Blue Jays properly showed how much fear they had. Toronto allowed Judge's 41st home run of the season in the first inning on the 3rd. Jose Berrios' 152km sinker was properly attacked. The batting speed reached 165km and the flying distance reached 130m. It was the second consecutive home run following the previous day.

Then, Toronto sent Judge, who met again in the second inning with two outs and no runners, to four pitches on purpose.

애런 저지. AFP Yonhap News

In the absence of a runner, intentional four pitches are a choice that completely abandoned the team's pride. Furthermore, it was an even more unconventional scene as it was in the second inning, the beginning of the game, and rather, the Yankees were leading 4-1. Local media described this as 'Toronto' that lost both patience and solution' and 'Toronto's last choice in the face of natural disasters'. Toronto lost two consecutive games on the 4th and 5th.

MLB.COM reported that it has been 52 years since August 11, 1972 that the intentional four pitches came out in the absence of runners in the first and second innings.

Moreover, the situation is different from then. At that time, there were no designated hitters in the American League. On this day, the California Angels (currently the Los Angeles Angels) sent out Glenn Bogman of the opposing Minnesota Twins on four pitches because the next batter was a pitcher.

Jersey (right) celebrates with Soto right after his home run. USA Today Yonhap News

Judge was "early in the game, and the margin wasn't that big" (Yankees 4-1 lead). I hope this doesn't happen.' He himself was quite surprised, and he also expressed regret that he did not have a chance to hit. He said "It's a pleasure to step behind Juan Soto." Soto helps a lot by drawing various pitches from opposing pitchers"I also thanked my teammates.

Toronto manager John Schneider said, "I didn't want to see Judge swing the bat. 'Be careful', It's better to let him go than to make a mistake while saying, 'You have to do well.'" Yankees manager Aaron Boone also said, `Jersey is having a great seasonHe named Judge after the legendary hitters of the Yankees and Major League Baseball, including Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio.

lunarfly@sportschosun.com

'It's scarier than Otani and Bonds?' For the first time in 52 years → New York's heart has written down, another 60 home runs challenge

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