Aaron Judge stands as a behemoth on the baseball diamond, a towering figure whose reputation as a power hitter commands respect from fans and foes alike. Yet, in this 2024 postseason—especially in the World Series—the Yankees star has endured a streak of disappointing performances that defy his usual talent.
It’s a brutal twist for a player who has spent the past season etching his name into the annals of baseball history with Herculean efforts at the plate. As he likely receives his second consecutive AL MVP award, it’s clear Judge might consider it hollow in light of his recent struggles in the biggest games of his career.
As the numbers lay bare the reality, Judge’s playoff stats are striking in their contrast to his regular season triumphs. During this postseason, he’s 3-for-22 with runners on base—a measly .136 average—and a jarring 0-for-10 with six strikeouts with runners in scoring position. Across 12 playoff games, the numbers are almost unrecognizable from the player we saw during the regular season: just 6-for-43, a .140 batting average in critical moments that carry the weight of years of postseason dreams.
Not to mention Judge’s shocking error in dropping a lazy flyball into short centerfield that almost any Little Leaguer would have caught—a miscue that opened the way to five unearned runs in the fifth inning, tying the score, and leading to the Yankees’ ultimate defeat, 7-5. in Game 5.
“This is one of the greatest meltdowns that I’ve seen in 40 years,” is how former baseball legend and now MLB analyst Alex Rodrguez called the Yankees’ choke of the World Series game they had in their hands and let escape.
There’s a sense of irony here, and not a small amount of sorrow. A man who, all season, exemplified what it means to be a franchise player—a player the city of New York trusted and rallied behind—now faces what is likely the most humbling experience of his career.
For Yankee fans, the comparisons to past postseason goats are inevitable. Leo Durocher’s famous jab at Mel Ott and his New York Giants—“Nice guys finish last”—comes to mind. Though Judge would probably be the first to admit his failures this postseason, there’s nothing inherently “nice” about a player who’s spent his career setting new standards of excellence. Yet, Durocher’s words still echo in sports culture, a warning that echoes most loudly when stars fall short in their biggest moments.
Judge’s regular season success was nothing short of historic. He posted a 1.159 OPS—the best in baseball—and, with 58 home runs and 144 RBIs, became one of just four players in MLB history to log multiple seasons with at least 58 home runs. He rebounded from a slow start, turning a .207 average and .754 OPS in May into a string of jaw-dropping months. That kind of production is rare and, for fans and analysts alike, seemed to suggest a postseason performance just as dominant. Instead, it’s been the opposite.
To be fair, Judge isn’t alone in facing the pressure of October—and falling short. Great players throughout history have struggled in the postseason, unable to translate their regular season success into the playoff magic that defines legacies. From Barry Bonds to Alex Rodriguez, who both faced seasons of postseason woes before eventually finding redemption, Judge joins a list of Hall of Fame-caliber players who couldn’t quite hit their stride under the brightest lights.
Still, this slump feels more pointed, more painful, because Judge has been such a beacon of hope for Yankee fans. His size, his power, his smile—all have made him a beloved figure in New York, and it’s hard not to imagine the weight he carries now, knowing he has fallen short.
Judge’s journey this postseason reminds us how much we ask of these athletes and how little we may sometimes see of the toll it takes. Behind the towering home runs and the crowds chanting his name, Judge is a competitor, and a fierce one at that. Despite his slump, his commitment to the Yankees, to his teammates, and to the fans has never wavered.
The disappointment isn’t only in failing to come through for the fans; it’s deeply personal. He’s invested his whole self into this season, building a campaign for the ages, only to see it crumble in October.
To his credit, Judge has remained composed, gracious, and focused. He hasn’t shied away from his struggles or blamed others. He’s taken accountability, a trait that reflects his leadership and his respect for the game. This isn’t about not trying, or lacking the hunger to win. Judge’s slump is a reminder that, sometimes, the game of baseball is cruel. Slumps can strike without warning, and momentum can shift as quickly as it comes. Judge knows that better than most right now.
At the end of the day, baseball is a game of imperfection. The best players fail seven out of ten times, and even legends are remembered for more than their stat sheets. Judge’s worth to the Yankees and to baseball as a whole transcends one disappointing postseason. His leadership, his humility, and his dedication to the sport are qualities that endure long after the final out. His slump, as painful as it has been, is a chapter in a career that is still unfolding, and one that fans and teammates alike know will continue with all the fire and focus he’s shown up to this point.
Sports in 2024 may be a different arena than in Durocher’s time, but the demands on an athlete’s spirit remain constant. Judge’s story this October isn’t one of “nice guys finishing last” or proof of the inadequacy of kindness in competition. Instead, it’s a reminder that every player, even those who seem larger than life, face moments of vulnerability and self-doubt. Greatness isn’t just about racking up wins and awards; it’s about resilience. It’s about how one faces adversity and continues pushing forward, even when the weight of disappointment seems insurmountable.
Aaron Judge may very well take home the MVP award for another stellar season. And while it may feel hollow right now, it’s an affirmation of what he brought to baseball this year—a season that captivated and inspired. For Yankee fans, his presence has been a gift, and if there’s one thing we can count on, it’s that Judge will spend this offseason doing everything in his power to ensure he returns ready to chase that elusive championship once more.
So yes, Aaron Judge may have been the goat of this fall classic in the most frustrating sense of the word, but he is also a man with a passion for the game that can’t be erased by one disappointing postseason.
His journey with the Yankees continues, and so too does the story of a player who knows that the game’s greatest battles are sometimes won in its most humbling defeats.
TONY CASTRO, the former award-winning Los Angeles columnist and author, is a writer-at-large and the national political writer for LAMonthly. org. He is the author of the forthcoming novel The Book of Marilyn He can be reached at tony@tonycHe is the author of the forthcoming novel The Book of Marilyn He can be reached at tony@tonycastro.com.
