It seems counterintuitive. In 2022 Yankee outfielder Aaron Judge is the big bopper in the American League (AL). OPS+ 201. His Yankees are 48-16. Judge leads MLB with 25 home runs (HR) in 237 at bats (AB). Judge could break the season home run record for the Yankees and AL: 61 by Roger Maris in 1961 in the first 162 game schedule; 60 by Babe Ruth in 1927 in the 154 game schedule. Both the 1961 and 1927 Yankees played a tie game, so add that: 163 and 155 games.
60 Home Runs in 154 games: Ruth yes. Maris no. Bonds, McGwire, Sosa? Monday, June 12, 2017
Roger Maris
Position: Rightfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-0, 197lb (183cm, 89kg)
Born: September 10, 1934 in Hibbing, MN us
Died: December 14, 1985
2022 is the first full season of the universal designated hitter (DH). So the number 9 hitter is not the pitcher as it was in 1961 and 1927. But that doesn't mean the #9 is a good hitter. Despite the Yankees leading in HR and Runs, they have three weak hitters: catcher, shortstop, one outfield spot. That could come home to haunt them in the tournament.
The problem with having your best hitter leading off and not hitting third is that his first time up he has no teammates on base. While he cannot have the bases full, batting third ensures that he bats in the first inning.
Batting leadoff gets him a few more plate appearances (PA) during the season. But are they enough to justify his batting with fewer base runners? Remember, he's batting behind the bottom of the order.
Yankee manager Aaron Boone has batted Judge mostly #2.
| Split | G | GS | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | ROE | tOPS+ | sOPS+ | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batting 1st | 6 | 6 | 29 | 24 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | .375 | .414 | .750 | 1.164 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .333 | 119 | 224 |
| Batting 2nd | 53 | 53 | 235 | 204 | 47 | 63 | 10 | 0 | 22 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 58 | .309 | .389 | .681 | 1.070 | 139 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | .325 | 102 | 170 |
| Batting 3rd | 2 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .250 | .333 | .250 | .583 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | 23 | 60 |
| Batting 8th | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | -100 | -100 |
Here's details on the six games in which Aaron Judge batted leadoff:
The Yankees won all six games. The #9 batter varies, so Judge is not "protecting" anyone in particular. The #2 batter has been only two teammates: Rizzo and Donaldson, three times each.
Batting in the next lineup:
Maris: most of the time Mickey Mantle (54 HR in 1961, second in MLB); Lopez for #60, Berra for #61
Ruth: all the time Lou Gehrig (47 HR in 1927, second in MLB)
Shouldn't Judge at least have Giancarlo Stanton (59 HR in 2017 with the Marlins)?
So, what do you think?
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