Aaron Judge may be powering through the 2025 MLB season with record-breaking performances, but former Yankee great Alex Rodriguez knows that individual stats in New York mean little without postseason success.
In a heartfelt message to the Yankees‘ captain, Rodriguez revealed the emotional scars of his own career and offered a clear message: finish the job when it matters most.
Rodriguez, who won just one title in 2009 despite a Hall of Fame-worthy career, recently reflected on the devastating 2004 ALCS collapse against the Boston Red Sox as a cautionary tale for Judge and this current Yankees roster.
“For me, 2004 was an absolute debacle, being 3-0 against the Red Sox and then losing four in a row… For five years, I did not sleep comfortably; until five years later, we brought it and we dropped the hammer,” Rodriguez told Fox News.
Judge seeks redemption in 2025 with postseason scars still fresh
The Yankees‘ heartbreaking loss to the Dodgers in the 2024 World Series-highlighted by Judge‘s missed catch in Game 5-still lingers in the minds of fans. It was a moment that could have sealed his legacy. Instead, it left a void. Rodriguez sees in Judge a parallel to his own career trajectory, and believes that moment of redemption is still possible.
“He needs a moment like that, and I think he would get one,” Rodriguez said. “Being part of the Yankees, you’re gonna crack the season every year versus the teams that go to play out of every 3-4 years. So that’s on his side and talent on his side.”
Rodriguez‘s comments come as the Yankees sit atop the AL East with a 38-23 record, and Judge is once again in MVP form. His .392 batting average and 21 home runs are a testament to his individual brilliance, but as A-Rod knows all too well, playoff success is the true currency of Yankee immortality.
Rodriguez also commented on the challenges of postseason matchups without key players, noting the recent 2-1 series loss to the Dodgers. “It’s obvious when you play the Dodgers, you need your full team. And without Gerrit Cole, it makes the team suffer,” he said.
The new Yankees lack the dynastic DNA of A-Rod’s era
The Yankees team that surrounded Rodriguez in the 2000s was built to dominate. Alongside legends like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, A-Rod was part of a roster with championship pedigree. That squad won five World Series titles between 1996 and 2009.
Today’s Yankees, while consistently competitive, haven’t won it all since Rodriguez lifted the trophy in 2009. Beyond Judge and Cole, the current roster lacks the star-studded depth and postseason experience of years past.
That’s not to say this team can’t win. But the path is tougher, and Judge’s leadership will be tested. With the weight of past failures looming, Judge must find a way to rally his team and deliver when October arrives.
Rodriguez’s message is ultimately one of belief, not doubt. He knows the heartbreak, but he also knows what it takes to overcome it. For Aaron Judge, the mission is clear: lead the Yankees back to glory, and earn the ring that will define his legacy.
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