Aaron Judge’s recent baserunning error during a game against the Minnesota Twins has reignited concerns about a troubling trend within the New York Yankees’ approach – reckless decisions on the basepaths that continue to cost the team crucial momentum and, potentially, wins.
In a tense moment of the game, Judge attempted to steal third base in a two-run contest. Not only was it a high-risk play, but it also came at a time when one of the Yankees’ most consistent hitters was at the plate, minimizing the need for aggressive base running. The result? Judge was tagged out, and the inning’s potential fizzled out.
This was not a one-off mistake. In fact, Judge’s blunder is part of a growing pattern of questionable basepath decisions by the Yankees this season. According to Locked On Yankees, the team has now been caught stealing third base nine times, the second most in Major League Baseball, behind only the Tampa Bay Rays.
It’s also the most times the Yankees have been caught trying to steal third since 1999. That’s more than just a statistical footnote, it’s a red flag.
Aggression gone wrong and a wobbly bullpen
The issue seems to stem from an overly aggressive mindset, one that emphasizes taking chances rather than playing smart, situational baseball. In theory, being aggressive can keep opposing teams on edge. But when those risks repeatedly result in outs and stalled rallies, the strategy becomes a liability.
Unfortunately, that’s not the only trend troubling the Yankees as they push toward the postseason. Their bullpen, once a strength, has faltered at critical moments. Despite building a dominant 10-1 lead in that same game against the Twins, the Yankees allowed the Twins to claw their way back into contention. What should have been a stress-free win became a nerve-wracking escape.
Since the All-Star break, New York’s bullpen ERA has ballooned to 5.49, one of the worst among playoff contenders. Over the course of the season, they’ve posted a bullpen ERA of 4.61, placing them in the bottom third of the league. These numbers are alarming for a team with postseason ambitions. When games tighten in October, bullpens often decide who advances and who goes home.
Even more revealing, the Yankees have played 18 games this season where they’ve allowed nine or more runs, winning only three of those. That kind of inconsistency is unsustainable, especially when paired with careless baserunning.
While the Yankees currently sit in a competitive position, these recurring issues, from Judge’s baserunning decision to the bullpen’s volatility, paint a picture of a team that is not as disciplined as its record might suggest. Celebrating walk-off wins is fine, but near-collapses like this one should serve as a wake-up call. Aaron Boone and his coaching staff must rein in the unnecessary risks and demand smarter execution across the board.
In Judge’s case, the error may have been just one play, but it underscored a larger problem. With October baseball looming, the Yankees need to shift from reckless to relentless in a smarter, more calculated way if they hope to make a deep playoff run.
Read the full article here
