Yankees still need help for Aaron Judge, Juan Soto with cracks starting to show
BOSTON — Nearly every day Aaron Judge does something to amaze.Both Judge and Juan Soto are performing beyond even enormous expectations.But ultimately, they will still need help.
We know that, and they do, too.Judge and Soto are nearly the modern-day version of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.It’s quite a show, really it is.Judge on Saturday threw a ball from center field 97 mph, and he did that without a hint of momentum.
From deep center field, he nearly threw out Masataka Yoshida at home.Then on Sunday, Judge hit a ball 114 mph with a 45-degeree launch angle, which seems impossible.Well, the impossible ball pierced the sky before flying over the Green Monster in left field.As for the amazing Soto, his 11-game streak of reaching base at least twice finally ended Sunday when he walked only once.
That’s hard to do, harder when the streak surrounds a three-day respite for an elbow issue.These two guys are incredible.But even with them both performing like co-MVPs, after a second straight loss to the Red Sox the Yankees’ lead is down to 1 ½ games over the scrappy and talented Orioles, who come to The Bronx Tuesday to start a series with a chance to take over first place in the American League East, baseball’s best division.
The Orioles have some starting pitching injury issues that might make things tough on them in the long run, but they are now tied with the Yankees in the loss column.They O’s are far from a pushover.They even hold a few edges.The Orioles possess a deeper lineup, and much deeper roster of position players.They have youthful enthusiasm.They have momentum, too, coming off a game where they crushed Zack Wheeler, maybe baseball’s best pitcher until Gerrit Cole returns (which we think will be soon) and took a series from the Phillies, the best team in the National League, such as it is.The Yankees had a big contingent of fans here at Fenway Park, but the second straight sellout crowd mostly enjoyed the Red Sox’s second straight victory ove...