Shohei Ohtani’s "Dodgers is so much money" while Aaron Judge’s "Yankees vibe is durable" going into playoffs, says MLB insider
MLB analysts Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker, along with sportswriter and insider Jon Morosi, talked about the pressure on Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge going into the postseason. Both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees have claimed their respective division titles in 2024.
Just like their teams, Ohtani and Judge are having hugely successful seasons individually as well. Ohtani leads the NL with 54 home runs and 130 RBIs, while Aaron Judge leads the AL with 58 homers and 144 RBIs.
On Friday's episode of 'Blair and Barker', Morosi talked about which of the two superstars faces more pressure to perform in the playoffs.
"I think Ohtani [is under more pressure to perform], just because he has never been in the postseason before. Because of the Dodgers' first round failings in the last couple years, there's this almost palpable anxiety surrounding them. Whereas [for] the Yankees, they're a little bit more at ease in the spotlight." Morosi said [21:20]
"The Yankees have developed a really cool vibe, that I think is durable, and with the Dodgers, it's so much money, so much expectations, and the [pitching] rotation is a gigantic shrug emoji at the moment. I just think that's not a great way to begin the postseason." Morosi added [22:54]
Both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani hit home runs en route to the postseason
On Thursday, as the New York Yankees won 10-1 against the Baltimore Orioles at home, captain Aaron Judge hit his 58th home run of the season, a three-run shot in the bottom of the seventh inning, as fans at Yankee Stadium chanted 'MVP'. With the victory, the Yankees clinched the AL East division title for the 21st time.
Meanwhile, Dodgers' star man Shohei Ohtani hit his 54th homer of the season, as the Blues beat the Colorado Rockies 11-4 at Coors Field. As is usually the case with the Japanese phenom this season, a home run is usually complemented with a stolen base. Ohtani stole his 57th bag of the season in Friday's game, breaking Ichiro Suzuki's record for the most bases stolen by a Japanese-born player in a single season, set in 2001.
With Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani batting .400 and .591 in their last ten games, respectively, Yankees and Dodgers fans will be excited as their biggest stars head into the most important stretch of the season in hot form.