Anthony Rizzo’s Performance Is Highly Disappointing Specially Now When Yankees Is Playing Without Judge
Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo, both stars for the New York Yankees, have a close connection that is well-known in Major League Baseball. The two’s relationship began to deepen in 2021, and it continued to do so during the Judge’s record-breaking summer of ’22. They have a strong relationship both on and off the field.
The situation is different from the 2022 season, though. Since Judge had to leave the team because of a toe injury, Rizzo’s performance has suffered.
Anthony Rizzo’s Performance Is Highly Disappointing Specially Now When Yankees Is Playing Without Judge
Aaron Judge’s catch through the right-field wall during the Yankees’ three-game series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles last weekend stands out among the many events that took place.
Anthony Rizzo was asked if he feels added pressure in Aaron Judge's absence:
"Judge is our guy. He's our leader. He's a good friend. You always want in the lineup, but if you try to get two hits in one at-bat, I haven't seen it yet." pic.twitter.com/Ww0SZJBE2V
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) June 15, 2023
The Dodgers could have had a huge inning coming, but the defending AL MVP raced down the liner and snagged the ball before smashing through the chain link fence and into the bullpen.
There is no fracture, according to manager Aaron Boone, and there is no set date for Judge’s return to the lineup. Judge was given a platelet rich plasma injection and has an official diagnosis of ligament sprain and contusion.
Some Yankees since June 5:
Anthony Rizzo: .038/.167/.038
Giancarlo Stanton: .091/.231/.227, 1 HR
Josh Donaldson: .091/.222/.364, 2 HR
Gleyber Torres: .200/.310/.440, 2 HR
DJ LeMahieu: .217/.250/.391, 1 HR
This is supposed to be Aaron Judge’s supporting cast. Not good
— Dylan Backer (@DylanBacker_) June 15, 2023
Judge, 31, was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday night due to a toe bruise and toe ligament strain.
No player, in my opinion, is more essential to the success of any team than Judge. Even though Judge is fit and active, the club often follows his lead: if he doesn’t hit or score runs, the team frequently sputters as a result.
Anthony Rizzo snaps a career-worst 0-for-24 slide pic.twitter.com/0OtS6lnQSI
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 14, 2023
Well, that’s pretty apparent!
But Anthony Rizzo, who has played in eight of the nine games since Judge injured his toe and has totaled two hits, has been in the greatest slump.
“Trying to be someone else is not going to do any good,” Rizzo said after going 0-for-3 with a hit by pitch in Wednesday’s 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Mets. “I don’t think subconsciously guys are trying to do too much.”
DJ LeMahieu is unplayable for his entire contract:
Anthony Rizzo continuously makes awful baserunning errors:
Gleyber Torres is one of our best hitters all year and makes a bad play that ends up not mattering: HE’S SO LAZY AND LOSES US EVERY GAME
— Hoodie Maybin (@HoodieMaybin) June 12, 2023
Rizzo is 2-for-37 (.054) without an extra-base hit over this whole month.
In Aaron Judge’s absence, the Yankees’ veteran hitters aren’t performing well enough.
Tuesday’s left field single by Rizzo ended a career-worst 0-for-24 slump.
He has gone hitless in six at-bats with three strikeouts since the hit, suggesting that nothing the hit appeared to resolve.
Anthony Rizzo is now hitless in his last 24 at-bats, the longest hitless drought of his career. pic.twitter.com/Tgpo4y6eo0
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 12, 2023
Among all MLB players, Rizzo is currently ranked 29th in home runs and 52nd in RBI. But his performance changed between the beginning of the season and the end.
Despite having a strong start to the season, the 33-year-old is having a major slump at the plate without his partner in crime Judge.
Anthony Rizzo’s prolonged slump hints at the possible role of the neck issue
Aaron https://t.co/qRQbSmJrKn #RepBX #MLB pic.twitter.com/1wjmozIBCi— Pinstripes Nation (@pinstripesnat) June 16, 2023
If a mental issue is present, a physical issue may exist?
Anthony Rizzo’s hitless streak could be influenced by the recent neck problem that forced him to miss time. He had a healthy.323 BABIP and a 124 wRC+ going into Sunday’s game, coupled with a 23.3 percent strikeout rate and a 7.8 percent walk rate.
In 2022, Anthony Rizzo signed a $40 million, two-year agreement with the Yankees.
Anthony Rizzo left today's game in the 7th inning (neck), but Aaron Boone says he's "fine" after going through tests postgame.#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/q0Ol7fGnif
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 28, 2023
Before starting a series Friday in Boston, the Yankees have scored 31 runs in nine games (3.4 runs per game) without Judge.
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