For the strangest reason in the world, Aaron Judge had the longest home run drought of his career following his debut as a TV star on Nickelodeon’s “Paw Patrol,” and this so-called curse might not just affect his season overall, but also the American League MVP race.
Aaron Judge May Be Losing the AL MVP
Since breaking his lucky bat on Paw Patrol, Aaron Judge…
• 13 G
• 9-for-49 (.184)
• 0 HR
• 3 RBIIt’s the longest stretch of his career (plate appearances) without a home run. pic.twitter.com/1qRuhWPyIN
— Dan Clark (@DanClarkSports) September 13, 2024
The month of September has seen Judge experience the worst power drought of his career, but that still does not accurately capture the month for Judge. Entering Friday, Judge was hitting .197 in September with no home runs and only three RBI. A clutch grand slam on Friday night may turn things around. Still, his abysmal month thus far has prevented him from nearing his record of 62 home runs in 2022. Judge still leads the league with 52 homers, but has fallen to third in the AL in average behind Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Just because a player has a bad month does not mean that that player will lose in the MVP race. However, it does not help that Judge is struggling in the season’s final month. Witt now has an excellent case for AL MVP. The chances of capturing the Triple Crown are now looking slim. Of course, a good end to the month would give Judge the edge, but the door is now open for Witt.
Witt May Have a Better Case Than Judge
This season, Bobby Witt Jr. is on pace to make history. Along with New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, they are on pace to be the first ever at the position to put together back-to-back 30/30 seasons. Witt has been very valuable to the Royals; speed, power, average, and base running have allowed him to become a scoring machine.
Witt not only has 120 runs scored but also has driven in 99 runs, boasts a .385 OBP, and leads the AL and MLB in average. Witt’s historical season can be capped off with the AL batting title. His impact on the previously abysmal Royals cannot be overstated. Without Witt, the Royals would likely be a lousy team. Yet, Kansas City has a genuine chance at winning it all, and the last time they had a real chance to win the World Series in 2015, they did. Witt seems to be good at everything, and now that Judge may not reach a landmark in 2024, Witt has a shot at winning AL MVP.
A 52-Homer Season is Not Enough for Judge
Bobby Witt may not lead the league in as many categories as Judge does, but Witt is good at almost everything. Offense, defense, you name it, and Witt could compete. Judge is strong in nearly everything except speed. However, a combo of speed and power like Witt has won Ronald Acuna Jr. the NL MVP, even though Matt Olson hammered 54 home runs with a high average in 2023. Even with Judge’s homer Friday, his slow September hasn’t helped him. This “Paw Patrol” curse may be costing Judge his chance at winning the AL MVP. An excellent end to September might be needed.
Photo Credit: © Brad Penner-Imagn Images
