Great quote:
Judge’s legacy is still incomplete—and in New York, he will be a disappointment until he wins a World Series. (Perhaps until he wins several)
I get why this is the case, but as a NY sports fan (but non yankee fan) I just feel like it is unfair to him.
People talk about legacy in sports like it is an even playing field, but it is not. it depends on the sport. You can't win the world series by yourself. You get a couple ABs a game, the ball gets hit to you maybe 2-3 times a game. The impact you are even allowed to make on the game is severely limited compared to other sports. To say Judge is some disappointment if he can't get it done, lets the entire organization off the hook to me. I get that is the burden a star has to take on their back, but Judge's career has been so insanely successful, he has a few playoff moments (last night really cemented this) and he is overall among the best players in New York baseball history. That can't be taken away from him no matter what.
I also look back to some of the yankee playoff failures during the Judge era, the ASStros cheated against them, The dodgers last year were simply a better all around team. I can't really hold those failures against him even though he has had some October struggles.
I get for NYY fans, with the 27 rings, you need to win to establish yourself firmly into Yankee lore. But what if Aaron Judge just happened to be on the Yankees in the early 2000s? He wins multiple rings because the team was an all around powerhouse. For Judge, the best yankee teams he has been on during his career, got cheated against by the Stros. That isn't his fault.
Maybe i view "legacy" differently because I have never personally seen one of my teams win a championship, but I feel like Judge is an all time great yankee regardless if they finish the job. But I respect the other perspective as well
Edit - and no, I am not going a pro Judge rant because I bet on him to hit a HR last night and he won me a lot of money. I actually feel this way
