Teams typically issue intentional walks so that they don't have to pitch to New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge, but the Chicago White Sox wanted to go against the grain.
As Judge marches his way toward potentially setting the American League home run record for the second time in three seasons, the Yankees captain has been getting intentionally walked at a high rate over the last two weeks.
But the White Sox made a baffling decision Wednesday night — one that no team will ever make again.
Interim manager Grady Sizemore, in his sixth game, decided with a base open to intentionally walk Juan Soto — who has six home runs in four games — in front of Judge.
The logic was to create a force play, hoping Judge would roll over into a double play to end the inning.
How did that pan out? Let's just say there's a reason the White Sox are on pace to break the record for losses in a single season.
"I was mad about the intentional walk. So that kind of fueled it. Usually 3-0 I'll take a pitch," Judge said after the win.
It's one thing if you intentionally walk Juan Soto before Aaron Judge and it's a talking point for a night or so
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) August 15, 2024
But because it led to Aaron Judge's 300th home run, people will be talking about this Grady Sizemore decision forever. It's his sixth career game as a manager pic.twitter.com/OpzaZadI3Y
Even considering the fact that Judge has grounded into his share of double plays, he's on such a tear right now that's it almost guaranteed he would come through in this situation.
Judge's 300th career home run came with plenty of history. He reached that mark faster than any player ever in just 955 games. The closest player was Ralph Kiner at 1,087 games.
It also took Judge the fewest at-bats to reach the milestone, who did so in 3,431 at-bats. The next closest players are Babe Ruth (3,831), Mark McGwire (3,837), Ralph Kiner (3,883).
Judge also became just the second player to reach 300 career home runs before 1,000 career hits. The other player was McGwire.
Next up on the list is 400 for Judge. He can break the record again by reaching that mark by hitting 100 home runs over his next 457 games — or one every 4.5 games. His current rate is one home run every 3.2 games.
Soon enough, we will be talking about where Judge ultimately ranks on the pantheon of home run hitters as he approaches that mark and the ones to follow.
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