Can Aaron Judge Catch Barry Bonds Record of 73 Homers?

 Aaron Judge is at it again. 

All apologies to Juan Soto who is going to command an hell of a contract on the open market this winter, but Aaron Judge is the Yankees runaway MVP, and he might be the runaway AL MVP yet again. 

Judge cracked two more home runs on Sunday afternoon, numbers 50 and 51, and is just 11 homers away from tying his own American League record from two years ago. Oh, and there is still a week to go in the month of August.

There is little doubt that Judge is going to tie his record of 62 homers, and mostly likely break it. The question is can he get to 70? Or 73? 

Aaron Judge homers on Friday. Getty Images.

 

Right now the Yankees slugger needs 22 home runs to tie the Major League mark set by controversial slugger Barry Bonds, who is still not in the Hall of Fame over suspicions he used steroids to enhance his chances to become the single season and all time home run king. 

Ironically, Bonds was inducted into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame this weekend. 

When Bonds broke the single season home run record with his 73 home runs in 2001 it came just three years after Mark McGuire set the MLB record with 70 homers in a single season.  Both players have been remembered for their alleged steroid use more than bringing fans back to the game. Neither player is in the Hall of Fame. And chances are -- whether you agree with it or not -- likely won't get that chance. 

 

 

If Judge gets to Bonds' mark what will the reaction be? Well, we can all guess. There will be those who claims that Judge's home run mark is the true single season record. There will be those claiming Bonds and McGuire deserve a reevaluation, that, despite their steroid use, did so in an era when a lot of players were juicing. 

It's a fascinating story-line to follow in the coming weeks as the Yankees are busy trying to hold off the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians from the AL East title and top seed in the American League playoffs respectively.

Jets Dominate Giants in Preseason Finale As Cut Down to 53 Awaits

 JETS 10 - GIANTS 6 

The final score indicated a closer game than what few saw on Saturday night as the Jets and Giants tussled - starter free - in the wrap-up to the 2024 preseason (thank god). 

If there is one thing to gleam from the game it is this: the Jets are incredibly deep, and Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas have some very difficult choices to make as the roster cut-down to 53 looms on Tuesday. 

 On the defensive side of the ball: Leonard Taylor III, Braiden McGregor, and Takk McKinley all went off against the Giants offensive line and combined for six of the Jets' eight sacks of quarterback Tommy DeVito. 

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One could argue that Taylor should be a lock to make the 53. He has been impressive all summer, starting with the Washington game two weeks ago. McGregor and McKinley have also been good, and McKinley is a favorite of defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich dating back to their days in Atlanta. 

With the Haason Reddick situation still unresolved, the Jets are going to need as many guys on defense who can get to the pass rusher as they can. They know what they have in veterans stalwarts like Quinnen and Quincy Williams, and Jermaine Johnson. 

 Will McDonald and Michael Clemens need to step up this year. But there is little doubt that any combo of Taylor, McGregor and McKinley are deserving - at least - of consideration for a roster spot. 

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As for Israel Abainkanda, he needed to impress in his last outing of the summer. With the emergence of Braelon Allen, Abinkanda is fighting for a spot on the roster. His 83-yards on nine carries, plus a 43-yard scamper for a touchdown could help, at least to make the practice squad. 

Quarterback: It's pretty clear that after three preseason games that Adrian Martinez is better than Andrew Peasley. One would think that Martinez could make the 53-man roster. As the Jets found out last year, one can never have enough quarterbacks on the roster. Martinez provides an elusiveness in the pocket and a solid enough arm to edge out Peasley. 

If Martinez doesn't make the 53, the Jets should instantly add him to the practice squad.  

Bear in mind that rookie Jordan Travis is likely to spend the season on IR as he continues to recover from a brutal knee injury last year with Florida State. 

A wild card here to watch out for is Mike White. The former Jet was released by Miami. Would the Jets consider bringing him back? 

Soto and Judge Power Yankees in Victory over Guardians

 If there is one thing that the 2024 New York Yankees are consistent at it is this: everything runs through the bats of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge. 

And on Wednesday night, it quiet literary did as Soto and Judge were responsible for all eight runs the Yankees scored in an 8-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians at the Stadium. 

Aaron Judge and Juan Soto high five after an 8-1 win. Getty Images.

 

Just look at the box score. It says everything one needs to know about this years. Yankees squad. 

Soto: 2-for-3 with two runs scored, five RBI, and one home run. 

Judge: 2-for-3 with two runs scored, three RBI and two home runs. 

Everyone else? A combined 2-of-26, or a batting average of .077. YIKES! 

 

It wasn't pretty, but when Soto and Judge are hot, it's all the Yankees need at times. It doesn't change the fact that this is a flawed Yankees team. We saw what a lot of teams have done against the Yankees since the month of June when Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo went down with injuries. They pitch around Judge and Soto, or find ways to get them out. And when that happens, losses are not far behind. 

Yes, the Yankees own baseball's best record at 74-53, but they are 25-32 since they stood at 49-21 on June 12. This is far from a perfect team, but the threat Judge and Soto play, gives this squad a heck of a chance to do damage come October. 

Right now, New York is in a dance with Baltimore and Cleveland for the best record in the American League. They got a ways to go to clinch that seed, something they desperately need if they want to make their road to a World Series easier. 

If the Yankees get there, they need Judge and Soto to do what they did on Wednesday: carry them.

Winker Lifts Mets in Critical Series Win over O's

 For years Jesse Winker has seen what it's like at Citi Field from the third base dugout. 

Since 2019 Winker has donned the uniforms of the Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners and Washington Nationals, and each time he made a visit to Flushing, he would ball out. Cracking home runs and base hits at will against the New York Mets. He owned a .283 lifetime batting average against New York. 

However on Wednesday, Winker finally gots Mets fans cheering for him. 

In the bottom of the ninth inning of Wednesday series finale with the Balitmore Orioles, Winker crushed an opposite field home run to left-center to lift New York to a thrilling 4-3 victory, all while injecting renewed life back into the Amazin's. 

Jesse Winker celebrates his walk-off homer. Getty Images.

 

 For a better part of the last month the enthusiasm that engulfed this Mets franchise had virtually disappeared. Grimace? Jose Iglesis' OMG song? Virtually nonexistent since the calendar turned to August. Entering play on Wednesday the Mets were 8-10 in the month of August, and had watched their standing in the wild card slip away. New York was 2.5 out of the last wild card slot with Atlanta the closest competition. 

So when Winker lifted that pitch from Seranthony Dominguez into the left-center field stands, the emotion boiled over. Winker had his first Mets home run, his first significant contribution since joining the team on July 30.  

The OMG song started to rock again. Citi Field was on it's feet. Winker screamed back at the dugout as he flung his helmet into the ground and proceeded to jog around the bases before greeting his teammates at home plate! 

 

"It's good to be on this side," Winker said afterwards. 

A moment like this is why the Mets went and got him. They saw the energy he brought to Citi Field as an opponent, and knew he would be a smash hit if he came here as a Met and gave the team some success. Now he finally has. 

And at a great time too. The Mets needed this series win over the Orioles. Especially with a huge road trip out west to San Diego and Arizona on the horizon for the next seven days. If the Mets can catch fire on this roadtrip, they might have Winker to thank for it.

Should the Jets start Aaron Rodgers vs. Giants in Preseason Finale

 Will the new York Jets start Aaron Rodgers on Saturday against the New York Giants in the preseason finale? 

It's a question that many have been asking for days since the Jets preseason clash with the Carolina Panthers, and all indications are that Rodgers likely will sit. Not only did the Future Hall of Famer get a bulk of the action in Wednesday's scrimmage against Big Blue, but Head Coach Robert Saleh has been mum about committing to Rodgers for the preseason finale. 

Check out the rest here from the YouTube channel the Sports Talk Nation! 

 

I also tackled the subject on Fox Sports New Jersey.

Haason Reddick demands Trade from Jets

 It only took four months, but Pro Bowl defensive end Haason Reddick has demanded a trade from the New York Jets. 

This incredibly bizarre situation is all about his contract negotiation with New York that has stalled. Reddick wants a reported $25 to $28 million annually, while the Jets rather have the player in camp and show a commitment to the team before extending such a big contract. 

 The Jets offered Reddick a deal before his trade from Philadelphia was complete, and he rejected it. Since then the Jets have made concessions like flipping guaranteed money for this year; he is due $14.25 million, and increasing on field incentives, but still nothing has been accomplished. 

 Reddick has been a hold out since June's mandatory mini-camp. Now he may not even suit up for Gang Green. 

There is chance this could extend into the regular season, and if it does, what a disaster for the Jets, and for Reddick. 

At the end of the day, it's all about leverage. The Jets right now have it, but it could swing the other way, should the Jets struggle without Reddick in the lineup.