Part 3/6:
While Judge has displayed prowess at the plate, hitting over 400 at certain points, a slump was always on the horizon. And now, as he starts the season slow—with a disheartening 2 for 20 performance littered with 13 strikeouts—the narrative shifts dangerously. Were this performance to occur in the playoffs, fans would likely label him a "choker." Yet now, in June, with strong overall stats still underlying his struggles, calls for benching him are springing forth. The pragmatic approach suggests allowing Judge to play through this slump: after all, he remains the team’s best player and crucial to any potential rally.