Just a month ago, Mookie Betts and the story of the ‘haunted’ Dodgers hotel spooked everyone out. And now, though not in a horror genre, a cartoon conspiracy has hit the baseball world. Yes, you heard that right! Aaron Judge took on an animated role to do on “Rubble & Crew,” the spinoff of ‘Paw Patrol.” But it wasn’t just him in the episode; it featured his dogs, and his wife was even a voiceover artist. But ever since that episode aired, things have mysteriously changed for the New York Yankees slugger.

The judge, who was in contention to reach and break his 60-homer record, is now facing a slump. He went into Sunday’s game with no homers and a .175 average over his last 11. And his power? It’s practically gone! Plus, it’s not just bad for him; it’s been a downward fall for the New York Yankees team too. They have slipped behind the Orioles in the AL East. Is this sheer bad luck, or did he just get hurt? 

Was Yankee’s star player Aaron Judge hexed?

While a cartoon conspiracy might be an overstretch, Aaron Judge sure is in a dry spell. But this isn’t the first time a player has hit a slump, especially Judge—he was in a slump earlier this year. Although the timing of his slump oddly makes the Paw Patrol conspiracy seem legit! But according to manager Aaron Boone, it is not any conspiracy but a little slump that their star player is facing. In Boone’s viewpoint, given how hot Judge came in as American League Player of the Month for three months, he thinks that pressure must have triggered a slowdown. Judge did hear about it, and he had a lot to say.

Aaron Judge mentioned, “Just don’t think about it; try not to hear those kinds of things,” he said. “I think I heard it earlier in the year, too, maybe. But nothing I can do about that. I’m not trying to hit homers. I’m just trying to get on base and drive guys in when I can. That kind of stuff comes when you take a good swing.”

With playoffs coming and him wanting to be in contention for 60 homes, it’s time to buckle up. Because over the last 11 games, Aaron Judge has posted a .175/.327/.250 batting line with no home runs, three RBIs, and 17 strikeouts. However, there has been an improvement, and he is making good contact, and the Yankees have won the first two games against the Chicago Cubs. 

Judge’s slump is just a natural dip after a hot streak

When a player of Judge’s caliber, who was performing at his peak, shows a little slump, fingers are surely pointed. Most thought that all the talk about him hitting 60 homers might be putting some extra pressure on him. But Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone cleared the air and said it’s just a simple slump. That judge was burning too hot for a while, and he needed to cool down. Boone remains confident that Aaron Judge will soon find his pace and seems like he isn’t that wrong. 

Aaron Judge Friday delivered a key hit, smashing a double inside third base in the first inning. This drove the team’s first run in their 3-0 victory at Wrigley Field. The following day, Judge had a mixed bag of outcomes. In his first at-bat with runners in scoring position, he swung at a 2-2 pitch from Cubs Javier Assad, and because it was far outside, it led to a strikeout. But later he redeemed himself by drawing a walk in the sixth inning. Then Judge showed his base-running skills by stealing third base after the opponent’s catcher made an errant throw. This eventually scored the Yankees’s second run.

Boone was thrilled with this and said, “That was huge to get us an extra run there. I liked that Judge was aggressive on the first pitch. I don’t think (Smyly) expected that, so to get the lead, and the jump was huge and obviously enabled us to get another run.”

Even though the team has won two out of the three games with the Cubs, Judge needs to buckle up more. Before the slump, his record was pristine—he homered nine times in the ten games and got to 51. Do you think he can get back that drive again this season? Let us know!