Monster Card Monday: 2017 Aaron Judge

This is the third Monster Monday card from the 2017 season.  I may have to take a break from the new set after this.  Courtesy of David Hawkes, it features Yankee right fielder and AL Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge.

As a rookie, he is most certainly a favorite to go very high in APBA league rookie drafts.  I know the Illowa APBA League is assuming that he’ll be gone very soon.

Judge hit the 50-homer mark with a total of 52.  I remember a time when that was barely untouchable (George Foster, anyone?). His numbers like 24 doubles, three triples and 52 homers remind me a bit like Mark McGwire’s.  He hit .284 with 128 runs and 114 rbis.  With Judge’s slugger profile, it’s a bit surprising that he led in runs not rbis.  He came in 2nd to Seattle’s Nelson Cruz’ 119 rbis.

Judge also led the AL in walks with 127 and he earned most of them.  Only 11 were intentional.  Alas, he also led the league in strikeouts with 208.

Remember when I mentioned Mark McGwire earlier?  Judge’s card is somewhat similar to McGwire’s 1998 card. Granted, McGwire’s has an extra 1 but the point I’m trying to make is this… sluggers with a high ratio of homeruns to doubles are given 1s and 5s and not 6s.  Judge’s power numbers of 1-1-5-5 should give him a good representation of his power (depending on where he is batted in the lineup).

A .284 hitter with a 44-8?  And a 25-9?  What’s going on here?  Well, take into consideration that Aaron Judge’s 2017 card has six 14s thanks to his league-leading 127 walks.  That will help his OBP (and his batting average).    Judge has a couple extra 13s but that is to be expected from his actual 208 strikeouts.

The tough call here is where to bat Aaron Judge’s 2017 card in the lineup for the maximum effect.  You’ll want someone on base, of course but those 13s won’t do you any favors in moving the runner along.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that Judge is an OF-3.  When I was a kid, most sluggers were rated OF-1 and 1B-2.  Definitely a bonus!

thanks, David!