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New Post: Aaron Judge makes MLB history after crushing his 300th career home run - https://lnkd.in/gkbUmMai Aaron Judge hit his 300th career home run on Wednesday night, and while that itself may not be eye-popping, the rate at which he did it certainly is.The Chicago White Sox intentionally walked Juan Soto to face Judge while trailing 6-2 in the eighth inning, which is certainly a choice.Judge made them deliver. On a count of three balls and no strikes, Judge ripped a line drive at a velocity of 110.1 mph off his bat into the left field seats at Guaranteed Rate Field, giving New York a 9-2 lead on his 43rd homer of the season.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees hits a single in the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 13, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Quinn Harris/Getty Images)Wednesday night marked Judge's 955th game of his career (eight years and one day since his MLB debut). It's, by far, the quickest anyone has ever gotten to 300 homers in their career.The previous record was held by Ralph Kiner, who did it in 1,087 games - it took Judge 132 fewer games, almost a full season, to accomplish it.Judge is on a fast track to his second MVP Award - he leads the majors in home runs, RBI (110), on-base percentage (.467), slugging percentage (.707), walks (102), and total bases (301), all while his .333 average is the second-best mark in baseball, behind Bobby Witt Jr.'s .349.He's actually putting up better numbers than in his 62-homer season two years ago, and at this current rate, even that record is under threat. In all likelihood, Judge will become the fifth player to have three 50-homer seasons, joining Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Alex Rodriguez.With 300 home runs in 955 games, that's a 162-game pace of 50 homers a season. Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees hits an RBI double in a game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 12, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois. (Matt Dirksen/Getty Images)RED SOX'S JARREN DURAN HAS TOP-RATED JERSEY ON MLB SHOP AFTER ANTI-GAY SLURIt's quite a turnaround for Judge. On May 2, he was hitting just .197, and Yankee fans were clamoring for him to be benched. But since May 3 (entering Wednesday), he's hitting .387 with a 1.342 OPS.Judge is in the second year of a nine-year, $360 million deal he signed after that season. His $40 million annual average value is the most ever given to a position player, although teammate Juan Soto might surpass that in the coming offseason.That contract looked scary last year because Judge missed a chunk of the season with a toe injury after crashing into a concrete portion of the outfield wall at Dodger Stadium. He was hitting .291 with a 1.078 OPS at the time of the injury, but he hit just .238 after returning. It doesn't seem like fans need to worry much anymo

New Post: Aaron Judge makes remarkable MLB history with 300th career home run - https://lnkd.in/gN4svbiF Judge hit his 300th career home run on Wednesday night, and while that itself may not be eye-popping, the rate at which he did it certainly is.The Chicago White Sox intentionally walked Juan Soto to face Judge while trailing 6-2 in the eighth inning, which is certainly a choice.Judge made them deliver. On a count of three balls and no strikes, Judge ripped a line drive at a velocity of 110.1 mph off his bat into the left field seats at Guaranteed Rate Field, giving New York a 9-2 lead on his 43rd homer of the season.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMWednesday night marked Judge's 955th game of his career (eight years and one day since his MLB debut). It's, by far, the quickest anyone has ever gotten to 300 homers in their career.The previous record was held by Ralph Kiner, who did it in 1,087 games - it took Judge 132 fewer games, almost a full season, to accomplish it.Judge is on a fast track to his second MVP Award - he leads the majors in home runs, RBI (110), on-base percentage (.467), slugging percentage (.707), walks (102), and total bases (301), all while his .333 average is the second-best mark in baseball, behind Bobby Witt Jr.'s .349.He's actually putting up better numbers than in his 62-homer season two years ago, and at this current rate, even that record is under threat. In all likelihood, Judge will become the fifth player to have three 50-homer seasons, joining Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Alex Rodriguez.With 300 home runs in 955 games, that's a 162-game pace of 50 homers a season.RED SOX'S JARREN DURAN HAS TOP-RATED JERSEY ON MLB SHOP AFTER ANTI-GAY SLURIt's quite a turnaround for Judge. On May 2, he was hitting just .197, and Yankee fans were clamoring for him to be benched. But since May 3 (entering Wednesday), he's hitting .387 with a 1.342 OPS.Judge is in the second year of a nine-year, $360 million deal he signed after that season. His $40 million annual average value is the most ever given to a position player, although teammate Juan Soto might surpass that in the coming offseason.That contract looked scary last year because Judge missed a chunk of the season with a toe injury after crashing into a concrete portion of the outfield wall at Dodger Stadium. He was hitting .291 with a 1.078 OPS at the time of the injury, but he hit just .238 after returning. It doesn't seem like fans need to worry much anymore.The Yankees own a half-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles for the AL East lead with their 72-50 record.Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

🚨 HISTORIC: Juan Soto Signs Groundbreaking $765M Deal with the New York Mets! 🚨 The baseball world is buzzing as superstar Juan Soto has inked a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, making it the largest deal in sports history. This move cements Soto’s place as one of the greatest talents in the game and signals the Mets' unwavering commitment to building a dynasty. Contract Highlights: Duration: 15 years (through 2039), with no opt-outs unless the Mets fail to adjust his salary by $40M after the 2029 season. Value: $765 million guaranteed, surpassing Shohei Ohtani’s $700M contract with the Dodgers. Incentives: Potential to exceed $800M with performance bonuses tied to MVP votes, home run milestones, and postseason achievements. No-Trade Clause: Soto is locked into New York unless he decides otherwise, ensuring long-term stability for both the player and the franchise. Why This Matters: Record-Breaking Rivalry: Soto turned down a $760M offer from the Yankees, intensifying the rivalry between New York’s baseball giants. Mets’ Statement: Owner Steve Cohen continues his aggressive approach to transforming the Mets into a perennial contender, solidifying them as a premier destination for MLB’s elite. Soto’s Legacy: At just 26 years old, Soto brings his .282 career batting average, 41 home runs from last season, and an uncanny ability to deliver in clutch moments to a Mets lineup already brimming with talent. What Soto Brings to the Mets: 1️⃣ Star Power: A generational hitter known for his discipline at the plate, Soto is a two-time All-Star and a World Series champion. 2️⃣ Championship Aspirations: His addition immediately elevates the Mets’ chances of making a deep postseason run and claiming the World Series. 3️⃣ Consistency: Over six MLB seasons, Soto has proven to be one of the most reliable bats in the league, with an OPS consistently above .900. Looking Ahead: With Soto now leading the charge, the Mets’ lineup becomes one of the most formidable in baseball. Paired with their already impressive roster, this deal positions the team to dominate both on the field and in the headlines for years to come. 📅 Mark your calendars, Mets fans—the Soto era begins in 2024, and it promises to be one for the ages. 💬 What do YOU think of this historic deal? Will Juan Soto be the final piece of the Mets’ championship puzzle? Drop your thoughts below! #JuanSoto #Mets #MLB #RecordBreakingDeal #BaseballHistory #SotoEra #WorldSeriesBound Credit: Fox Sports

As the baseball season winds down, here are some observations: - Because the MLB season has more games than any other professional sport, the sport is closer to life's ups and downs than NFL football. The NBA and NHL seasons are as long as MLB's, but they play about half the number of games. The standings today look far different in many of the divisions than they did at the halfway point. - The Milwaukee Brewers were the 1st team to secure a playoff berth. The team lost its manager and star pitcher. It was not expected to do as well as it did. Another surprising team is the Cleveland Guardians. They have a rookie manager, and only one big name star, Jose Ramirez. I saw them play in August. They execute superbly on fundamentals and lead their division. - Given the hoopla about all the stars the Dodgers acquired during the off-season, they are barely ahead of the Padres, largely because of the number of injuries to pitchers. - The Yankees did not make a lot of moves at the trade deadline, but the move they made, the Jazz Chisholm trade, and the energy he brought to the team has made a big difference. The Orioles' poor performance in the last 8 weeks has been puzzling. - The Astros looked dead after 1/4 of the season, but they will again finish 1st in their division. - The American League Central Division is likely to have 4 playoff teams because the White Sox, the 5th team, is historically bad. Each of the other 4 teams has a better record as a result of the unbalanced schedule that gives them more games against the White Sox. In short, the MLB season also reflects life's many surprises and disappointments. This season has also been more interesting than most because there are no dominant teams. Every one has flaws.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, SHOHEI OHTANI He's done it. Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers' $700 million man, became the first player in MLB history with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season. And he did it in the most Ohtani way possible, with perhaps the greatest single-game offensive performance of all time, Jeff writes. By the numbers: He entered Thursday's game against the Marlins — a 20-4 Dodgers rout — with 48 home runs and 49 stolen bases. He then proceeded to go 6-for-6 with 3 home runs, 2 doubles, 2 steals, 10 RBI and 4 runs scored. It was the first five-hit game of his career (much less six), and he's just the 16th player in MLB history with 10 RBI in a game. In fact, he's the only player to have — over the course of their entire career — a game with 10+ RBI, a game with 6+ hits, a game with 5+ extra-base hits, a game with 3+ home runs and a game with 2+ steals, and he did it all in a single game. To inaugurate the 50-50 club. What a season: The soon-to-be three-time MVP, who in case you've forgotten is rehabbing from elbow surgery, is batting .294/.376/.629 with 51 HR, 51 SB, 120 RBI and 123 R. And by the way, he's only been caught stealing four times. His 50th steal. The big picture: Thursday was an all-time game at the end of an all-time season from a player who might just go down as the greatest of all-time. And while I've run out of words to describe him, here's Yahoo Sports' Jordan Shusterman on Ohtani, who has proved yet again that he's capable of the impossible. This season wasn't supposed to be about Shohei Ohtani's stats. After three years of increasingly mind-blowing on-field achievements from the two-way player, Ohtani's offseason jump from the Angels to the Dodgers introduced a wealth of intriguing new storylines involving the once-in-a-lifetime talent. But with elbow surgery at the end of last season restricting Ohtani to DH duties in 2024, our collective instinct was to put our hopes for more never-before-seen feats on hold for a year while he rehabbed his way back to two-way status. In the meantime, there was no shortage of captivating subplots to monitor: A $700 million free-agent contract with unprecedented deferrals. Ohtani's fit atop a lineup with two other MVPs in Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. How he would handle his DH responsibilities while simultaneously rehabbing the second elbow surgery of his career. A gambling scandal involving his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, that rocked the baseball world just before Opening Day. The chance to play in October after six consecutive losing seasons in Anaheim. Teaming up with another Japanese superstar in Yoshinobu Yamamoto. His wife! His dog! And on and on. With so much else surrounding Ohtani's debut season in Dodger blue, his raw statistical output — temporarily limited to that of just a hitter (and one who doesn't play defense) — seemed likely to be secondary.

This day in history: Dive into the most remarkable sports milestones, game-changing victories, and legendary performances that have left an indelible mark on the world of athletics. - 1948: Stan Musial named NL MVP - Baseball. Musial had one of the best seasons in baseball history, leading the NL in batting average, runs, RBI, hits, doubles, triples, and slugging percentage, with 39 home runs. - 1951: Don Hutson's #14 jersey retired by Green Bay Packers - Football. Hutson, a future Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver, had his number retired, marking the first number retirement in Packers franchise history. - 1951: Philadelphia Eagles set NFL record for 25 rushing first downs - Football. The Eagles achieved this record in a 35-21 win over the Washington Redskins at Griffith Stadium. - 1952: Billy Vessels wins 18th Heisman Trophy Award - Football. Vessels, a halfback from Oklahoma, received the prestigious award for his outstanding performance. - 1954: Frank Selvey sets NBA record for free throws - Basketball. Selvey made 24 of 26 free throws, scoring 42 points in a game against the Minneapolis Lakers. - 1984: Dan Marino breaks NFL single-season touchdown pass record - Football. Marino threw his 37th touchdown pass of the season, eventually finishing with 48 touchdown passes. - 1993: Houston Rockets tie NBA record for consecutive wins to start a season - Basketball. The Rockets won their 15th straight game to start the season, matching the Washington Capitols' all-time record from 1948-49. #SportsHistory #LegendaryPerformances #AthleticMilestones #BaseballHistory #FootballLegends #NBARecords #NFLMilestones #HeismanTrophy #BasketballHistory #GameChangingVictories

Wyatt Langford: Breaking Records and Defying Odds in MLB As a preface, this article is going to be a little bit different from my others. Usually, I write strictly stats-based arguments that show no bias toward any team in particular. However, in this article, I will show some bias toward my favorite team, the Texas Rangers, and one of my favorite players, Wyatt Langford. On June 30th, Wyatt Langford became one of six MLB players in history to hit for the cycle within their first 60 career games. However, I am about to show you that what this kid from Florida has accomplished is statistically impossible to ever be accomplished again. Before we get to the juicy stuff, let's talk a little bit about Langford and how his MLB career is going so far. He has a .266 BA, 40 RBI, and a .731 OPS, which puts him at about 8% better than the league average and the favorite to win AL ROY. There are stories hidden in that stat line. In the first 35 games, Langford had a .574 OPS, making him a net negative on his team. However, in his next 37 games, his OPS skyrocketed to .910, which would put him in the top 10 in the league ahead of players like Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman and just one spot below Yordan Alvarez. Baseball is a game of millimeters and milliseconds. Hitting a ball 2 millimeters too high could be a ground out instead of a line drive. If you swing a few milliseconds too early, that could turn a home run into a foul ball. That is the difference between these two stories. Wyatt Langford has been hitting the ball hard all season; he just needed to make a couple of little adjustments, and he did. On April 28th, Wyatt hit his first home run. However, it was an inside-the-park home run. What are the chances your first career home run is inside the park? Got to be pretty low, right? A little less than 2 months later, he hit his 3rd career home run, but this one was a grand slam. And 8 days later, he hit his 4th career home run to complete a cycle. He became the first rookie to ever accomplish all of these feats in a single season. So it got me thinking, what are the chances of hitting these three very rare milestones in such a short span? So I ran the numbers. - 3.6% of plate appearances result in a home run. - 0.61% of home runs are inside the park. - 0.01% of home runs are part of cycles. - 1.18% of home runs are grand slams. The chance of accomplishing all three of these feats in 4 home runs is 1 in 574,085,768. No other player has done it in history, let alone as a rookie. For perspective, the chances of winning the Powerball lottery are 1 in 300,000,000. One unique aspect of MLB is the absurd number of games that are played—2,430 across the league as a whole, to be precise. While most games stay within a standard deviation of normalcy, over the course of more than 2,000 games, crazy things can happen, and Wyatt Langford’s achievement might be the most statistically improbable one we’ve ever witnessed. Baseball #r #rangers #florida #coding

The Mets continued down this trend last night, on their way to walking 8(!!!) batters. That brings their total up to 30 through 4 games of this NLCS. Last night was another example of the how the Mets are trying to get the Dodgers to cave into their game plan of chasing while the Dodgers continue to be in attack mode. The Mets only threw 56% strikes, which is well below MLB average, and had a in-zone pitch percentage for 46.7%. The Dodgers, as I mentioned, have been doing an AMAZING job of not chasing during this NLCS, and it shows against the Mets pitching staff. This sums up to the Mets pitching staff ending up with an Early+Ahead% of 53%, which is really low and will typically lead to more walks and higher pitch counts (what we saw last night). Conversely, the Dodgers did an awesome job of executing their game plan of attacking Mets hitters. The Dodgers know the Mets want to be a little more patient at the plate, so they took advantage of this. The Dodgers last night had a First Pitch Strike% of 73.2%, which is well above average, as well as a 67.5% strike%. This aggressive mindset allowed the Dodgers to have an Early+Ahead% of 75.6%. Obviously, you can see by watching last night's games the differences in how the pitching staffs are planning, but these numbers only prove that point further. The Mets have a big hole to climb out of being down 3-1. And it's only tougher because the Dodgers have punished baseballs that have been in zone so far this series. We'll have to see how the Mets decide to game plan for tonights game on the brink of elimination! Let me know your thoughts on what you would do!

Incompetence comes in two basic forms: (1) Conscious Incompetence and (2) Unconscious Incompetent. Which is worse? Well, that depends. For example, if the consciously incompetent person seeks to improve their situation via education to become more competent (less incompetent) then it is obviously better to be consciously aware than unconsciously unaware of their competence level. However, sometimes we find people who in their position of authority practice "Arrogant Incompetence" - that is knowing, they are incompetent, but having no desire to affect the needed changes to improve the situation at-hand be it in baseball or any profession. Personally, I find this worse. You be the judge: you know your boss is an idiot, so does he and yet he laughs off your competence in improving the process. Yes, I've been there.

If you're a Mets fan like me, you might also be seeing and hearing a lot about how the Mets Pitching Staff have been struggling through the first 3 games, walking 22 batters over those 3 games. This is definitely cause for concern, but I decided to take a little bit of a deeper dive into this to see what might be the cause of all these walks. I tried to utilize information I could find through Baseball Savant and FanGraphs to help piece some of this together! The Mets, pre-NLCS, had been creating opportunities to force swings from opposing hitters (48.1% swing rate in the Wild Card and NLDS rounds). This helped contribute to a 60.8% First Pitch Strike % and a 62.9% Strike % - both of these are a little below 2024 league average, but still a good rate to be working with. They also had generated a 74.1% rate of recording Early + Ahead counts. To clarify, an "early" is a result within first 3 pitches, outside of 2-0 counts & an "ahead" is getting to 0-2 or 1-2. You can only record 1 of these results at maximum per AB. The results after any of these do not matter (shoutout to Jared Gaynor and Pitching Coach U for this!). Now, the Mets faced the Brewers (known for being a bit more selective at the plate) and the Phillies (known for higher swing and chase rates). The Mets won against the Brewers by attacking the zone early and using the laid back approach of the Brewers to their advantage. The Mets had a 76% E+A%, with a lot of this coming to getting ahead. On the contrary, the Mets used the aggressive nature of the Phillies in the NLDS to get chase and swings. The Mets had an increase in swing% over this series and had more Early Results compared to the Brewers series. This benefitted the Mets pitching staff a lot of this series. However, this game plan does not work with a team like the Dodgers. The Dodgers are known for their low chase rate (25.7% chase rate, third lowest in the MLB this year). They were also top 5 in both hard hit% and barrel%. Because of this, I believe that the Mets are trying to make an effort to try to utilize pitches like Cutters and Sinkers to help get pitches that look in zone early but move off the plate OR have pitches been in zone that can help miss a barrel (we saw an increase in Cutter usage from Luis Severino in Game 3 compared to his usual splits and an increase in Sinker usage from Manaea in Game 2 and utilized his sweeper effectively as well). However, this type of "nibbling" approach has costed the Mets in their FPS%, Strike%, and they've been falling behind into deeper counts. It's easy to sit here and say that the Mets need to do a better job challenging the Dodger hitters early. However, when you have a team like the Dodgers that have done a great job of finding a lot of barrels for balls in the zone, you can't just throw fastballs over the plate expecting that you'll just get ahead with no issues. Let me know your thoughts and takes! Would love to discuss more!