With Judge chasing Roger Maris, ESPN is splitting the screen for each at-bat.
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is winding down his regular season, but his pursuit of Roger Maris’ American League record for home runs rolls on. Judge blasted his 61st home run earlier this week, tying him with the former Yankees outfielder.
With Judge looking to break that record and stand alone atop the American League record books, ESPN continues to cut into live coverage to cover each of his at-bats.
On a Saturday in October, as college football season is heating up. Now? College football fans are starting to lose their patience.
I’m just gonna yell AARON JUDGE at college football fans all year and watch everyone shudder
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) October 1, 2022
Weird stat: Aaron Judge has never hit his 62nd home run when ESPN interrupts a college football game ♂️
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 1, 2022
“There are six seconds left. Boston College has the ball at the Miami 48. Doug Flutie is fading back, here comes the Hail Mary …”
We now take you to Aaron Judge’s at-bat.
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) October 1, 2022
When ESPN does a Aaron Judge cut-in: pic.twitter.com/Gg8MXTz8hz
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) October 1, 2022
College Football fans after another live cut-in to Aaron Judge at the plate pic.twitter.com/4g1oWC23Wu
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) September 25, 2022
Let’s save some of these historic Aaron Judge at-bats for Texas-West Virginia.
— Bryan Curtis (@bryancurtis) October 1, 2022
Some fans, however, might actually look forward to the cut-ins, given how their teams are performing:
Can we plz get an Aaron Judge cut-in the next time Iowa has the ball?
— Chris Hassel (@Hassel_Chris) October 1, 2022
I’m guessing most OU fans would probably welcome the Aaron Judge split-screen right about now?
— Eli Lederman (@ByEliLederman) October 1, 2022
Even some of the ESPN broadcasters aired their frustration. ESPN’s Sean McDonough let his feelings be known during his call of the Mississippi-Kentucky game when the studio team informed him that the Yankees’ game against the Baltimore Orioles was being delayed due to weather in the New York area:
“Oh. What a shame.” pic.twitter.com/maWCrUIR53
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) October 1, 2022
Some college football fans managed to find some amusement as Judge’s pursuit continued, and TCU’s offense was putting on a display against Oklahoma. Even the TCU social media account got in on the fun:
Who hits 62 first?
Like for TCU
RT for Aaron Judge #GoFrogs #DFWBig12Team— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) October 1, 2022
Eventually, some college football fans started to pull together some statistics, and after viewing them, Judge himself might want ESPN to stop the cut-ins, if he is ever going to homer again:
If you only watched Aaron Judge via college football cut-ins, you would think he is terrible.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 1, 2022
Aaron Judge while being simulcast on college football games the past 2 weeks:
2-11, 7 BB, 1 HBP, 6 K, 0 home runs
.181/.526/.181 slash line
— Brice Paterik (@BricePaterik) October 1, 2022
Aaron Judge is now 2-12 with 7 Ks during a college football game pic.twitter.com/F4fA6Ekac7
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) October 1, 2022
ESPN again cut into Judge’s at-bat in the bottom of the eighth, with the Yankees leading the Baltimore Orioles 8-0. Judge got a few pitches to hit, and eventually struck out, opening the door for a few more jokes:
College Football fans Aaron Judge
Not wanting to hit during college football games pic.twitter.com/NBdCcpOmgQ
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) October 1, 2022
However, that likely draws to a close the cut-ins during college football season, barring a miraculous Orioles comeback in the top of the ninth.
Despite the cut-ins, Judge is putting together a magical season across the board. Judge entered play on Saturday leading the major leagues in nearly every offensive category. Currently, Judge leads all of baseball in home runs (61), on-base percentage (.427), slugging percentage (.695), on-base plus slugging (1.122), home runs (61), adjusted OPS+ (214) and runs created (169). With his 61 home runs, Judge now stands 19 home runs head of Kyle Schwarber, who leads the National League with 42 home runs.
Judge is also tracking down an American League Triple Crown, given to a player who leads the league in batting average, home runs, and RBI. Miguel Cabrera was the last player to win the Triple Crown, back during his Most Valuable Player season of 2012, when he hit 44 home runs, knocked in 139 runs, and posted a batting average of .330. If the season were to end today, Judge would win the AL Triple Crown, but he has both Luis Arraez and Xander Boegaerts on his heels. Judge currently has a batting average of .314 on the season, while Arraez checks in at .305, and Boegaerts has a batting average of .307 on the year. Both Arraez and Boegaerts were within striking distance of Judge just days ago, when both were up to .313 on the season, but the two players have faded over the past few days.