Would you rather have Aaron Judge or Andrew Benintendi?
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I think this might have been one of your questions earlier this year but I’m too lazy to Google it. Besides, maybe the answer has changed after this weekend, so I’ll ask it anyway. Who would you rather have for the rest of their careers, Aaron Judge or Andrew Benintendi? I’m taking Benintendi. Don’t ask if I would have said that at the All-Star Break. – Josh C.
I’m lazy too, Josh, but I did Google it. Turns out I have been asked this one before, on July 3, a point when Judge was leading the majors in homers (27), slugging (.687), OPS (1.135), and walks (58), while topping the American League in runs (70), RBIs (62), and on-base percentage (.448).
Benintendi was having a respectable rookie season at the time (274/.351/.431 with 10 homers). But Judge was the story in baseball.
Still, my answer isn’t going to change from six weeks ago. I’d still rather have … Benintendi.
That vote looks a little less homerish now that Benintendi has gone on a tear while Judge has fallen into a massive slump. Benintendi is up to .279/.346/.466 with 16 homers after going 5 for 13 with three homers in the Bronx this weekend.
Judge, meanwhile, is slashing .165/.333/.330 with five homers in 123 plate appearances since the All-Star break. He’s whiffed 155 times, including 46 times since the break, and seems to have trouble resisting high fastballs. I joked in the previous piece that “he could strike out in every other at-bat in the second half, and he’s still going to win the AL Rookie of the Year.” He seems intent on testing such a theory.
I’m not sure what he is long term – is he Dave Kingman, Giancarlo Stanton or someone in-between? Benintendi, two years his junior, still has room for improvement, especially with his base-running. But it’s clear he’s ticketed for stardom over the long haul.
I’ll take him over Aaron Judge – the same thing I said when Judge was making baseball look easy.
What do you guys say? Would you take Judge over Benintendi? Has your opinion changed lately? I’ll hear you in the comments.
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