Jared Diamond: Aaron Judge Is Better Than He Was Last Season

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1:14Get what you need in two hours or less with Express Delivery from the Home Depot. Subject to availability, order select in-stock items by 4 p.m. Restrictions and fees apply. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Goats have home lives too. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Rich Eisen. Hello, Rich Eisen. Rich Eisen. Oh, that's Susie Eisen's husband. The Rich Eisen Show. And now, sitting in for Rich, here's Dan Schwartzman. Hour two on this Friday in for Rich baseball's all-star game. The home run derby is almost upon us. I used to be a huge fan. I do like the all-star game. Don't get me wrong.

1:58I think baseball players actually try. I'm just not crazy about pitchers pitching one inning and calling it a day. And I like the all-star games when they, or the home run derbies, when they have people you actually want to see in a home run derby. But baseball, we are past the halfway point, but call it the halfway point because it's the All-Star week is coming up shortly in Atlanta. Kind of cool stuff on social media. I watched that Brian Wu TikTok where he calls his parents. The Mariners pitcher calls his parents, and he's kind of like, oh, what are you guys doing? You're going to come to New York.

2:33We'll go out after a game. We'll get breakfast, whatever it is. And he's like, and then you're coming to Atlanta. And they go crazy because they realize he had made the All-Star team. And baseball during spring training, They show the guy getting called into the manager's office where he's told he's made the team and they kind of make it a funny thing. That's some of the stuff I do love to see. But baseball halfway point is here. A lot to get into. Jared Diamond covers baseball for The Wall Street Journal on X at Jared Diamond joining us. And, Jared, I get to watch Aaron Judge a lot being in the New York area.

3:06And what he's doing this year, leading baseball in average, he's second in home runs. I believe what he's tied for the lead in RBIs, number one in hits. His on-base and slugging percentages are like Ruthie in numbers here. When you see what he's doing right now, and we presume he's obviously clean baseball is a bit different right now than the steroid era. Do people really appreciate what they're watching in terms of greatness with him? Probably not. A year ago, last season, we were all talking about how Aaron Judge was having or had truly one of the greatest seasons in baseball history. And by just about every measure, he's been even better this year.

3:54I mean, this is a guy that is now sort of heading toward his third in the last four years, sort of Ruthian-type season. If he makes it to 60 home runs, and there's no guarantee he does, but he's got 34 right now, there's definitely a chance if he stays healthy, a good chance. He would have multiple seasons with 60 homers, topping 60 homers. And the reality is no clean player in baseball history has ever done that. There has not been a clean player that topped 60 homers twice in his career. Babe Ruth, sorry, Aaron Judge is a 62. He has a 58, and he's well on his way to topping 60 again. The only unfortunate thing about Aaron Judge's career is they didn't start getting up to the Yankees until he was 24.

4:41He lost those few years. He was 21, 22. Probably the only thing stopping him from pursuing 800 homers. I mean, who knows? And a couple of injury years as well, Jared, where he played like 112 games, yet blasted like 37 home runs. I mean, some ridiculous numbers. And, you know, it's funny because you are talking about an all-time great. And when he first came up, and we know he strikes out a lot, but he's a slugger, his career average is over 290, which is kind of shocking if you think about the type of player he is. I mean, hitting 365 is going to help. But on the other hand, you have Shohei Otani, who's back on the mound, throwing an inning here or there.

5:17And yet, when he's at the plate, he has struggled a bit the last three weeks to a month. But he's also a guy on pace for 50-plus home runs yet again. And, you know, baseball, I don't think, does a great job of marketing itself. And here you have two guys who you can consider to be all-time great players, Judge and Otani. Has baseball, in your opinion, done a better job the last couple of years of kind of using those two guys to enhance the popularity of the sport, especially to a younger audience? It feels like Otani is just about everywhere. I think they're doing the best they can. And look, baseball is always going to have limitations in this space compared to the other sport.

5:55And any baseball fan kind of knows what they are, which is it doesn't matter how great you are in baseball. The impact that you could actually make on a game is limited. I mean, Shohei Otani, when he's pitching and hitting simultaneously, is making more of an impact on a game than any player in the history of baseball. But nonetheless, you only bat four times a game, maybe five. we've all gone to games excited to go see the superstar player and he goes over four he doesn't get a single ball in the field and he literally had absolutely no impact in the game that is not a problem in the other sports if you go to an NBA game to go watch you know Kevin Durant as a weird example but first guy popped into my head you could basically be certain that that player is going to have the ball in his hands constantly, is going to do something to impact the game.

6:50Same with football, with a quarterback. That guy's going to have his ball in his hands every two seconds and is going to make an impact on the game. And it really allows you to sort of market the individual stars in a way that I think is harder in baseball when they don't have the same impact. It also doesn't help, and this is not sort of a criticism of either of the players we're discussing. So Ayotani does not speak English in public. That is completely his prerogative. He speaks some English in private. But it's hard to sort of put him out there when he can't really speak. And Aaron Judge, he is not Mr.

7:28Raw-Raw, vocal leader, look-at-me, look-at-me guy. And that's fine. He is entitled to sort of behave the way he wants to be. By all accounts, he's a great teammate. He's a good guy. but he doesn't like being front and center and I don't think Major League Baseball can really do much about that. So I think they're doing the best they can and baseball has made great strides in recent years. The game is growing among young people. The rule changes have made a big impact. So I hope it's trending the right direction as a baseball fan myself. And by the way, don't worry, we spent about 10 minutes for no reason on Kevin Durant to narrow one of this show.

8:06So you just kind of actually fit right into what we've been doing for the last hour. I was listening. You just didn't know. That's why. Of course you were listening, Jared. Why wouldn't you be? Who's not listening? Exactly. Jared Diamond covers baseball for the Wall Street Journal, joining us here on the Rich Eisen Show. Dan Schwartzman in for Rich. Remember, at Jared Diamond on X. Juan Soto has rubbed some people in New York wrong, mainly Yankee fans, of course, but he recently came out with an interesting statement, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, Jared, where he was asked about being snubbed for the All-Star game.

8:36He made it about like a financial thing, right? and people then said, aha, you see, he only went to the Mets for the money. Were you rubbed a little wrong by the fact that he, instead of saying I'm disappointed that I'm not an all-star because that's what you strive to be in baseball and he more talked about it being a financial thing, bother you at all? I don't think it was the most elegant way of making the point he was trying to make. I don't think anyone would say that it was necessarily the best way to go about it, but I do think there's a lot of sort of, high emotion about Juan Soto around baseball and among fans since signing that contract.

9:17Yeah, it was a gigantic contract. It was a bigger contract than anyone could have imagined. Do I believe that the discourse around his contract played a role in, say, why the players didn't vote for him? Yeah, I do. I do believe that played a role, right? I do think there's some sort of, who is this guy? Who does he think he is? The reality is Juan Soto should be an all-star. I mean, I know he's been sort of an up-and-down first half, but he has been fantastic of late. His June was absolutely phenomenal. At the end of the day, we're sitting here on July 11th. He is not having a good season by his standards, but he still has a 900 OPS.

10:01That's sort of what, would the Mets like 950? Would they like 989? I think he's got last year, sure. But this is half of year one after signing this big contract. So, look, I think if you are sort of a reasonable Mets fan, you are still pretty confident that Juan Soto is going to be fine. He will be. He's not the first player to sign a huge contract and then sort of struggle at the beginning, right? Like that habit. Mets fans should know about that about as well as anyone, right? I mean, everyone who's a Mets fan remembers Carlos Beltran in 2005 when he signed that giant contract with the Mets, and he really struggled.

10:39He had probably the worst season of his sort of younger career. And guess what? He came back in 2006 and was one of the best players in baseball, and everyone now sort of thinks of Carlos Beltran's time with the Mets fondly. So, yeah, I think everyone needs to calm down a little bit. I do think he should be an all-star, and maybe Juan should sort of stress test his comments before speaking next time. Jared, bigger surprise for you through this first half of this season, what the Blue Jays have done, taking a two-game lead in the American League East, or what we're seeing from the Cubs in the Central, where they're scoring a boatload of runs.

11:16They have some really good young talent. They have outfielders between the Japanese kid and Pete Crow Armstrong. You're talking 150-plus RBIs. Who's the bigger surprise to you, Chicago or Toronto? It's funny. Going into the year, I genuinely thought both of those teams were going to be playoff teams. Wow. But I still would say Toronto, only because of how bad they were to start the year. I was actually high on Toronto coming into the season. I was telling people before that I thought they were going to be good. Then they got off to this pretty rough start, and I was like, well, I guess I'm a moron.

11:53Why do I believe in these guys? They always seem to underachieve. That's sort of been the run of the Blue Jays in recent years. But they really turned it off. And I guess the reason what they're doing is so impressive is they're doing it in the AL East, right? Like, the Cubs winning the NL Central should not be a surprise to anyone. They're the only team that spends any money in a pretty weak division. Like, all credits in Milwaukee, what they do every year is, like, absolutely extraordinary with the budget they have. And the fact they're only two games behind the Cubs right now is, like, a real testament to them.

12:29But, like, you sit here right now, and if the season ends today, there'd be four American League East teams in the playoffs. Like, that division is brutal, right, with the run. Boston has gone on. They won seven in a row. Now Boston is now in postseason position. So the fact that Toronto is sitting here in first place on July 11th, right, like, I didn't expect that, right? I thought they were going to sort of be competing for one of those sort of second, third wildcard spots. The fact that they're sitting here in first place ahead of the Yankees, That surprised me, certainly more than the Cubs, who I think just have an easier road to a division title in the NL Central.

13:05On the other side, in terms of biggest disappointment, is there a bigger disappointment in your mind than the Braves being 12 games under right now? I think there's two candidates for biggest disappointment, and I really don't know where I would rank them. But it's Atlanta, like you mentioned, and Baltimore. right like Baltimore being 42 and 50 is a shock I know I just praise that division but the Orioles man oh man I mean they've been so good the last couple of years they build that whole thing up uh and then to just like fall on their face this year is a real real debacle uh and then there's Atlanta like you said who could have seen this coming and what a shock for a lot you just never expect the Braves to be bad right the Braves are just like good all the time, it seems like.

13:53They're just always good. If you're around my age, growing up in the 90s into the 2000s, you're just used to seeing the Braves in the playoffs every single year, just about. They've been in the playoffs how many straight years now? I think seven consecutive seasons. So it is pretty shocking to see them eight games under.500 as well. It's funny that they're both eight games under.500. I guess that's sort of the mark of disappointment. But when you're hosting the All-Star game, there's all this excitement around your team. You're getting Ronald Acuna back, who, by the way, has been really good since coming back.

14:30Yeah, it's shocking. I think the most shocking thing about the Braves, they're not hitting, right? You just saw that. You see that lineup. They got Riley. They got Olsen. They got Obbies. They got Acuna. And they're just not. It just isn't working. And right now, it's very hard to see either of those teams kind of bouncing back. There's too much competition. We just talked with the ALB. The NL East is a real gauntlet, too, right, with Philadelphia and New York. It's, like, hard to see the Braves kind of getting back into it. Look, they did it in 2021. They won the World Series. They were nowhere's built.

15:04They also break in 21. They won the whole thing. So I wouldn't rule them out entirely, but it is hard to imagine. It's a real sort of missed opportunity for that franchise for sure. All right, last question, Jared Diamond, covering baseball for the Wall Street Journal. We have the Hormone Derby at Troost Park in Atlanta, July 14th. Acuna you like to see anyway obviously exciting player Cal Raleigh's in it the guys leading baseball in home runs right now uh the names after that James Wood Byron Buxton O 'Neal Cruz Junior Caminero Brent Rooker Jazz Chisholm somehow Jared you have a very good sense of humor try to make that sexy for me to where I'm going to be like man past Raleigh and Acuna I got to watch these guys yeah like I understand it works for a lot and forgers are past the the era of the best of the best doing this event, right?

15:49Like Aaron Judge, Sherry Otani, they're not going to do it. You're just not going to get them to do it. But I think there's some exciting names. I mean, the name to really look out for in this event is O 'Neal Cruz. Like, to me, O 'Neal Cruz is a favorite to win this thing. Like, there is nobody in baseball that hits the ball harder than O 'Neal Cruz. O 'Neal Cruz on Pittsburgh is, like, the biggest enigma in baseball because he literally hits the ball harder than anyone in baseball. He has the highest average exit velocity. and that he isn't good, like, consistently, which is really bizarre. Because he doesn't hit consistently.

16:21He doesn't hit. Right. It's like that scene in Moneyball, the movie. It was like, if he could hit good, he would hit good. But O 'Neal Cruz taking batting practice. Like, I don't know if you saw it. Paul Skeens had a quote the other day where he said, O 'Neal Cruz taking the best batting practice I've ever seen in my life. And I really don't think he meant that as, like, a veiled insult, although it kind of sounds like one without any context. But the guys, it's so hard. So I think that's exciting. Jazz Chisholm's like a really fun player, right? These aren't superstars, but they're fun players.

16:54You get Cal Raleigh, you get Acuna. The Derby's always just kind of like a fun event because, you know, I don't know, maybe they juice the balls or something. But the ball really is flying every year, that thing. So I still believe, despite all the problems that baseball's all-star game has, It is still the best all-star game in sports. Agreed. I think by far, honestly. Look, is it what it used to be? No. It's never going to be what it used to be. It still is, I think, a fun event. I'm glad they're going back to wearing their actual team uniforms and not wearing those abominations they've put in the last few years.

17:31It's still great to see all these guys on a field together. I think baseball is doing good stuff with how they present it. the mic'd up players and all the sort of TV sort of gimmicks they're doing. I still think it's fun. I'm looking forward to being there. And, like, you know, it's better than the Pro Bowl. It's better than whatever that NBA All-Star game is. You don't say. Really? Better than the Pro Bowl? Come on. Yeah. So I'll take what we can get. You know what I'm saying? Right. Well, you made it a little sexy. I take it out on a date right now, the way you told us who to watch. O 'Neal Cruz, the name to watch in this home run derby.

18:07And you know what? I had Pete Alonzo fatigue. I'm kind of glad he's not in it, just to say, just because, again, he's been in it for so many years in a row and winning it, it's just like, come on, let somebody else win it. Yeah. At least we don't have it. It's a new blood, you know? Yeah. This is a very neat player. Pete Alonzo, that's how a lot of fans around the country met Pete Alonzo, was through that event. So, like, guys can't sort of rise and kind of take on personality that you didn't know that they had before in this thing. So, like, who will it be this year? There's usually a good moment in the Home Run Derby every year.

18:42It's usually someone you don't expect. Yeah, no, I agree. And you know what? Maybe they should throw some humor into this and have James Woods go to bat for James Wood. Why not? You get the reference. It's one version of humor, I guess. I mean, come on. You've got to do something, right? I got a little snicker from you there. Come on. I've got to get some credit for that. They're trying. Look, I think MLB, it'll get people watching. They'll do anything at this point. Whatever it takes. Jared Diamond. Covers baseball for the Wall Street Journal. Check him out on X at Jared Diamond. Jared, appreciate the time.

19:14Have fun in Atlanta and have a great weekend. You as well. Thanks. Anytime. Good talking to you. You as well. You get the reference, right, Art Martinez? The actor James Woods? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. The Nationals player James Wood. Right? Come on. How funny would it be if they send up James Woods to bat in the All-Star Game in the Derby? Just kidding. I just had to throw it out there. Because people are like, who the hell is James Wood? Well, he's actually a fairly good power hitter. Young, young player, by the way, for the Washington Nationals. I'll give you my thoughts on the Home Run Derby. Major League Baseball's first half of the season.

19:51That is next. We are humming along here on a Friday, July, what is it, the 11th? Time flies, by the way. Summer's going by very quickly. 7-11, baby. That's right. Dan Schwartzman on this Friday, sitting in the big boy chair for Rich. It is the Rich Eisen Show.

20:33Playbook. Frigidaire offers ranges and wall ovens with over 15 cooking modes, so you can tackle hosting with confidence. There's Stone Baked Pizza for restaurant-quality pizza in as little as two minutes, Air Fry Mode for crispy favorites, and Air Sous Vide for juicy tender sliders. Plus, there's slow cook, no preheat, and more. Stone Baked Pizza and Air Fry, both built right in your oven. That's the Game Time MVP combo. So when you're hosting before kickoff, Frigidaire helps you cover every craving. Available at the Home Depot, how doers get more done. Only when using Stone baked pizza mode. Cook time requires preheat and reheat and may vary based on ingredients.

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22:53Dan Schwartzman, The Rich Eisen Show. And, man, baseball. Home Run Derby, July 14th. Ronald Acuna, he is the local guy, playing, of course, at Truist Park in Atlanta. Baseball's home run leader, Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners. Definitely want to see him. The guy, he's a catcher. He's blasted 36 home runs this year. He is on pace for 63 home runs. And, you know, he has hit home runs. It's not as if the guy is not a home run hitter. Cal Raleigh the three years prior hit 27, 30, and 34 home runs. The one difference is his average this year is much better. He was a 2 '11", 2 '32", 2 '20 guy, lots of strikeouts, not a lot of walks, low on base percentage type of guy, just an all-or-nothing power hitter.

23:43But this year he's batting a bit more. What's funny about this, I want to bring in my colleague here, Art Martinez. What's kind of funny about this is Cal Raleigh could blast 60 home runs as a catcher, and he still should not get a single MVP vote over Aaron Judge, who's batting 100 points higher than him. Isn't that amazing? Yeah, why is that? Because he plays in Seattle? No, because, I mean, Judge is obviously a better player, right? Like, Cal Raleigh is going to match potentially this year home run for home run. He's got 36. Judge has 34. Judge has 78 or so RBIs. Raleigh has 76. So they're neck and neck in those two categories, right?

24:25But you don't think he's going to sustain it for the rest of the year? No, even if he does. He's batting 262. Judge is a guy right now who is putting up Ruthian-type numbers. I mean, Raleigh's hitting 262, which, again, is not terrible in today's baseball. Aaron Judge is batting 356. he's batting 96 points higher now Cal Raleigh is a guy that he doesn't walk a ton compared to Judge I mean Raleigh's walked a good amount of times he's going to probably walk about 100 times this year and Raleigh overall because you know it's all about sabermetrics now in baseball so Raleigh is OPS's 1-0-0-8 pretty good okay no one's gonna scoff at 1008 do you know what aaron judge is doing this year what his ops is 1192 he's got in essence a 1200 ops crazy it's crazy i mean people don't realize aaron judge the last season he has had where he was under a 1000 ops was 2021 it was 916 by the way not much You can't scoff at that.

25:42But, I mean, Aaron Judge is doing things that people shouldn't do. His career OPS is over 1 ,000. And this year he's at 1 ,200. I mean, his on-base percentage, he gets on base over 46 % of the time. He's slugging 73%. I mean, that's incredible. So as fun as Cal Raleigh has been, and he's obviously been quite the slugger this year, it's not going to mean squat. because unless Aaron Judge falls off the face of this earth or gets injured, which could happen, by the way, but unless that happens, Aaron Judge is going to win himself another MVP, his third, and rightfully so, and cement himself as a Hall of Fame player.