Dave Portnoy has accused Aaron Judge of ‘freezing up in big moments’ after the New York Yankees icon fell flat in USA’s World Baseball Classic final defeat to Venezuela.
Judge and a star-studded American team suffered an embarrassing loss in Miami on Tuesday night, with Venezuela rebounding from a blown eight-inning lead to become WBC champions for the very first time.
Despite boasting a number of all-time greats on their roster, the hosts recorded just two hits through the first seven innings as their powerful batting lineup fell deathly silent.
One of USA’s biggest underperformers on the night was Judge, who struck out three times and went 0 for 4 overall in a miserable outing.
And Portnoy believes the Yankees star has an alarming tendency to wilt under pressure.
‘I feel like you can physically see Aaron Judge’s body freeze up in big moments,’ the Barstool Sports founder, who is an avid Boston Red Sox fan, wrote on X.
Dave Portnoy has accused New York Yankees star Aaron Judge of ‘freezing up in big moments’
Judge suffered another off-night as USA lost the World Baseball Classic final to Venezuela
He then added in a dig at the Red Sox’s arch-rivals: ‘I wouldn’t wish being a Yankee fan on my worst enemy. Must be infuriating’.
Portnoy has frequently criticized Judge over the years, including when the USA captain’s rallying cry to his teammates went viral before the WBC earlier this month.
‘Sacrifice for your family at home. You’re sacrificing for your country and you’re sacrificing for the brothers in the trenches with you every single day,’ Judge said. ‘That’s what they all want us to do, fellas. You know we’re down. We’re beat up a little bit, man. You know, lean into each other, man. We’re gonna lay it out on the line. And if we do that, we’re bringing the gold home. I’m telling you.’
But like many others, Portnoy wasn’t impressed. ‘Worst speech ever,’ he concluded on X.
Throughout the WBC tournament, Judge hit .222 with five RBIs while failing to showcase his best form for USA.
In Tuesday’s championship game he suffered another off-night as America’s strong lineup faltered in the first seven innings.
It seemed they had finally gained momentum at a crucial time when Bryce Harper’s superb home run in the eighth leveled proceedings at 2-2, yet that was before another twist in the tale in the ninth.
Eugenio Suarez initially sent Garrett Whitlock deep into left field after Javier Sanoja was walked and had then stolen second, before Sanoja rounded third and made it home for a 3-2 lead and there was an explosion in the Venezuela dugout.
Moments later, as Roman Anthony struck out for USA, those celebrations reignited once again as the visitors became WBC champions for the first time.
