As the New York Yankees pursue redemption after their World Series defeat in five games — and the subsequent loss of Juan Soto to their crosstown rivals — they’ve faced challenges along the way. First, it was Greg Olsen criticizing Aaron Judge’s rough preseason on the network broadcasting the reigning AL MVP’s struggles. Then came John Oliver, who, while commenting on Judge, was reacting to a remark by Senate Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). Jeffries, like many of his Democratic colleagues, has been searching for the right analogy to frame his party’s opposition to Donald Trump’s second administration.
Amid rising frustrations, Democrats have faced increased criticism over Trump’s second term, which has been rife with controversy. With Republicans dominating every branch of government, the 45th and 47th President is working to expand executive power. As Democrats confront voter frustrations, Jeffries insists they won’t take wild swings at every pitch — much like Judge. “He waits for the right one — and then he swings,” Jeffries explained, alluding to Judge in a clip. “We’re not going to swing at every pitch. We’re going to swing at the ones that matter for the American people.”
This analogy might have been effective if you’ve blocked the 2024 MLB postseason from memory. Oliver, a Mets fan turned comedian, certainly hasn’t. “First and least importantly, are you sure you want that to be your example?” Oliver asked. “A guy that hit .184 in the postseason, as his team lost the World Series in five games because he plays bad defense. Is that really the analogy you want to use here? ‘Don’t be mad at us; we’re just like a baseball player on the most hated team in America, who absolutely sh*t the bed in the most high-stakes situation imaginable.’”
Nobody show Aaron Judge last night’s episode of Last Week Tonight.
— Roger Cormier (@yayroger.bsky.social) February 17, 2025 at 11:03 AM
The absurdity of the analogy aside — and it doesn’t rank among the most ludicrous analogies made during Trump’s second term — this one is especially funny because it suggests Judge exemplifies how patience pays off. The real problem with Jeffries’ analogy is that the Democrats aren’t just waiting for the right pitch; they’re running out of at-bats to escape a 3-0 hole. And if Judge’s postseason performance is any indication, sometimes waiting for the perfect pitch just means going down looking.
