Over 3 months on the injured list, the 3-time AL MVP, single-season home run leader, Aaron Judge returned to Yankee Stadium Tuesday evening for the Bronx Bombers 5-3 victory over the last-place Colorado Rockies.
Happy to get the W, I’m sure, but Aaron Judge wasn’t happy with his night. 0-for-3 with 2 Ks, pulled from the game early.
“I respect what he said,” Judge said of his talk with Boone. “Whatever he said, I’m going to do. But I’m not happy about it. But that’s where my guy Ramos picked me up and hit a nice little three-run homer there to kind of put the game out so we could be comfortable going into the last inning. But, yeah, not too happy about it.”
Judge was not only disappointed to have left early in his return but needed to let reporters know he was not on board with the plan. My guy didn’t watch this offense sink to the bottom of baseball just to come back for half days against the worst team in the Majors and he’s letting his boss know, loud and clear, he’s back to play every day, for entire games.
And the Yankees need him.
[READ NEXT: Make a Mistake and You Die]
Here’s what the offense looked like without Judge:
- 84 Games
- .227/.295/.385
- .681 OPS (26th)
- 90 WRC+ (29th)
- 7.1 fWAR (25th)
- 26.1 K% (30th)
But I understand Aaron Boone sitting Aaron Judge down for a sec.
He’s the best hitter of his generation and the club won’t survive the Wild Card round without their star. These rib injuries are fragile, thus the 3 month absense. Plus, Heliot Ramos subbed in to hit a 3-run homer. The Yankees have the outfield depth for all of them to play half days, really.
Still, treating Judge like he’s handicapped doesn’t help anyone. Applying restrictions, changing daily habits, all of this nonsense gets Aaron Judge out of his day-to-day routine—that same routine responsible for the 3 MVPs at the house.
Is Aaron Judge ready for this playoff run?
0-for-3 with 2 Ks against one of the worst pitching staffs is brutal. It’s been a long time since Judge hit a 100mph fastball.
Though the easy “it looks like Judge is already in playoff form” joke sits on the tee, this year may be different. Typically, Judge flounders in the postseason, pitchers throwing fewers pitches in the zone—forcing Judge to chase. Judge pressing, knowing that if he doesn’t get a hit, none of his teammates will—as evidenced by how putrid the offense becomes whenever Judge needs to ice a wound.
However, I think the 3 months off make Aaron Judge the freshest—both physically and mentally—he’s ever been before a playoff run. No MVP or home run records filling his brain, stressing him. Judge gets about 3 weeks of Spring Training ball before he finally has his 2025 Shohei Ohtani playoff run.
Pray for the American League.
READ NEXT: Yankees Outfielder Respectfully Tweaks Hamstring To Allow His Better Teammates More Playing Time
If you enjoyed what you read, head over to our Substack. We’ve got more content making fun of the ridiculous world we live in, sent directly to your email inbox daily.
Follow us over on TikTok, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at [email protected]. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee.
