Judge Draws a Line in the Sand
Aaron Judge is not taking no for an answer. He has made it clear he wants to play in the upcoming Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox. This comes right after manager Aaron Boone said he was “not expecting” the slugger to be available. The tension between a star player and his boss is high. Judge told reporters on Wednesday that he disagrees with how the injury was described. “Everybody’s moderate is a little different,” Judge said after the win over the Rays. He did not hold back his thoughts on the manager’s choice of words. “I don’t know why he used those words,” Judge added.
The timeline is tight. The series starts next Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. Judge received a platelet-poor plasma injection on Monday. He says he feels better now. He wants to be back for the first game. “If you ask if I’m gonna be back, I’m gonna say, ‘Yeah,'” Judge said. He knows the final call on the roster is not his to make. “If he said I’m not gonna be ready, I’ve got no control over that. I’ve got control over what I can do.” The soleus muscle strain is serious, but he is fighting to get back.
The Numbers Tell a Rough Story
The impact of Judge missing time is huge. The Yankees went 41-25 when he played this season. When he sat out, they went 49-42. That is a massive difference in wins. He has only appeared in 66 games this year. A stress fracture in his ribs kept him out for a month earlier. He played through the pain but his stats are down. He batted .174 in his last seven games before getting hurt. He struck out 13 times in those games. Despite the low average, his OPS+ is still 141. This shows he is still a top hitter when healthy.
Boone says the team is used to playing without him. “Look, we’ve played much of the year without him, and for the most part we’ve done a pretty good job,” Boone said. The Yankees have been a good team even without their captain. But the Red Sox know that one healthy Judge can change a series. Boston has prepared for a tough fight. Payton Tolle, Sonny Gray, and Ranger Suarez are ready to pitch. They need to keep the game tight. A lineup with Judge is a different beast than one without him.
Red Sox Must Prepare for Both Scenarios
I think Judge will play if he can. He has too much pride to sit this out. The Red Sox cannot assume he is out. They must game plan for him hitting in the middle of the order. If he plays, the Yankees have to bench someone else. They might have to sit Ben Rice or Luis Garcia Jr. That is a tough choice for the team. Judge knows he might not make the final cut. “I don’t make the roster,” Judge said. “I’ve got no idea.” But his mindset is set. “My goal is to come back as soon as I can.” The Sox need to be ready for anything. The series begins Tuesday. The clock is ticking down.
