So can the Yankees win without Judge? We've watched what the team does when Judge isn't on the field and it's A LOT less. I hate to think that the Yankees are just a shell of a team without him, but the more I think about the more I have to be honest and say no.
At this point, it feels like the absolute best-case scenario is we get Judge back on the field in August. A lot can happen between now and then and it leaves a lot of time for the weakness of this team to be exposed. It also means the starting pitching needs to work even harder to hold games close. They've done it well so far but it adds more pressure to a team that is already working with a shorter bench.
The starting rotation is legit and we have much better odds with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon back in action but can anyone really see this team trying to emphasize more of a strategy off small-ball offense without big bats? I don't see that. They've never cared about small ball or even good fundamentals so I am not feeling great that they can do it now with an emphasis on run prevention. I don't see that happening and it's an even bigger task with a huge strikeout guy like Spencer Jones filling in. Pretending the Yankees have the length and offense they need without Judge just isn't sane. Judge has single handedly made them LOOK like a better team than they really are for years now. Take him out of the lineup and this team is much less productive.
Perhaps the part I like the least about this indefinite injury to Judge is we have already had the Rays on our tail all season, and we are still tied with them but the uncertainty of Judge and his timeline means the AL East just became more interesting. Instead of this being a race against the Rays, teams under .500 suddenly have the option to become buyers at the trade deadline instead of sellers. Sure, Toronto and Baltimore are 7 and 8 games behind now, but if the Yankees go in a downward spiral then those bottom feeding teams can make up some ground. I could see it happening....I don't want to, but it's not impossible.
This team has been constructed poorly for years now. Brian Cashman hasn't been able to put together a real championship caliber team. Now without Judge, I feel like that will only become magnified. If it does, we won't be able to ignore it, Yankee brass won't be able to deny it but they won't change anything.
This team cannot afford to be without Judge. He is the hard and soul to the whole operation. I don't care how weak the rest of the American League is....the Yankees without Judge is an entirely different team.
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