IF JUDGE IS NAMED CAPTAIN, HE REMAINS A YANKEE

Source: N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg

Aaron Judge is a pleasure to watch. Much like Derek Jeter, he has a presence about him. He is a team player first, he is a leader and he should be a Yankee for life. Everyone has beef with their boss, and if you don't, you are kidding yourself, because it is never a perfect work environment...never. So if there is some other reason rather than money that Judge decides to fly across the country, back to his home state of California, then he's kidding himself if he thinks things will be rosier somewhere else. However, if the Yankees demonstrate to Judge, with more than dollar signs, how much they value him, that may be the deciding factor. If Judge is named Captain, he remains a Yankee.

Source: Wall Street Journal

“It would be an incredible honor,” Judge repeated, “but nothing honestly would ever change. I’d still try to hold myself the same way, try to hold myself to the highest standard and be accountable and be there for my teammates. If there is a captain named or no captain named, I’m still going to go out there and just be Aaron Judge and try to be the best leader and teammate I can be every day,” said Judge on the R2C2 podcast with CC Sabathia and Ryan Ruocco in February. Things have changed significantly since then. Judge rejected the Yankees' extension, he hit 62 home runs, besting a 61-year-old record set by Roger Maris just weeks ago and he has led his Yankees to another postseason run, this time winning the division.

Source: Paul J. Bereswill

Yet, Aaron Judge, our hero, received boos for his lackluster at bats since entering the postseason. It sort of reminds me of his decline after the home run derby...oh God I am sorry I brought that up. Regardless, booing Judge, really? Last night Bob Costa called Judge's game tying 2-run home run with a comment, "and just like that..." The guy is great. Give him a break. 

"Sure, Judge hasn’t been himself, at 0-for-7 with seven strikeouts when he was booed in the seventh inning of the Yankees’ 4-2, 10-inning defeat that evened this best-of-five series against the Guardians at a game apiece and turned it scary. But let’s not forget the last six and half months, people. Maybe it was the shock of seeing the best hitter in the league come up empty," wrote Jon Heyman of the Post and I have to agree.

Source: NY Times

Judge knows that the fans are going to be tough on him. And he takes accountability, just like a leader would. “Not at all. It happens. It’s happened before,” Judge said. “I’ve got to play better.” Yankees teammates generally get that it comes with the territory. No one’s immune, they said. Which is what we just saw. “It’s the Bronx, man,” manager Aaron Boone said," as reported by The New York Post.

He has grit, he has charisma, he puts his team before himself, he takes his craft seriously and he is respected by his peers, his coaches and his teammates. He is just the captain the Yankees need, a seat that has been vacant since Jeter left us in 2014.

Money is important. I get it, we all want to make a bigger salary. But there is a lot to be said for having a title where you can make a greater impact beyond money, beyond power. And with a team with the amazing history as the Yankees, becoming captain is certainly something special. If Judge is named captain, I believe he remains in pinstripes. So, let's get that deal done and we can all breathe a sigh of relief. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof