HARRISON BADER: THE SMARTEST GUY IN THE ROOM

Today was the ridiculous Aaron Boone, Brian Cashman dog and pony show. 

A whole lot of nothing from a bunch of reporters, whom I respect tremendously by the way, but who are unwilling to deliver a severely tough punch to either Boone or Cashman about the true state of the Yankees. Why? Because they will lose access if it gets too rough. I respect them, but get me in that room, I'd be all over them.

Anyway, listen, today wasn't a great presser. People forget what this presser was supposed to be about. No, it wasn't about beating the Houston Astros and what the formula should be. It wasn't about IKF and trying to put blame on him for the failed season. 

What these press conferences should be about are WHY it went wrong, and WHAT SOLUTIONS are the Yankees going to make.  Boone said nothing significant, and Cashman said that Boone did a terrific job. That made me choke on my chicken wing, because the eye test alone will tell you that Boone is drowning out there every night with his Yankee pals.

But the big question was about Aaron Judge, which needed to be asked.  To that, Cashman said this:

“We’d love to be able to bring Aaron Judge back and have him being able to maintain being a member of this franchise and the path he’s currently on is Hall of Fame-like... Nothing better than to have him continue to man right field for us and impact us on and off the field the way he has thus far.”

When asked if he's talked with Judge and his agent, he said:

“We’ll have certainly the conversations as promised and see where they take us, but he’s put himself in a great position to have a lot of choices.”

Here's the thing though, this is all general banter to get through the press conference. You want to get a real feeling about the love of this guy, you got to talk to the players, his teammates. Rizzo loves him, Nestor Cortes says we need to bring the "captain" back.  Even new guy Harrison Bader loves him. But Bader was the most realistic about the reality of the situation and I actually love this guy for his honesty and bringing everyone back to earth.  At the end of the day, it's a business.

Yardbarker writes:

"Listen, if Albert Pujols … can [leave], anybody could [leave]," Bader explained during a Tuesday appearance on MLB Network...Bader was referencing how Pujols rejected an offer from the St. Louis Cardinals, his employer at the time, to sign with the Los Angeles Angels in December 2011. Meanwhile, Bader joined the Yankees via a trade from the Cardinals in August.

"It’s a business," Bader continued about Judge, who is on track to reach free agency after he turned down a seven-year, $213.5 million contract extension offer from the Yankees before Opening Day. "I learned that very quickly this year. There are no hard feelings at all. It’s never personal. It’s about the game. Selfishly, I’d love to continue to be [Judge’s] teammate. He’s an incredible talent."

"[Judge] earned everything that’s coming his way," Bader remarked. "I wish him the absolute best wherever he ends up. It’s a decision he and his family will make."

And so, here's the thing... Aaron Judge owes this fan base nothing. He's done what he was supposed to do. Is he torn? Maybe. This is the biggest franchise there is. Is he annoyed with the fans? Maybe. I mean you have to admit booing players is pretty JV and childish. But as fans you have the right. I'd never do it, but I understand why people would.  And finally, the big question, does money really effect Judge's thinking?  Sure, it does. It effects everyone's thinking.

But at the end of the day, out of everything I heard about Judge and the opinions about him and his free agency situation? The 28-year-old from Bronxville says it best.  Bader is right, it's business. The Yanks will make an offer, other teams will too. And ultimately whatever happens, life goes on, for us fans, for Aaron Judge. But I will tell you this... if Judge doesn't come back, I bet we see others willing to walk as well, including the fans. And I like this team, I don't want that to happen.

What's the solution? Yanks have to be on their game. A nice big contract within reason, for the rest of his time in NY, some incentives and other goodies sprinkled in and give this guy the captain title.  Oh yeah... and put some guys around him that can win a championship, will ya?  

The last time was in 2009. We want another!