IT'S ABOUT KILLER INSTINCT... SOMETHING THAT EVEN JUDGE CAN'T GIVE HICKS

I admire Aaron Judge for consoling Aaron Hicks after being dumped on with boos at the stadium last night. Yup, that's right, if you didn't know Hicks has not really delivered at the plate and last night he struck out as well as going 0-3. He has no average. Like none.  Once he K'd, the stadium fell down around him.  Yankee fans don't like the guy, it's clear. He's really done nothing for this team in a year.   But it was then Captain and leader Aaron Judge who walked over to him in the dugout and chatted with him.  Clutch Points writes:

"After a fifth inning strikeout against the Philadelphia Phillies, a clearly upset Hicks returned to the dugout, only to find Judge there ready to help him get through one of the more unenviable positions a baseball player can be in."

Aaron Judge consoling Aaron Hicks after his strikeout -- love the captain coming to give him some words of encouragement.

Every strikeout feels like Hicks is further into his own head, very tough spot to be in #NYY pic.twitter.com/0VdChWa8uE

— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) April 5, 2023

It's a class act move by Judge and you have to appreciate it. But let's be very clear about this; We have a player in Aaron Hicks who is frustrated with his role or lack of it with the Yankees and he cannot have someone else swing the bat for him.  The "feeling sorry for yourself" and the pity party this guy reveals to us Yankee fans is downright awful to watch.

Life is about picking yourself up.  Mentally, you need to understand the pitfalls and navigate. You will fall, but you need to have the strength to get back up and try again.  The small picture in this is it's only baseball, meaning Hicks can walk away from the game, still be a millionaire and when you really think about it, what kind of problems does this guy really have? He's getting booed? Really? Suck it up buttercup.

Look, you have to appreciate Aaron Judge being a leader and doing what he can to make Hicks feel alittle better. But in the end, the game is competitive, and Hicks has not proven his role because Hicks plays awful.  For him to even question what his role is on this team right now is ridiculous.  You don't get automatic playing time just because you signed a big contract.  Sometimes you have to perform.  Hicks is not.

Kudos to Judge for being there for his teammate.  But Hicks has to be there for himself, and he's showing defeat, and that's what makes us Yankee fans disgusted.

Body Language is everything.