By Rich Mancuso/Sports Editor
He stands in front of his dressing quarters in the Yankees clubhouse and you hear the right words. Aaron Judge has been a major part of this New York Yankees offense and it’s a matter now of how long will this home run streak continue? Judge gives the answer and again he hit a long home run that helped his team conclude a successful home stand.
“Maybe Tee-ball,” said Judge when asked if he could recall if he ever had a home run streak like the one that was seen in the Bronx this week. His smile stretched as long as the length of the large Yankees clubhouse.
NY Yankee’s rookie Aaron Judge’s 13th HR a record for young sluggers. Credit: MLB.com
Judge has become a part and perhaps main reason for this Yankees come from behind baseball, a catalyst of sorts that leaves New York heading to Chicago and Cincinnati on top in the AL East standings after a 8-6 win Wednesday night and taking two of three from Toronto.
They say it’s judgment day in the Bronx and he may be more popular than the judge and jury that meet everyday in the Bronx County courthouse up the block from Yankee Stadium.
Chase Headley said there is never any panic and that has become a theme of this New York Yankees team and especially when they are trailing at home in the Bronx. Once again the Yankees were trailing in a game and their potent offense came from behind for the win.
And this this has become a recurring theme. He comes to the plate, the fans cheer and then the big blow from Aaron Judge who earlier in the day was named American League Rookie for the month of April, and he added to the record of being the youngest player in MLB history to hit at least 13 home runs through the team’s first 26 games of the season.
“He has been out of this world,” said Chase Headley about the rookie. “We know we can score some runs. Judge helps with that run production and the Yankees scored 50 runs with 17 home runs in their last six games in the Bronx and have the best home record in baseball at 12-3.
But it is a team contribution with overall good starts from the rotation and relief from the bullpen, and of course the potent offense that shows no signs of giving up. Judge may be a rookie but with a significant role has become the newest sensation for the Yankees.
Not Derek Jeter, yet, but moving up the ladder and rather quick. The Yankees are 11-0 when Aaron Judge hits a home run and there could be many more this next few days if the wind is blowing out at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
The Yankees trailed 4-0 after the top of the first inning. They never quit, and that marked the fifth time his season in a game they trailed by at least three runs. But it was judge again, 3-for-5 and another home run that quickly erased the deficit and helped the Yankees to another win.
Judge, himself is unable to admit how long this home run streak will last, and when not using the long ball he contributes with a RBI single which was a part of his three hit game. His Major League leading 13th home run went for two runs in the third inning.
“Just going one bat at a time,” said Judge about his streak that continues to be the talk of baseball. Quality at bats. You never know what is going to be set up.”
“His value is to hard to measure what he has done.” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi about his young slugger. And at this point all Judge can do is continue those quality at bats. But what made this latest Yankees win special, and when CC Sabathia did not have it on the mound was how it all came together again.
As Girardi said, “The bats got going and we started pitching well.” And of course the verdict is in that Aaron is the right judge to have in the Bronx.
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