Aaron Judge

New York Yankees: Aaron Judge Is Ready For An MVP Season

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New York Yankees, Aaron Judge

New York Yankees star right fielder Aaron Judge is ready to finally have an MVP season. The only thing holding him back is whether he can stay healthy all year.

In both 2018 and 2019, Judge missed a significant portion of the season with an injury. He broke his wrist getting hit by a pitch in 2018, and had a pretty serious oblique injury in 2019.

He only had 378 at-bats in 2019, but still bat .272 with 27 home runs and 55 RBIs with an OPS well over .900. The injury last season was early in the season, and it affected him a lot when he returned. He struggled for a while before finally getting all the rust off and finally killed it in the last two or so months of the year.

Judge was flawless on defense, literally. He didn’t have a single error in the 92 games he played in the field. One thing that stands out about his defense is his strong arm, and he had seven outfield assists.

Judge is a solid base runner and has sneaky good speed that allows him to steal a bag here and there, and the speed definitely contributes to his stellar defense.

In his three MLB seasons, Judge has won a silver slugger (2017), a rookie of the year award (2017), been selected to two all-star teams (2017 and 2018), and has a second place finish in the MVP voting (2017).

Now, all he’s missing is a first place MVP award. There’s no reason why he can’t do it as long as he stays healthy. He’s such a well rounded player, and that deserves to be recognized if he has an historic year.

New York Yankees: Could Miguel Andujar be left behind in 2020?

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New York Yankees, Miguel Andujar

With the New York Yankees considering every point of action this offseason, third baseman Miguel Andujar could be a player of significant value, whether it be in a trade or as a retained player.

Barring any trade scenarios, Andujar is on pace to be the reserve third baseman behind Gio Urshela, who exploded onto the scene in 2019, hitting .314 with 21 homers over 442 at-bats. His defense was also stellar on the hot corner, finishing with a .954 field percentage and 284 putouts over 123 games.

Urshela rightfully earned the opportunity to start during the 2020 campaign or at least the first crack at the starting lineup. General manager Brian Cashman stated earlier this offseason that teams had already called to gauge interest on a potential trade for Andujar. Still, I believe the Yankees should keep him locked up and far from danger.

Andujar has a great bat, but his defensive qualities have let him down since his inception into the MLB in 2018. The idea was floated that he could be moved to a different position. First base remains an option if Urshela holds on tight to the starting third base job. Getting Andujar involved should be a priority, as allowing him to justify his value and even increase it would give the Bombers an advantage heading into the trade deadline next season.

Why the New York Yankees should hold onto Miguel Andujar:

In 2018, Andujar batted .297/.328/.527 in 149 games as a rookie. He finished in second place in A.L. Rookie of the Year voting. He’s one-year removed from that impressive campaign, and teams around the league will be looking to snatch him from the Yankees at a lower price-point.

One statistic that bodes well for his keeping is his low strikeout rate. The Yankees have adopted a home run centric mentality towards the game, which unfortunately is accompanied by high strikeouts ratios. That will be a welcomes addition to the lineup in 2020, where Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, and Giancarlo Stanton all rack of strikeouts faster than the Houston Astros were buried in cheating scandals.

Overall, the idea that Andujar could be left behind is de-bunked. The Yankees have a ton of value they can extract from him, and he’s nowhere near his potential, which should justify retaining him 100x over.

New York Yankees: Aaron Judge should have won the 2017 AL MVP over Altuve

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New York Yankees, Aaron Judge, Jose Altuve

NEW YORK YANKEES – It came out today that the Houston Astros are a bunch of cheaters. They have all the talent in the world but still had to have a bigger advantage – using a camera to steal signs and relay them to their hitters.

This controversy made me think about the whole 2017 season. Besides the New York Yankees losing every game at Minute Maid Park (wonder why), Jose Altuve also won the American League MVP that season over Aaron Judge.

Would Altuve still be crowned the MVP if he played the game right and didn’t cheat? I don’t think so.

Let’s take a look at the numbers between Judge and Altuve that season.

Judge: .284/.422/.627 with 52 home runs and 114 runs batted in.

Altuve: .346/.410/.547 with 24 home runs and 81 runs batted in.

Even though Altuve significantly beat Judge in terms of batting average, it’s much easier to hit when you know what pitch is coming at you. Even though squaring up a 95MPH fastball isn’t easy in its self, it’s sure a lot easier than guessing at a breaking ball along with the high-heat.

Judge played that season the way it was supposed to. Also, keep in mind, it was his rookie year playing in New York City as a young player. That’s hard, to begin with. He beat Altuve in every other major offensive category that season.

Aaron Judge is the rightful 2017 American League MVP and AL Rookie of the Year. It’s a shame there’s nothing that can be done about it, but Judge sure had something to say about the news:

Looking back, everything the Houston Astros accomplished that season is a sham. Had they not had the advantage of stealing signs, would they have won the World Series? I mean, they have the talent to do so, but a team with that much talent and then a major advantage literally sets them up for massive success.

New York Yankees likely to bring back Brett Gardner for 2020 season

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New York Yankees, Brett Gardner

At 36-yeard-old, Brett Gardner’s 12 years with the New York Yankees has been filled with ups and downs, but the 2019 season spelled an early exit in the postseason at the hands of the Houston Astros. Gardner signed a one-year, $7.5 million contract before the 2019 season, and there are hopes that he will return next year.

Gardner had one of his best slugging seasons to date, logging 28 homers with a .251 batting average, essentially turning back the clock a few years after seeing his numbers plummeted in 2018. He has proven he still holds value as an offensive player, but he’s also a solid outfielder and leader in the clubhouse. He epitomizes the Yankees way.

Will the New York Yankees reunite with Brett Gardner once again?

The continued relationship between the two makes complete sense considering his success last year and familiarity with the organization. He’s loved by the fan-base and can fill multiple outfield roles as a utility option.

Last season, there were concerns that manager Aaron Boone wouldn’t use Gardner much as a featured player. He quickly flipped that chapter and earned significant playing time due to injuries, and he took full advantage. With Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton, and Aaron Judge missed big chunks of time last season, Gardner filled in valiantly.

Heyman commented on the potential for a new deal with the New York Yankees:

“I would think so, just because it’s Brett Gardner, and he’s been loyal forever,” said Heyman. “He had a great year. They want to bring him back. Last I heard, they weren’t close, they didn’t have anything really that was ready to go. But they did it quickly last year … I think they’ll figure it out.”

It makes sense for Gardner to start and finish his career with the Yankees. He still holds value and can act as either a starter or a reserve option. However, the Bombers would prefer to have a full outfield in Judge, Stanton, and Hicks.

New York Yankees: Aaron Judge walks away with one major accomplishment

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New York Yankees, Aaron Judge

Aaron Judge, the right fielder for the New York Yankees, was nominated for the “Wilson Right Field Defensive Player of the Year” award. Many analysts, fans, and scouts overlook  Judge’s defensive skills, mostly because he is famously known for his unprecedented power.

For his size, Judge is very athletic and swift with his feet when he defends the short porch in right. He has made numerous diving and running catches that save runs and games. His most memorable catch has to be when he robbed Francisco Lindor, the Cleveland Indians superstar short-stop, from a home run in the 2017 ALDS. He also has an absolute cannon, throwing guys out at different bases without a crow hop. He even threw a ball 100 miles per hour to nail Los Angeles Angels right fielder, Kole Calhoun, at the plate (MLB.com).

Judge’s Defense is Turning him into a Five-Tool Player

In his career, Judge has played a total of 350 games in right field, with a .987 fielding percentage (Baseball Reference). An outfielder has much more ground to cover, allowing for a more considerable margin for error, but that is a pretty good percentage. This season, in 92 games, he did not have a single error (Baseball Reference)! That statistic makes the award a well-deserved honor over Mookie Betts (2019 Gold Glove winner), Kole Calhoun (2019 Gold Glove runner-up), and Josh Reddick (2019 Gold Glove runner-up).

Judge has already proven his power and contact countless times, especially when hitting 52 home runs his rookie year and driving in over 100 runners. He has even shown off his speed on the basepaths by swiping bases. Now that he has received an award for his glove and arm, he should be considered a five-tool player. When fully healthy, Judge can put up 40+ home runs, 100+ RBIs, 10+ stolen bases, and a .97+ fielding percentage. If that does not prove that he can do it all, then what does?

He is still 27 years of age and has plenty of baseball left in his future. The Yankees need to build their lineup to protect Judge in the two-hole. With Stanton, Torres, and Sanchez all at full strength, this lineup can easily crush the Minnesota Twins new team home run record. The Yankees also need to manage their salary cap and make sure they can sign Judge long-term. The game has never seen a stat-cast breaking player like this before, so being a Yankee will only boost his popularity even more.

New York Yankees: Why we cannot trust GM Brian Cashman to sign Gerrit Cole

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New York Yankees, Brian Cashman

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was right. It wasn’t pitching that lost the ALCS to the Houston Astros, who currently lead the World Series 3-2. Failing to drive runners in from scoring positions doomed the Bombers, and it was a reality that nobody imagined after such a dominate 2019 season on the bases.

As the Yankees featured top sluggers and contact hitters up and down their batting order, it didn’t seem to be enough to scrape out a win against an equally talented opponent. Their starting pitching was far more efficient than the Yankees’, though.

Trusting Cashman to upgrade a starting pitching rotation that suffered through constant injuries and inconsistencies throughout the season might be tough, and his reasoning for losing to Houston might attest to that.

 “Pitching is not what cost us that series with the Astros, at least in my opinion. I felt that our hitting with runners in scoring positions is what sent us home,” he said during his season-ending press conference this past Thursday.

Manager Aaron Boone went on to back up that statement. Still, there’s no question that adding an arm like Gerrit Cole would make the Yankees exponentially more dangerous, especially during the postseason. If you can’t beat them, join them…so they say.

Starter James Paxton, who was stellar during the playoffs with a 2.16 ERA (2 runs allowed in two games), reinforced the beliefs of Boone and Cashman, and I’m sure he’s confident he can earn the top spot after his showing this postseason. Cole would undoubtedly ruin those plans.

“I feel really good about the guys we have.”

“I’m sure they’re gonna go out and look to improve like they always do,’’ Paxton said of potential moves. “We have a great group here, and we can definitely get it done.”

It’s always good for current players to have confidence in their teammates, but the Yankees need to upgrade the top pitching spot, and if it means bringing in a player that barely ever misses time due to health issues, then so be it.

What would Gerrit Cole cost the New York Yankees?

Cole’s value is tremendous, but he will come at a cost. Somewhere in the $30+ million per-season range, to be exact. Cashman will have to take the “cash” out of his name to pay for a player like Cole, but it would be worth every penny considering the depth the Yanks currently have.

The New York Yankees outfield is all but secured with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks, Mike Tauchman, and more. The infield still has plenty of options, and third base it the only spot that could be a question mark unless Gio Urshela is the real deal. Miguel Andujar will also be making his expected return from injury.

If there’s any place Cashman can add a massive contract, signing the best pitcher in baseball isn’t an inadequate salary allocation.

New York Yankees will likely trade Clint Frazier during offseason

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New York Yankees, Clint Frazier

The New York Yankees spared the life of outfielder Clint Frazier this past offseason, as they refused to include him in a potential deal for a top pitching option. Ultimately, Zack Greinke went to the Houston Astros, go figure, and Frazier was left in the minor league system with no hopes of playing in the majors again this past campaign.

After giving passive aggressive answers to media members, Frazier was sent back down to the minors in which he was thought to be trade bait for the deadline on July 31. Now that the Yankees have been eliminated from playoffs, the speculation begins on who could be on the block, and Clint is undoubtedly a valuable asset they could look to utilize.

Why would the New York Yankees trade him?

One reason the Bombers will likely look to move Frazier is that there isn’t a spot for him in the outfield next season. They currently have Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Tauchman, and there’s always the possibility Brett Gardner and Cameron Maybin return.

Having four outfielders who will play over Frazier on the 40-man roster makes him expendable. Factor in Tyler Wade, who’s a better defender in every aspect, and we can already kiss “Red thunder” goodbye.

What kind of value does Frazier have?

The outfielder lost a ton of value last season after having issues with his glove. Defensive struggles played a part in his replacing, so we can’t assume he will be a massive bargaining chip in regards to a potential starting pitcher. In reality, the Yanks could look to add a reliable bullpen arm in exchange for Frazier. I don’t believe he can be a centerpiece in a deal at this point in his career, but he could offer great value for a team looking to retool their outfield and add a solid offensive contributor.

New York Yankees: It’s Time To Name Aaron Judge Captain

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New York Yankees, Aaron Judge

When Derek Jeter retired from baseball in 2014, he left some big shoes to fill on the New York Yankees. Didi Gregorius filled the role of the player, progressively getting better every year.

But, now five years removed from Jeter’s retirement, a player hasn’t filled his shoes as “the captain”. After a disappointing season for the team and now going into his fourth full season, it’s no better time to name Aaron Judge as the new captain of the New York Yankees.

Why?

In my opinion, Judge has all the qualities of a great captain. When he speaks with the media, he always has a team first mentality. If he goes 5-for-5 with a couple home runs and the team loses, his stats mean nothing to him. But, if he goes 0-for with four strikeouts and the team loses, he takes the blame for the loss. No matter how good or bad he plays, he’s just happy to get a win.

Also, the way he interacts with the fans is incredible. He always takes time to sign autographs, talk to fans, and throw balls in the stands. I’m living proof of it.

Back in spring of 2016 when Judge was in AAA, my family and I went to a game between the Railriders and the Syracuse Chiefs in Syracuse, near where I am from. There is this deck in right field that I was watching the game from, and after Judge caught the third out of an inning, I yelled to him and asked for the ball. He peered into the stands and threw it, but not to me. He couldn’t find me, but he sure tried.

Then after that game, I waited for the team outside the clubhouse. I got plenty of autographs that day, including Gary Sanchez. But the best one was Judge.

Not just did he sign my ball, he took a few minutes of his time to talk to me. He asked if and where I played baseball, what position I play, where I’m from, etc. It was one of the coolest two minutes of my life.

And because of many other experiences like that, New York fans absolutely adore him. He’s appeared in so many commercials, and was one of the youngest to grace the cover of MLB The Show.

His support and love for New York is unparalleled, and he helps the team so much on and off the field. Going into 2020, it’s no better time to name Aaron Judge the captain of the New York Yankees.

New York Yankees: Aaron Boone makes another huge batting order mistake

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New York Yankees, Gleyber Torres

The New York Yankees and manager Aaron Boone took a different approach to their hitting order on Thursday night, slotting second-baseman Gleyber Torres into the cleanup spot. That move resulted in Torres going 0-for-4 on the night, and striking out in a bases-loaded situation early on in the contest.

Boone has continuously fielded Edwin Encarnacion, who’s parrot has a better chance of making contact with the baseball than he does. The designated hitter finished the night with two strikeouts (0-for-3) and a groundout. Outfielder Cameron Maybin would have been a more suitable option for the DH spot in the scenario that he didn’t replace Brett Gardner.

The ultimate reality of the situation is that the Yankees are down 3-1 in the series against a better team with more proficient pitching. Their starters are too powerful and efficient to bat around, despite the Yankees leaving plenty of men on base and opportunities missed.

To make matters worse for the Yanks, their bullpen has been putrid as well. Adam Ottavino has been torched by Houston, and Chad Green, who has been fantastic, allowed a timely three-run blast to give the Astros a 6-1 lead in the 6th inning.

Going into game five, Boone not only needs to make numerous changes to the batting order, but he needs to lift the emotions of his team. If Houston can win three straight games, the Yankees can surely do it too.

For the Astros, starter Zach Greinke pitched 4.1 innings, allowing just one run and three hits before handing the ball to the bullpen. The Bombers had their chances to strikes, especially in the first inning where they recorded only one run on a bases-loaded scenario with one out.

Who should the New York Yankees switch out in the batting order?

First off, Encarnacion should be benched for eternity. His 1-for-14 cold streak is hurting the team significantly, not to mention fellow slugger, Gary Sanchez’s issues hitting as well. At least Sanchez smashed a two-run homer in the bottom of the 6th to give the Yankees a glimmer of home.

Here’s a look at what the lineup could theoretically look like in game five:

1.) DJ LeMahieu

2.) Aaron Judge

3.) Gleyber Torres

4.) Giancarlo Stanton (?) –> Gary Sanchez

5.) Aaron Hicks

6.) Brett Gardner

7.) Cameron Maybin

8.) Didi Gregorius

9.) Gio Urshela

The defense needs to step up:

Aside from the offensive woes, the New York Yankees struggled defensively on Thursday. They allowed four errors, two coming from LeMahieu at first base and two from Gleyber Torres at second, which allowed two runs on separate occasions. Two of the mistakes occurred in the seventh inning, where the Astros recorded a run and put the game out of reach.

They must elevate their defensive quality and prepare to play a clean game in Houston on Friday night.

New York Yankees: Aaron Boone made horrific mistakes in game three batting order

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New York Yankees, Brett Gardner

So let’s get this straight, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone not only kept the previously 0-for-9 Edwin Encarnacion in the cleanup spot, but he also featured Brett Gardner right in front of him at No. 3. Gardner is 2-for-9 over the last two losses to the Houston Astros and hasn’t made an impact in any significant way.

The fact is, Gardner could barely even play the field as he crashed into the outfield wall trying to make a warning-track catch. His bat was off, his ability to track fly balls was off, and yet Boone elected to stick with the veteran through thick and thin. Was this a strange sentimental start on behalf of Boone?

Alternatively, Boone could have started speed-demon Cameron Maybin in right field and featured him in the batting order, likely moving him down the list and Gleyber Torres up to the three spot. Torres was the only real threat on Tuesday night against Gerrit Cole, who blanked the Yanks over seven innings despite several concerning innings that nearly resulted in run production.

The Bombers weren’t able to claw away at the Astros and their stellar starting pitchers, though, as Severino allowed two runs early on to dig the Yankees into a hole. The offensive power the New York Yankees featured during the Twins completely turned off due to opposing pitching, but there’s still hope on the horizon.

Based on the struggles of individual players, here’s a revised New York Yankees batting order for game four:

1.) DJ LeMahieu

2.) Aaron Judge

3.) Gleyber Torres

4.) Gary Sanchez

5.) Aaron Hicks

6.) Didi Gregorius

7.) Brett Gardner

8.) Cameron Maybin

9.) Gio Urshela

First off, Edwin Encarnacion has to go — 1-for-13 is despicable, and featuring him in the lineup any longer cannot be justified. Plugging Sanchez into the cleanup spot makes logical sense considering his power, despite his struggles. Since benching him is off the table due to his catching abilities, they can move him up just to take Edwin out.

The reality is, the Yankees need to maximize their effectiveness towards the top portion of the lineup, and stacking it through with high-contact hitters makes the most sense. Generally, the Yanks were in a scoring position more frequently when the top of the batting order was at-bat. Aaron Hicks, the outlier, earned two walks on the day and showed stellar patience against Cole.

Moving him up to the fifth spot in the order gives the Yanks a switch-hitting option that can contribute with discipline behind Sanchez. Also, Brett Gardner has got to GO. His lack of contact is continuous, and his frustration/emotion has taken its toll on his confidence. Unfortunately, the Yanks simply don’t have any other options with Giancarlo Stanton nursing an injured quad.

Putting Maybin in is a necessity for game three.