When the New York Yankees activated Aaron Judge a few weeks ago, it seemed like he was returning at the perfect time. He could give the team an offensive spark right before the postseason that could carry them on a deep playoff run. But less than a month later, those dreams took a major hit when Judge was placed back on the IL with a right calf strain. This raised concerns in the Yankees community, as Judge could not be activated until the season’s final day.
However, the Yankees got the worst news possible on Tuesday morning when manager Aaron Boone announced that Judge will miss the wild card round of the playoffs. Reports also suggest he could miss more than just the wild card round if the Yankees make a deep run, but those rumors remain unconfirmed. This is a major blow for the Bronx Bombers as they seemed set to take on the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card round. Do they still have a chance at a run without Judge?
Can the Yankees Still Win Without Aaron Judge?
For years, Judge has been the key to the Yankees lineup. He has been the main threat and the player who has turned this offense from a bottom-third unit into one of the league’s top offenses. That trend has continued this season. In 66 games this season, he slashed .241/.360/.511 with 18 home runs, 41 RBIs, and a 140 OPS+. These numbers may not be what we are used to seeing from him, but they are still very good. Had he not been injured for a large chunk of the season, he likely would be among the league leaders in most offensive categories.
The Yankees sorely miss this production when Judge is on the IL. During his absences, the Yankees ranked in the bottom third in most offensive categories. This offensive slump has caused the Yankees to slip in the standings and is a major reason it looks like a long shot they can take the AL East. It has also affected the Yankees individually. Players like Ben Rice saw their offensive production fall during Judge’s absence. Without Judge’s protection, they weren’t getting the same pitches to hit.
Without Judge in the lineup, the Yankees will have a hard time getting past the Boston Red Sox. With the lineup revolving around him, the team will struggle without him. Their offense will look much like it did during the summer when he was on the IL. Now, sure, they may be able to steal the game; AL Cy Young Award candidate Cam Schlittler is on the mound, but after that, the pitching will not be able to make up for the lack of offense. It will go down as another October when the Yankees couldn’t live up to expectations.
This injury is a crushing blow for the Yankees. Anytime your star player can’t play in the postseason, it is the worst feeling a fanbase can have. Especially with a player as important as Judge.
