Aaron Judge’s return to right field for the New York Yankees after his flexor tendon injury was supposed to be a cause for celebration.
However, what happened against the Toronto Blue Jays ignited controversy. Not only because of the plays that showed that Judge is still not fully recovered, but also because of the way Aaron Boone responded at the press conference.
His answers were described as evasive and sparked the fury of fans, who accused him of trying to cover up something that was evident on the field.
Aaron Judge takes responsibility after loss to Blue Jays
Judge was active again, although it is clear that he is still not 100 percent, something that was somewhat budgeted for due to the injury he suffered and the time he was inactive.
In the first inning, he had the opportunity to avoid a run with a throw to the plate, but decided not to do so. In addition, throughout the game, his throws lacked strength and accuracy, which fueled doubts about his recovery.
The captain himself recognized his mistake: “That’s just on me. I’ve got to take charge… as an outfielder, you’ve got to take charge.” His sincerity contrasted with the defensive tone of Boone.
Aaron Boone’s comments anger Yankees fans
After the game, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic questioned Boone about why Judge did not make the throw in the first inning. The answer was so ambiguous that it went viral on social media: “We’re handling it like we’re handling it, OK?”.
Aaron Boone was asked why Aaron Judge did not attempt the throw home in the first inning, a play that ended up costing the Yankees a run. The manager responded succinctly: “He got there just in time and scored,” minimizing the fact as a routine action.
When pressed by the reporter, Boone added that Judge “is in a position to make the throw,” although he did not elaborate on whether the player’s injury limited his right arm. These answers generated more doubts than certainties among the fans.
Fans did not forgive him, calling the statements inaccurate while demanding clearer explanations about Aaron Judge’s health.
Boone, a history of questionable decisions
The anger does not only come from this game, as Aaron Boone had already been accumulating criticism for insisting on playing Anthony Volpe despite his defensive failures, and for poor decisions in the bullpen that cost key games.
In addition, his clashes with the press, where he tends to downplay criticism, have further damaged his image in the eyes of fans.
This, coupled with the poor season the Yankees are having this season, has caused a large section of the fans to demand a change of manager in New York.
Should the Yankees protect Judge more?
Beyond the controversy, the real debate is whether Boone and the organization are properly taking care of their star.
Judge leads the American League in OPS (1.103), home runs (43) and RBIs (97). With MVP-caliber numbers, logic dictates protecting his arm and focusing on his bat.
However, by putting him on the field without full recovery, the Yankees are taking a risk not only in the present, but also in the near future, as a postseason without Judge could be lethal for the Bronx Bombers.
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