Aaron Judge will NOT be donning the pinstripes against the Red Sox this week. The slugger is officially sidelined, still recovering from a nagging calf strain. This isn’t just a tough break for the Yankees, it’s a bombshell that ripples through their entire Wild Card roster.
The Judge Problem… Or Is It?
Aaron Judge is one of baseball’s all-time greats, hands down. You can even make a solid case he’s the greatest right-handed hitter ever, full stop. So, with him out, you’d think the Red Sox are popping champagne, right? Maybe, maybe not. A gimpy calf had everyone wondering just how effective he’d be anyway. At 100%, Judge is a game-wrecker. At 90%? Still a serious threat. But 80%? 70%? In the Majors, that’s the difference between legendary and just okay. It’s not a given the Sox would even need to worry about a rusty, diminished Judge at all.
What really turns this whole thing into a mess for the Yankees, though, is the ripple effect. If Judge played, even hobbled, he’d almost certainly be locked into the designated hitter spot. That means manager Aaron Boone would face an impossible choice at first base: do you go with Paul Goldschmidt, who’s absolutely crushed lefties all year, or Ben Rice, who’s been one of the league’s top hitters? And get this, Giancarlo Stanton is apparently back for the playoffs after being out since April. With Judge DH-ing, Stanton would be forced into the outfield, making the Yankees’ already iffy defense even worse. You know what? Boone’s had his struggles managing in the postseason before, and leaving Judge off actually simplifies things for him. But still, it’s Aaron Freakin’ Judge! I don’t care how hurt he is, I’d still be terrified to see that guy at the plate in a tight game late. Great players just find a way to do great things.
The Crochet Comeback Gamble
But wait, there’s another superstar making a huge roster splash, this time *for* the Red Sox. Garrett Freakin’ Crochet is back! He’s been out since April 25, which, good god, feels like forever ago. The Sox were a dismal 10-17 the last time he even stepped on a mound. The World Cup was still a month away back then, if that gives you any idea how long this season has been.
Sure, there’s risk here. We saw it with Tanner Houck over the weekend: it takes time for pitchers to shake off that rust. Plus, reports from Crochet’s side sessions haven’t exactly been glowing, with him struggling to get his velocity back. Still, I’m with the Red Sox on this one. It’s the right call. Pitchers are just easier to roster than position players when you’re dealing with a long layoff. Judge’s presence would’ve made Boone’s lineup decisions a nightmare, but Crochet just means Jovani Moran is off the playoff roster. That’s a trade-off I think any team would make for a talent like Crochet.
So, with Judge out and Crochet back in, the upcoming Wild Card series between the Yankees and Red Sox just got a whole lot more interesting. These roster moves aren’t just details, they’re defining choices that could decide who moves on. Get ready, because this is gonna be wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
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