Aaron Judge powers Yanks in postseason
Bob Nightengale: Slugger has gone deep in his first three playoff games
NEW YORK — Aaron Judge, looking more like a college student than the biggest star in New York, wearing his blue shirt, black pants, black tennis shoes and backpack, strolled down the old corridor at Fenway Park blasting music from his portable stereo.
Only, this wasn’t hip-hop, country, rap or rock.
It was classic Frank Sinatra. “New York, New York.”
Yes, the same song that is played after every Yankees victory at home in the Bronx was now filling the air as he walked out past the Red Sox clubhouse and headed toward the Yankees team bus.
It wasn’t meant to troll the Red Sox,
show disrespect or be funny.
Simply, it was just Judge chillin’. After sitting out nearly two months with a broken wrist, he is taking this postseason by storm, becoming the first Yankee since Hank Bauer in the 1958 World Series to homer in the first three games of the postseason.
It has been four decades, but the Yankees have a new Mr. October, and his name is Aaron James Judge, who doesn’t have nearly the swagger, bravado or bluster of Reggie Jackson but is putting the Yankees on his 6-7 back, trying to lead them to the World Series.
The Yankees will resume their American League Division Series against the Red Sox on Monday night at Yankee Stadium, tied at one-game apiece, with a sellout crowd expected to go berserk, watching their beloved team face their hated rivals in the postseason for the first time in 14 years.
“I know our fans are waiting for us, it’s going to be huge,” Judge said. “There’s nothing like it. I’ve never been part of something like that. It’s like the fans are out there on the field with you. It’s electric.
“I try to describe it, but I can’t.” It’s no different than trying to explain Judge’s feats this postseason.
How can you, when the Red Sox have pored over scouting reports and tapes, and can’t figure out a way to get him out?
Judge is putting up Ruthian numbers, hitting .556 (7-for-12) with three homers, four RBI and a 1.822 OPS. Eleven of his 16 career postseason hits are for extra bases.
“We’re doing everything we can to slow him down,” Red Sox second base- man Ian Kinsler said, “and take it from there, I guess. It’s impressive the way he’s controlling the strike zone.
“He’s not a guy you want to see at the plate in a big situation.”
It’s hard to believe this is the same guy who recently was sidelined for seven weeks with a broken bone in his wrist, not knowing when he’d return, or just how he’d perform once he was back. He ended the regular season with one home run his final 17 games, dating to July 17.
“I knew once I was told it was broken,” Judge said. “I thought it would be an eight-, nine-week process until getting back. I just checked the calendar, and went to work, so I could be in a position like this to help my team in the postseason.
“What motivated me was sitting out of the grind. Sitting out those couple of months without getting a chance to play with my teammates, grind out the good times and the bad times. I don’t like sitting on the bench.
“I’m just happy to be back and happy to be contributing in the postseason.“
That’s Judge, the biggest sports star in New York, but with an ego the size of your favorite pizza deliveryman. Don’t let his soft-spoken, humble words fool you.
The man has been carrying his team since the calendar turned to October, starting with the go-ahead homer in the first inning of the Yankees’ wild-card victory over the Athletics, again in the ninth inning in Game 1 against the Red Sox, and Saturday in the first inning off David Price in Game 2.
The Yankees marvel, watch and are going along for the ride.
“He knows what’s at stake,” said Yankees DH Giancarlo Stanton, “and he’s stepping up when we need it the most. Everyone’s seeing it.”
Yes, indeed, start spreadin’ the news.