Yankees’ Judge rekindles baseless buzzer speculation
HOUSTON — Aaron Judge rounded third base and rekindled a year’s worth of baseless buzzer speculation.
After hitting a solo home run that decided Saturday’s 1-0 win, Judge brought both hands to his jersey and pulled the sides together, an obvious ode to Jose Altuve’s odd behavior after the 2019 American League Championship Series.
“I noticed what he did,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “That was wrong. That’s my homeboy. That’s wrong. Hey man, people can do what they want to do. He’s the biggest, baddest dude out there.”
Altuve asked teammates not to rip off his jersey when he hit the pennant-winning home run against Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman. Major League Baseball’s investigation of the Astros’ sign-stealing scheme commenced a month later. Unfounded social media rumors suggested Altuve was wearing a buzzer that alerted him what pitch Chapman threw.
Major League Baseball investigated wearable devices during its probe and found nothing to substantiate the claim. Altuve and all other Astros involved have vehemently denied ever wearing a buzzer in 2017, 2018 or 2019.
In the immediate aftermath, Altuve said he did not want his shirt removed because he is “shy” and didn’t want “to get in trouble with my wife.”
Later, shortstop Carlos Correa revealed Altuve had a tattoo on his left chest he did not want to expose. Altuve does have a tattoo of his daughter’s name on his left chest.
Judge has been one of the Astros’ harshest critics in the last year and a half. He finished as runner-up to Altuve for American League MVP honors in 2017. Houston fans have showered him with boos throughout this series at Minute Maid Park — the Yankees’ first trip back since that 2019 ALCS loss.
“Whenever they keep the roof closed here it’s pretty chilly, so I was just letting my team know to button up a little bit,” Judge said on Saturday night with a wry smile.
“Everyone’s welcome to their own opinion.”
Bregman on track for Albuquerque return
Alex Bregman is nearing a minor league rehab assignment “pretty soon,” and it appears more likely it could include a trip back home.
“Everything is ahead of schedule right now,” Bregman said before Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the Yankees. “It’s kind of a moving target. We’re hoping here in the next few days.”
The Class AAA Sugar Land Skeeters start a six-game trip in Albuquerque against the Isotopes on July 15. Bregman said returning to his hometown is “looking more and more realistic every day.”
Bregman has not played in Albuquerque since his high school state championship tournament. He missed the trip while with Class AAA Fresno in 2016.
Bregman’s father’s law firm even advertises on the cupholders at Isotopes Park.
“He’s hoping everything goes as planned,” Bregman said. “He’s got like 300 buddies or so that will be there.”
Bregman has missed 22 games since straining his left quad on June 16 against the Texas Rangers. He has taken pregame batting practice and infield during this homestand while continuing to ramp up his running.
Utilityman Díaz starts his rehab assignment
Astros utilityman Aledmys Díaz departed for West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sunday to begin a minor league rehab assignment with the Gulf Coast League.
Manager Dusty Baker intimated Díaz will go from the spring training complex to Class AA Corpus Christi to continue his rehab assignment. Baker said Díaz could rejoin the Astros at the end of July.
Díaz fractured his left handjune 5 when he was hit by a pitch in Buffalo. He has missed 31 games, depriving the Astros of their most dependable bench bat.