The Yankees, Aaron Judge and the fate of Major League Baseball

Never Step on Baseball’s Lines

Fortunately, a new generation of great players seemingly headed for the hall has emerged. Mike Trout has been the best player in the game since he started and comparisons to Mickey Mantle are completely warranted. Bryce Harper has the bravado of Reggie but hits a lot more home runs.

Everywhere you look there are great young players in the game, from Altuve to Betts. And most if not all are embracing the kind of fun seen only since the inception of the World Baseball Classic. Most of these players practice good-natured fun, but a few cross the line into never acceptable pejoratives.

Some have even gone to either bullying or berating. Not Aaron Judge. After one season it is already clear that Judge knows how to have the fun appropriate for his baseball generation but with the restraint of Jeter.

Perhaps most endearing is his deferential nature in the face of his historic abilities and accomplishments.

He has been in front of many, many microphones. Had he instead the personality of Rickey Henderson, Judge would be the victim of his repeated power displays, already unbearable and despised. Do any Yankees fans still want Bryce Harper to wear pinstripes, and play alongside Aaron?

The Past is Prologue

Instead, he has fulfilled another modern Yankees superstar requirement.

I remember an interview in circa 2002. Peter Gammons was discussing the Yankees and their pursuit of certain free agents. He said, as long as baseball players want to play with Derek Jeter, the Yankees will always have an advantage in free agency.

If you don’t think that is important, have a conversation with the Knicks.

While Judge is far from garnering the respect of Jeter, he has already become the type of player other’s feel honored to play with, even veterans.

And who wouldn’t want Judge to protect them in a lineup. As there is zero chance he ever becomes a free agent, players desirous of chasing championships with The Judge will just have to move to the Bronx.