Yankees: This is the Aaron Judge the Bombers need in October

Aaron Judge is the face of the New York Yankees. After a hot start to the 2018 postseason, you have to believe that they will go as far as he takes them.

When looking at the first three playoff games for the New York Yankees, you have to stop and ask yourself where on earth would they be without Aaron Judge? Judge is entering Game 3 of the ALDS against the rival Boston Red Sox off to a torrid start this postseason. Through three games, he has ridiculous .563 batting average, homered in every game, and he’s driven in four runs.

Despite the numbers being off the charts, Judge’s impact this postseason has meant so much more to the Bronx Bombers. The impact he is having is a simple one, setting the tone for how this team will perform in the postseason.

Think back to the AL Wild Card game on Oct. 3. Judge’s two-run home run in the first inning set up the team’s 7-2 win over the Oakland Athletics. His strong Game 1 of the ALDS showed the baseball world that last year’s early playoff struggles might have just been a result from a bad shoulder.

His performance in Games 1 and 2 of the ALDS have also shown this is the Judge Yankee fans should come to expect come October. Through those two games, he is hitting .556 with two home runs, and two RBIs. Compare that to last years ALDS, and the contrast is staggering. Against Cleveland in 2017, he finished with a .050 batting average, and no home runs. The difference between then and now you may ask? Strikeouts.

Judge has only struck out once this ALDS, compared to his five strikeouts through the Yankees’ first two Division series game a year ago.

What is more impressive about Judge this year is that you get the feeling that he is not settling with the idea of this being a one and done series. He has all the confidence in the world in this team, and it showed as he was seen walking past the Red Sox clubhouse Saturday night blasting Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York.

Watch Judge walk by with no hesitation, just confidence. Confidence that the Yankees are going home with the series tied at a game apiece. Confidence in himself after three monster games. Confidence in his team that they can withstand adversity and get back to the task at hand. Does that remind you of anyone else that has worn the pinstripes? Does it remind you of Derek Jeter?

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The Yankees always knew they could count on Jeter when they need him throughout the postseason. Obviously, five championships will do that for you but, it was so much more than that. Jeter had the clutch factor, and it is starting to look like Judge is starting to get that in his short playoff career.

This is the Aaron Judge the Yankees need. Not the player who hit .050 in the ALDS a year ago. They need the player that has hit six home runs in his last eight playoff games. The player who is going to go out there and set the tone for the rest of his team. They do not need him to do too much, they need him to be the player they know he is capable of being.

So far this postseason he has done that and more. If he can keep that up, he might just lead New York to their first championship in nine years.