Yankees: Don’t expect Aaron Judge Friday amid Boone’s latest lie

Transparency. Trans-frickin’-parency. It’s literally all Yankees fans ask for, and we’ve yet to receive it under this current administration.

The crisis is getting so bad that fans surmised an Aaron Judge injury well over a week ago, only to be vindicated on Wednesday.

“Vindicated” in the unique way where you receive something you’ve been dreading.

Judge got the final game of the Yankees’ series with the Baltimore Orioles off on Wednesday ahead of a scheduled off day Thursday, and for the first time, manager Aaron Boone admitted his slugger was battling side soreness — one day after every fan watching was able to discern something was bugging the slugger, even as he mashed the baseball in a 3-5 effort.

Can he play through whatever’s bothering him? Sure. He’s been doing just fine.

At least, that’s what Boone insinuated before Wednesday’s game to keep us happy before walking it back immediately following another excruciating extra-inning loss.

Prior to the contest, Boone claimed he’d use Judge in a big spot if it came to it. Then, the big spots came and went, and Judge is now questionable for Friday’s game. Don’t expect to see him then, either.

The Yankees need to come clean about Aaron Judge’s injury.

Having Judge active for Game 6 of the season should not be anyone’s foremost concern, but Boone’s little flip-flop was the latest troubling sign for a team with a history of misinformation.

In fact, the Yankees have done the impossible: taken fans’ scorn about Judge’s fragility, and redirected it at the administration that continues exacerbating the problem by fibbing about it and refusing to further examine it.

As of Wednesday afternoon, no tests were scheduled for Judge’s side — if you believe what management is feeding us. But, may we ask…why? Testing an injury is the only way to know what an injury is, and rest assured, if this kicks Judge out for several days, it certainly qualifies.

It’s April 7. Yankees fans would much rather smile and nod as Judge hits the 10-Day IL than attempt to participate in the charade that he’ll be just fine in a matter of hours.

From the point late in the spring where Judge socked his first homer before missing the final three preseason games, fans smelled a rat in the locker room. When it came time to “analyze” Tuesday’s game, it didn’t take a close read to see Judge was rounding the bases and playing the outfield with caution.

Finally, the team acknowledged that something was wrong on Wednesday, but they didn’t give us the full story, either. They never do.

Withholding information about Judge’s injury concerns helps no one; it only intensifies the annoyance fans have with this current front office that never seems to have a solution beyond word salad.

Forget the fact that Judge is already dealing with assorted sorenesses five games into the 2021 season; at this point, that’s as American as apple pie or generalized anxiety. Boone’s hilarious attempts to deflect attention are the real story here — and even after giving up the ghost before Wednesday’s game, he still tried it again! We watched the game. There were a few “big moments” to speak of, and a sad-looking Judge never came close to removing that sweatshirt.

Bet against Judge playing a single game in the outfield on Tampa’s turf this weekend, and thank me when you cash out.

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