Aaron Judge brushing off fastball to ribs was awesome but Yankees fans are worried

After the New York Yankees blew Game 3 of the ALCS, some fans (us in particular) had no confidence in their ability to bounce back in Game 4. We're sorry, but we've watched 170 games this year and have witnessed those kinds of losses plague them for stretches of play.

Perhaps the 2024 postseason Yankees are "built different" as the kids say, however, because they came out and punched first in Game 4. Though they gave up two comfortable leads, they landed the final haymaker with their run scoring in the top of the ninth to eventually capture the 8-6 win and 3-1 series lead.

But the Cleveland Guardians don't go down easily, and the fans in Ohio bring the electricity for home games at Progressive Field. It's not an easy place to play in October. The Yankees have learned that many times over the past two decades.

That means New York had to be ready for a brawl on Saturday night during Game 5, and they were right out of the gate. Had the Guardians not executed an absolutely perfect relay from right field, the Yanks would've scored in the first inning and set the tone.

It's too bad they couldn't get a run on the board because Aaron Judge's flex in the top of the first against Tanner Bibee was one of the best we've seen so far this year. He took a 96 MPH fastball directly off the ribs and there didn't even need to be a stoppage in play.

Aaron Judge takes fastball to the ribs and Yankees fans couldn't believe it

He waved off manager Aaron Boone and the medical staff without hesitation, and it was back to the game. How about that, Cleveland? Good thing Judge doesn't have the temper of Paul O'Neill or multiple water coolers might've exploded in that dugout throughout this series. Wish he would have at least popped that ball like a grape while staring down Bibee.

For as cool as it was, however, fans can't help but remain concerned about Judge potentially being compromised. It's currently in the 50s during game time and that shot to the rib cage couldn't have been more direct.

He seemed fine in his third-inning at-bat, but he struck out again so that wasn't the result that would've given us any clues as to if he might be limited with his range of motion. When it happened, Alex Verdugo was seen saying "you've gotta be sh-ttin' me" in the dugout. You know his teammates heard the thud and were worried for a moment, too.

We'll be keeping tabs on Judge for the night, but let's hope this was the best intimidation factor ever instead of an ill-timed issue for the Yankees to deal with as they continue their promising postseason run.