Aaron Judge's pregame outfit before WBC final won't help Yankees fans fight trolls

During his time rocking the "USA" across his chest, Aaron "Captain America" Judge has been mostly proficient. His detractors would rather focus on his strikeout with RISP in the third inning on Sunday vs. the Dominican Republic or his game-ending K against Greg Weissert, but facts are facts. He's come up small in a few pressure-packed moments, but his two-run homer was the difference against Mexico and he changed Sunday's semifinal with his aggressive defense and powerful arm.

It speaks to Judge's dominance that his .979 OPS and elite defense haven't been enough for some fans, especially when paired with his mild-mannered attitude and propensity for nodding. Or maybe it actually speaks to the reality that a lot of people hate the Yankees and always have, and there's nothing Judge can do about it.

For Yankee fans who hoped that Tuesday night might go a long way towards quieting the bothersome narrative that Judge tends to shrink in big moments, his pregame wardrobe certainly wasn't a great start.

Team USA showed up outfitted in purported game-worn outfits from the American hockey team that just defeated Canada in dramatic fashion to earn Olympic gold. Whoever was responsible for giving Judge an Auston Matthews jersey was probably a Mets fan.

Aaron Judge will draw the Auston Matthews comparisons no one wants, until he wins a ring

Matthews' Maple Leafs teams, just like Judge's Yankees, are known for pairing regular season firepower with playoff disappointments. Since being selected first overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, the American-born star has fueled canuck angst by failing to advance past the second round (which seems impossible) despite record-setting offensive performance.

Matthews was named the captain of the Leafs back in 2024, and served as Team USA's captain in the Milan-Cortina Olympics. He recorded three goals and four assists in the six-game tournament, but was critiqued for how he did it and when they occurred, carrying his NHL postseason baggage into the spotlight (he's scored twice in his past 15 NHL playoff games). Sound familiar?

Thankfully, the Yankees' title drought (2009-present) pales in comparison to what diehard Leafs fans have gone through, title-free since 1967. But Judge and Matthews are in remarkably similar positions at the moment, leading storied franchises through semi-cursed periods, propped up by their personal excellence. At least Matthews captured an Olympic gold medal for his troubles. Hopefully, Judge follows suit, then parlays it into a scorched earth regular season to quiet the doubters once and for all.