Aaron Judge turns tables on media with comment after Yankees beat Red Sox

The first rule of having success in October is to act like you've been there before. For the New York Yankees, acting wasn't necessary. The Yankees are no strangers to postseason baseball, so despite a 16-year title drought, the club is familiar with the rigors of the playoffs. They know not to get too high or too low, as Aaron Judge and Aaron Boone have preached for years now.

So when the media was ready to say the sky was falling following the Game 1 loss that featured all kinds of managerial snafus and disappearing bats, the Yankees remained calm. They've been here before, after all.

It didn't matter that the Bombers were taking on the Red Sox, a team that had given them fits for most of the season and exposed some of their greatest weaknesses. It didn't matter that Game 2 featured some very tense moments in which control of the game had nearly slipped through New York's fingers, though they'd ultimately emerge victorious.

All that mattered was taking care of business in Game 3. After all, by the looks of it, they'd be in an advantageous position. Alex Cora had emptied his bullpen in Game 2 to no avail and had no choice but to call upon a rookie making history in an attempt to close out the series. The Yankees had the Red Sox right where they wanted them.

Aaron Judge offers up the best possible answer to turn the tables on the media, who had been waiting for the Yankees to fail

The Yankees were sending prime Roger Clemens, er, sorry, Cam Schlittler to the mound, making it a rookie-on-rookie duel to determine which of the arch rivals would advance. Schlittler, who most certainly hadn't been there before and who had only started his big league career less than three months ago, acted as if he had, tossing eight scoreless innings while racking up an incredible 12 strikeouts.

Not many had that on their bingo cards, but the Yankees weren't surprised. They knew that if they executed, they'd have more than a puncher's chance at downing the Red Sox.

So when asked by the media if there was any nervousness within the locker room following the Game 1 defeat, Yankees captain Aaron Judge had the perfect answer to turn the tables. "That's from you guys, not us," he said with a smile.

Judge knows full well how hyperbolic the New York media can be at times. He also knows that many in the national media await with their knives out, ready to pounce should the Yankees stumble. Swaths of the fanbase, as well, are sometimes quick to look for reasons as to why the sky is falling.

The Yankees aren't, though. They know they belong, and they have a clear vision of what they must do. Now they're one step closer to reaching that mountain top and bringing home No. 28. Nothing less will suffice, and while it won't be easy, anything less than supreme confidence will only serve to hinder them in their quest.

Fortunately, it seems the club has that in spades.