Judging The Captain

By: Lawrence Lang.

 At last Wednesday’s press conference, The New York Yankees named Aaron Judge Captain. After Judge signed a new nine-year deal with the Yankees worth $360 Million, thus making him earn $40 Million over the next nine seasons with the Yankees. Judge becomes the 16th captain in Yankees History. He joins a long list of Hall of farmers who were also Captain of the 27-time World Champions list, including the inaugural Captain Clark Griffith (1903- 1905), Willie Keeler (1908-1909), Frank Chance (1913), Babe Ruth (1922), Lou Gehrig (1986-1988) and the most recent Captain Derek Jeter (2003-2014). 

Judge’s Path to Captain goes as follows. He was a first-round pick of the Yankees in 2013. On August 13th, 2016, Judge made his Major League debut. Since that time, Judge has racked up many accolades; below are just a few. 

4x All-Star (2017,2018,2021,2022)

AL MVP (2022)

AL recorded for most Home Runs in a single season (62) 

3x Silver Slugger (2017,2021,2022) 

Wilson Defensive Player of the Year (2019)

To many, it’s right to name Judge the new Captain of the Yankees, which is well deserved, especially what he did this past season. Judge set the American League single-season record and Yankees’ Single Season record for home runs in a season with 62 home runs breaking the 61-year-old record that former Yankee Right Fielder Roger Marris set in 1961 with 61 Home Runs. Judge is also the locker room leader of the Yankees right now and never puts the spotlight on himself when it comes to the game of baseball. Many expected when he became a free agent that he would be dawning a new uniform once 2023 Spring Training. Other teams looking to bring a new JUDGE to town were The San Diego Padres. Who already have Fernando Tatis jr. ( still suspended for part of 2023 for PEDs), former world series winner Juan Soto ( acquired in a trade with Washington Nationals in 2022), and Manny Machado. The San Francisco Giants were also in the mix, and most people thought there made a deal for Judge to go there, but a last-minute offer from the Yankees made Judge decide to stay. 

Now that it’s all time to all rise again in the Bronx. Judge is now in some familiar territory, as when you get named Captain of the Yankees championship, success comes around. The 8th Yankee captain, shortstop Everett Scott (1922-1925), brought the Yankees the first title in 1923. Lou Gehrig, the next Captain from 1935-1939, brought the Yankees four championships. Thurman Munson (1976- 1979) became the 10th captain 37 years after Gehrig brought two championships. Finally, the latest Captain, Derk Jeter (2003-2014), who, before being named Captain, had already won four world series with the Yankees (96,98,99,00), brought the Yankees their most recent championship in 2009. Scott, Gehrig, and Munsion all won one title a year after being named Captain, and for Jeter, it was six years when he finally won a title as Captain.  

Since Judge came up in 2016, the Yankees have had a great regular season but have seen to come up short once it came to the Playoffs.

2016. Missed 

2017. 91 – 71 Lost the ALCS to Houston 

2018. 100-62 Lost ALDS to Boston 

2019. 103-59, Lost ALCS to Houston

2020. (Covid Season) 33-27 Lost ALDS to Tampa 

2021. 92-70 Lost ALWC to Boston

2022. 99-63 Lost the ALCS to Houston.

Suppose we forget that with sub-par performance in the playoffs for the Yankees, their biggest question now for the Judge and the Yankees is whether Judge can stay healthy, especially with making $40 Million a year now for the next nine years. Looking at Judge, he finds a way to be on the DL with no severe injuries and a few Serious ones. Plus, with a new deal staying healthy will be critical for Judge if he wants to keep his $40 Million salary. Judge will turn 31 next April.

2016 (call-up year). Grade 2 Oblique Strain 

2017- 18 Offseason Shoulder Surgery (arthroscopic surgery)

2018 July Chip fracture in the wrist ( nearly two months on IL)

2019 April Oblique Strain ( April returned on June 21st)

2020 Collapsed Lung ( due to a dive in Sept of 2019) was due to miss significant time when reported to spring training, but we all know what happened in 2020. 

2020 Calf Strain in early and late august

2021 Lowe Body soreness on and off. 

Keeping Judge healthy is critical because not only is he your Captain, but he is also your franchise player now. Injuries due occur at any time, and nobody ever wishes injury on anyone. But here is the thing ‘What if” Judge does get injured and does miss the significant time where he misses multiple months or a season? What do the Yankees do? The 2023 season has yet to start, and we are not a few years into the Judge contract. With that in mind, here are five things to consider in the Captain Judge era beginning. 

1. Will Judge be Captain all nine years of his contract? 
2. Will Judge be a Yankee for his entire nine-year contract?
3. How healthy will Judge be in the next nine years with being 30 already?
4. How will Judge deal with the pressure of now being the Yankees’ Captain?
5. HOW MANY WORLD SERIES WILL THE YANKEES WIN IN THE NEXT NINE YEARS?

The last question is the most important, and the Yankees have always been associated with winning championships. They have not won a World Series since 2009, and the fans are getting restless. How much longer will it take for them to get to the promised land? If they don’t, the fans and the New York media will come after the new Captain. It might sound harsh, but Aaron is about to be Judged in a different matter.