The New York Yankees made one of the most important decisions before the start of the postseason: Aaron Judge He was left out of the 26-player AL Wild Card series against the Boston Red Sox.
The captain failed to recover in time from the strain in the right calf that keeps him out since mid-September. Instead, the Yankees did include Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham, two players who had also been working to return from their respective injuries.
The decision means that New York will start its way in October without its main offensive figure, but recovering two important pieces that can give greater depth to the lineup and the bank.
Aaron Judge will not be available against Boston
Judge went out of his way over the past few days to try to convince the Yankees that he could be ready to play.
The captain took part in a live batting session at Yankee Stadium, one of the most important tests of his recovery process. Judge received turns in front of Ryan Weathers and Elmer Rodriguez while the medical staff and the team watched how he responded physically.
However, the Yankees determined that he was not yet ready to compete in a postseason series.
Judge had suffered a strain on his right calf on September 16 and was subsequently placed on the injured list. The injury came just a few days after his return from an absence of more than three months due to a stress fracture in a rib.
The Yankees preferred not to take risks with their captain
Judge repeatedly expressed his desire to return for the Wild Card and went on to say that he was trying to convince the medical staff that he could play.
Despite that intention, New York decided to take a more conservative stance.
In a best-of-three series, using a roster spot on a player who still can't perform physically as normal could become too big a risk.
The decision also doesn't mean that Judge's season is over. If the Yankees eliminate Boston and advance to the divisional series, the captain could be reassessed and come into consideration for the next round.
Giancarlo Stanton will be on the Wild Card roster
While Judge was left out, Giancarlo Stanton completed enough work to convince the Yankees that he could offer something during the series.
Stanton hasn't played a major league game since April 24 due to problems in both calves, but in recent weeks his activity progressively increased.
The veteran faced live pitching, did batting sessions, and worked the bases while trying to prove that it could be available in October.
The Yankees finally decided to include it on the roster, although its use could be limited mainly to offensive situations.
Stanton could become a power option from the bench, especially against the left-handed pitchers that Boston will use during the series.
Trent Grisham also returns to face Boston
Another positive news for New York is the return of Trent Grisham.
The center fielder had been out since early September due to a strain in the right hamstring, but he advanced enough in his rehabilitation to receive authorization before the start of the Wild Card.
His presence offers Aaron Boone an important option both offensively and defensively.
Grisham can occupy the center, bring speed and allow Boone to organize the gardens in different ways depending on the opposing pitcher.
The Yankees will have to produce without judge
The absence of the captain inevitably modifies the construction of the offensive.
Judge finished the regular season with an average of .241, on-base percentage of .360 and slugging of .511, plus 18 home runs and 41 RBI in just 66 games.
His season was marked by injuries. He first lost more than three months due to a stress fracture in a rib and, after returning in September, he was barely able to play seven games before suffering the problem in the calf.
The Yankees have already had to play for long periods without it this year, so players like Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Luis Garcia Jr. and George Lombard Jr. They will have to assume greater responsibility again.
Stanton can become an important piece from the bank
Before being out of action, Stanton had played 24 games and hit .256 with three home runs and 14 RBIs.
His postseason history also plays in favor of the decision to include him. The veteran has shown on several occasions that he can change an October match with a single connection.
The question will be how much you can do physically after staying more than five months without playing an official game.
Boone will probably have to carefully manage his opportunities, but even a single major shift can justify his presence in such a short series.
The Yankees start October with a different offensive
New York will make it to the first match against Boston without Judge, but with Stanton and Grisham again available.
The configuration forces the team to find production from different parts of the lineup and increases the importance of the players who managed to keep the club competitive during the captain's absences.
The Wild Card does not offer time to wait for a batter to find his pace. The Yankees need to win two games before Boston and each turn will have a much greater weight.
Judge will have to watch from outside during this first round. Stanton, on the other hand, will have the opportunity to return on the stage that has historically released some of his best versions.
Now the attention is completely shifted to the ground: the Yankees begin October without their captain, but with the possibility of recovering it later if they manage to survive the Wild Card against Boston.