Aaron Boone’s Wednesday night ended a little earlier than the Yankees’ 11-game winning streak did, as the skipper was ejected in the eighth inning of an eventual 2-1 loss in Toronto.
The ejection was a long time coming it seemed, as the Yankees had issues with home plate umpire Marty Foster’s strike zone all night, and Boone finally had enough, getting tossed from the dugout in the eighth before coming out and giving Foster his money’s worth:
Boone was, as you’d expect, a little reserved on his second ejection of the year, saying only this to avoid any more trouble:
“We’re playing for a lot and just felt like there were a couple situations that didn’t go our way,” Boone said after the game. “I was pretty mad out there, so…hopefully not any suspension or anything. I kept it in control somewhat.”
As noted on the YES Network postgame show by Jack Curry, Judge has had an inordinate amount of low strikes called against him over his five-plus full MLB seasons, the numbers working out to at least one every two games – and he had four called on him Wednesday alone.
So, Judge appreciates it when Boone sticks up for him in situations where he's not getting the benefit of the doubt.
“I appreciate it. I voiced my opinion to Marty during the game and kind of let him know what I was thinking about some of the calls. At that point that’s all I can do,” Judge said. “That’s why I’ve got a manager to stick up for me. If I get tossed in one of those situations, it’s going to hurt us. He stood up for us and stood up for me and I appreciate it. We just weren’t able to get the job done tonight.”
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Much like the man who was considered the face of the franchise before him, one Derek Jeter, Judge has never been one to get hot in any situation, staying on an even keel and putting team first even in the face of his own struggles.
“I’m not here to show anyone up. They’re doing their job just like I am. I’m up there battling, he’s back there battling,” Judge said. “In between pitches, as I’m messing the dirt around, I’m asking him questions and telling him how I feel, and then you step back in and get back to work. I could get a little irate, throw my helmet or say something after the fact, but there’s no need; I know I’m going to get another at-bat, and me getting tossed puts someone at risk of going up there when they’re not ready. That’s why we have a manager, and Boonie stuck up for us tonight.”
Another reason Judge never gets too hot? He knows that most of the time, either he has another chance, or he can look back at his own mistakes, too.
“I like consistency; if they’re calling it low, then consistently call it low, but I have a job to do,” Judge said. “I can look back at all those at-bats, and there were pitches I fouled off in the zone. If I missed my pitch, I can’t get too mad at an umpire if I still have a bat in my hand and I’m still in the box and still have a chance. I have three strikes, and I like my odds.”
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Judge has been ejected before, noting that he was a little more heated back at Fresno State, but as he said, you “live and learn” about the right way to go about things.
“Different animal in college, but you live and learn. You learn what to say and how to say it,” Judge said. “I like to live in the moment, and if I’m sitting here arguing about a call that’s missed, it’s taking away from the guy behind me who’s trying to get his job done. Just think about it in the moment, and move on.”
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