Aaron Judge has homered 60 times this season, and of course, not all of them have been in Yankees wins – but it is sweeter when the Yankees do win, and that turned what otherwise could’ve been a ho-hum homer (if it wasn’t, you know, 60) into an even bigger marvel after said homer started a five-run rally that ended in a 9-8 walk-off Yankees win.
“It’s definitely more meaningful, because that’s what I wanted to do,” Judge said when asked how it felt to hit a round number only five others had reached, before dipping back into his Judgian state: “But I haven’t really been thinking about stats, I’ve been trying to help my team win games.”
Judge is human, even if he tries (and does a damn good job) to deflect any questions about his personal accomplishments back to the team – but even he had to give a moment of candor when asked Tuesday night what it means to be in a pantheon of all-time Yankees record-holders and legends.
“It’s tough to say, because I don’t think about it…but it’s an incredible honor, one I don’t take lightly at all,” he said. “When you talk about Ruth and Maris and Mantle and all these Yankees greats that did so many great things, you never imagine getting mentioned with them.”
Of course, he did end that thought by focusing on the team, saying “but we’re not done, we’ve got some more games this season, and hopefully some more wins.”
But within the smile that the 30-year-old flashed as he tried to keep his composure and give the ever-present measured answers he’s known for, he cracked a little when asked if this is still fun, and if he’s comfortable with all the attention his chase of history is getting (and will continue to get).
“Getting a chance to play at Yankee Stadium, in front of a packed house on a first place team? It’s what you dream about, and I love every second of it,” he said. “I’m trying to enjoy it all, but I know I have a job to do every day, and I have to stay mentally focused.”
And for weeks now, he has been asked time and time again just how he does that amidst one of the greatest (if not the greatest) single-season performances in MLB history – and once again on Tuesday, he showed it by explaining how, after going 0-for-3 with a walk, he was able to turn a 3-1 count with the Yankees down four runs in the ninth into legend.
“You never know (when you’ll get a pitch to hit),” he said. “I look back at all my at-bats, and I was chasing pitches out of the zone all night – but that’s where you have to lock it in. You might only get one pitch to hit, so I cleared out all those at-bats and looked for something I could drive to get a rally going. I got a sinker over the middle and was able to put a good swing on it. But, if he walked me, that’s fine, too, because I know (Anthony) Rizzo could get the job done.”
Always team focused and passing the baton – which is what he, Rizzo, and two others did before Giancarlo Stanton blasted a laser of a walk-off grand slam over the left field wall to cap the comeback.
A signature moment, too, in a rough second half for Stanton, who – as the only active MLB player to even hit 59 – has helped Judge just as much as anyone.
“Getting to know Big G and be able tp pick his brain has helped me grow and mature, as a player and a person,” Judge said. “He’s seen it all and been through it all, won an MVP and hit 59 homers, been pitched around – to be able to work with him every day and pick his brain, all it has done is help me learn, and I try to soak in everything he says to help myself grow as a player.”
Even on a night where he had one of the single greatest accomplishments in Yankees history, it wasn’t about Aaron Judge, just like it never is.
Until he hits No. 61 and then No. 62, at which point, there will be nothing to say but All Rise.
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
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