Aaron Judge opened eyes around Yankees Universe when he told reporters, “A lot of things around here need to be fixed” after the Bombers were officially eliminated from postseason contention.
Sal, given Judge’s previous public support for Aaron Boone, believes Judge’s comments were an indictment on the front office, specifically the general manager.
But Sal also doesn’t believe Judge’s input on roster construction should be taken with too much weight by the organization.
“I don’t want my players making those type of decisions,” Sal said. “This, to me, was a direct shot at Brian Cashman and the entire Yankee operation. He said Boone isn’t the problem, and I don’t think he’s lying…so my question is, is Hal gonna listen to him? If he does, that means Boone stays and Cashman wouldn’t be.
“Is he qualified to say that? What does he know about running an organization? What does he want? Has he seen a World Series? Brian Cashman has won a World Series….if I’m ownership and Brian Cashman, I respect his honesty and I’m OK with having a conversation, but ultimately, what does Aaron Judge know about building a winning team?”
BT disagrees, and says Judge has been with the organization since he was drafted, knows the ins and outs of the culture and operations of the franchise, and is the team’s lone homegrown product to become a star since the Baby Bombers era. So, his words should be taken seriously.
“The other day he just clearly supported the manager, so it’s not that…because he had Boone’s back, and the manager’s presence is usually tied to culture, I eliminate culture,” BT said. “I think it may be more analytically driven, maybe other assistant coaches or roster composition. But any way you cut it, it’s about time Aaron Judge opened his mouth. The roster around him is not nearly good enough.
“I don’t know if it’s gonna mean the end of Cashman or that they go and get [Cody] Bellinger…but I love when one of the top two or three players on the planet deviates from his general cocoon and says, ‘This ain’t good enough.’”
