Here Comes the Judge

That was some shot by Aaron Judge against the Orioles on Sunday, huh?  For a guy who's made tape-measure home runs his signature, that one took it to another level.  That's the home run people will still be talking about when Judge's career is over.  His "remember when" moment.  The first of what will hopefully be long list of career highlights.

There's no doubt that Aaron Judge has taken Baseball by storm over the first three months of the 2017 season.  He's become the biggest spectacle in the game.  He has more All-Star votes than anybody, and his at-bats are must-see TV, if only because people want to see how far he can hit it.  Fans are lining up as soon as the gates open just to get a glimpse of him during batting practice.  The last guy you can say did that with any regularity was Mark McGwire in 1998.

Ever since Derek Jeter retired, the Yankees have been looking for that transcendent star.  They don't have to look anymore.  And just like Jeter, Aaron Judge gets it.  It hasn't gone to his head at all.  He fits perfectly into what the New York Yankees are all about.  And I think that's as big a reason as the home runs why Judge is so adored.  Is it mere fascination?  Possibly.  But, while the home runs get the headlines, he's much more than just a home run hitter.

Whenever he hits a home run, the first thing people wonder is how far it went.  Then they look at the exit velo, the latest en vouge sabermetric stat.  I think exit velo is about as stupid as OPS and WAR, but it does say something about his bat speed that Judge has the four fastest exit velos of the season, including one homer that was over 120 mph.

He's become a spectacle.  People are disappointed when he doesn't hit a home run.  Meawhile, this is a guy hitting .340 with a ton of RBIs while playing a pretty good right field.  Judge isn't just a runaway Rookie of the Year.  If he keeps this up, he could become just the third player to be named Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.  Seriously, can you think of any AL MVP candidate that you could justify picking over Judge?

It's no surprise that he's blowing away the competition in All-Star voting.  Everybody wants to see this guy play.  He's the type of player the midseason showcase is designed for.  And I can already imagine how pumped up fans are going to be for his Home Run Derby battle vs. Giancarlo Stanton.  Actually, can we just cancel the first two rounds of the Home Run Derby and go right to a Judge vs. Giancarlo finals?  (If the NBA can do it, why can't MLB?  Who needs playoffs?)

If you've been to Yankee Stadium this year, you know the vibe has been like.  We haven't seen this kind of buzz around the Stadium on a nightly basis since Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera were still wearing Pinstripes.  For the last two years, there's been no atmosphere whatsoever at Yankee Stadium.  Now it's back.  Sure, the winning is probably part of the reason why, but I think Judge and Gary Sanchez have more to do with it.

Aaron Judge Fever is everywhere.  Prior to his first at-bat, you hear "All Rise" on the PA system.  Then Yankees PA announcer Paul Olden, whose favorite player is clearly Judge, introduces "Number Niney-Nine" with an enthusiasm that would be unheard of from Bob Sheppard.  They've even installed the "Judge's Chambers" in right field, putting 12 fans in a jury box with gavels, robes and those white wigs from the 1700s.  Not to mention the number of 99 jerseys you see sitting in the stands all around the Stadium.  Even on the road you see his jersey everywhere!

All of those No. 99 jerseys are the clearest sign of all that fans have moved on from the days of Jeter and Pettitte and Rivera.  Instead of all those 2's and 42's and 51's (and even 7's and 3's), you see Judges and Sanchezes and Chapmans and Tanakas.  It took a little while, but Yankees fans finally have a new generation of players to embrace.

The Yankees are fun to watch again.  The Bronx Bombers are "Bombers" once again.  And Aaron Judge is the star of the show.  People are buying tickets and lining up at the gate just to see the most dynamic player in Baseball.  Then they don't stop talking about him afterwards.

And to think, he had to fight for a roster spot in Spring Training   I think the Yankees made the right call by giving him the right field job.  Because they finally have THAT guy again.  Can another dynasty be too far behind?