For all Aaron Judge’s accomplishments during his first two full seasons in the majors, both years have ended the same way: in playoff defeat.
That’s something the right fielder hopes to change in 2019, so he can finally watch — and play in — the World Series.
“Once we were out [of the postseason], I was done watching baseball,’’ Judge said when asked if he tuned into the playoffs the past two seasons.
“It’s always on your mind, especially when you’re starting a new season, you definitely want to get further — if you didn’t win it all last year — you’re gonna want to get further than you did the year before,’’ Judge said after the Yankees worked out in The Bronx on Wednesday.
The Yankees’ attempt to ease those October losses begins Thursday, when they open the season at the Stadium against the Orioles.
“In ’17, we got one game away from the World Series, and last year, leaving in the [division series], those games sting, both those years sting a little bit,’’ said Judge, referring to the ALDS loss to Boston in 2018. “For us, our goal is to win the division, first off, so we can line ourselves up for the playoffs. It’s a huge advantage to have. If you have to battle into September with your backs against the wall, it’s not only physically draining, but mentally draining.”
Despite the disappointments of both playoff exits, Judge said he believes he and his teammates are better prepared to enter this season, due in part to those losses.
“Getting the younger guys — me especially — the two years of playoff experience, is important,’’ Judge said. “Getting [Miguel Andujar] and Gleyber [Torres] experience in those big situations, now, when they’re in those tough environments, all those guys have been through it. That’s gonna help us going down the road.’’
Manager Aaron Boone said he is confident his team will use the lessons learned in October in this season filled with lofty expectations.
“I’d like to think we’re hungry, regardless of the result from last year,’’ Boone said. “But there’s no doubt about it, especially for a lot of these guys going back now a couple years, they’ve had some really good teams here that have been close and the disappointment of it ending when you feel like you have a team capable of greatness, I think does add a log to the fire. It does add a little extra kick to wanting to get this done. And I think that adds to everyone’s hunger a little bit.’’
If Judge can stay healthy and approach his production of the past two years, the Yankees figure to have a good chance to test Judge’s theory in the playoffs once again.
https://nypost.com/2019/03/28/aaron-judge-itching-for-the-yankees-to-finish-the-job/
2019-03-28 08:26:00Z
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