The Yankees’ $40 Million Question: Is Judge Coming Back, Or Is His Calf About To Become The Most Important Member Of The Yankees’ Front Office?

New York Yankees fans, everybody take a deep breath. 

Actually, forget that. 

NOBODY TAKE A DEEP BREATH!

Aaron Judge says he wants to be ready for Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series on Tuesday. 

And honestly, I love the confidence. 

But somewhere inside that right calf, there is a tiny doctor sitting there going:

“Aaron… buddy… let’s not get crazy.” 

Judge told ESPN on Wednesday that the plan is to get his body ready so he can play when the postseason begins. 

Translation: 

Aaron Judge is trying to convince his calf that October baseball is more important than biology. 

And knowing Yankees fans, we’re all going to be watching Judge take batting practice like we’re monitoring a NASA rocket launch. 

“Is he running?” 

“Did he jog?” 

“Did he walk without limping?” 

“HE BENT DOWN TO TIE HIS SHOE! HE’S READY!” 

This is what Yankees baseball has become.

Judge was placed on the injured list Saturday with a right calf strain, and he later revealed the injury involves the soleus muscle — which, apparently, is something located somewhere between your calf and your ability to ruin Yankees fans’ weekends. 

The Yankees have called it a moderate-grade strain. 

Judge, however, basically responded: 

“Moderate according to WHO?” 

And you know what? 

That’s classic Judge. 

Because when Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he didn’t expect Judge to be available for the Wild Card Series, Judge basically came back with: 

“Thanks for your opinion, Aaron. I’m gonna ask my calf.”

Judge said everybody’s definition of “moderate” is different. 

And he’s right. 

For one person, moderate means: 

“I should probably sit down.” 

For Aaron Judge, moderate apparently means: 

“Give me a helmet and let’s see what happens.” 

Boone isn’t ruling Judge out, either.

And that is the part that’s going to drive Yankees Nation absolutely insane. 

Because now every Yankees fan is going to spend the next few days studying Judge’s every movement like they’re watching the Zapruder film. 

Judge walks into the clubhouse: 

“HE LOOKED GOOD!” 

Judge sits down: 

“UH-OH.” 

Judge stretches: 

“HE’S PLAYING!” 

Judge gets ice: 

“SEASON OVER!” 

Judge sneezes: 

“BOONE IS LYING TO US!” 

Welcome to October baseball in New York. 

Judge suffered the injury against Minnesota on September 16, just seven games after returning from a fractured rib that had already kept him out for more than three months.

And that’s the part that makes this whole situation even crazier. 

The Yankees finally got their superstar back. 

Then his calf basically said: 

“Oh, you thought we were finished?” 

NOPE. 

Judge returned from the rib injury without a rehab assignment and went 4-for-23 with 13 strikeouts, one walk and one home run. 

Now he’s dealing with another injury. 

It’s like the Yankees’ medical staff is playing a video game where every time Judge gets healthy, a new injury boss appears. 

“Congratulations! You defeated Broken Rib!” 

NEXT LEVEL: 

“CALF STRAIN.” 

But here’s where things get serious. 

Judge knows there is risk involved with trying to come back too quickly.

And he also knows exactly what’s waiting for him in October.

Yankee Stadium. 

The Bronx. 

The lights. 

The pressure. 

The playoffs. 

And, of course, 47,000 people screaming at him because they desperately need him to save their lives. 

Judge said the Bronx is a magical place in October. 

He’s absolutely right.

But there is one problem: 

The Bronx is magical. Calf muscles are not. 

And the Yankees can’t simply throw Judge out there because everyone wants him.

This isn’t MLB The Show. 

You don’t just hit “A” and activate Aaron Judge. 

The Yankees need to make sure he can actually run, hit and play without turning a moderate calf strain into a major problem.

Because the last thing the Yankees need is Judge trying to chase down a ball in October and suddenly looking like somebody unplugged his controller. 

But here’s the thing: 

Aaron Judge wants to play. 

Badly. 

And you can’t question the man’s desire. 

He missed most of the season. 

He battled back from a fractured rib. 

He returned. 

He got hurt again. 

And now he’s trying to make it back for the postseason because he knows this Yankees team has a legitimate opportunity. 

The numbers tell the story. 

The Yankees went 41-25 with Judge in the lineup and averaged 5.12 runs per game. 

Without him, entering Wednesday, they were 49-42 while averaging 4.15 runs per game.

That’s a difference of almost an entire run every night. 

In baseball terms? 

That’s not exactly a small problem. 

That’s the difference between: 

“We’re scoring runs!” 

and 

“Can somebody please get on base?” 

And now we’re heading toward another potential Yankees-Red Sox postseason showdown. 

Last year, Judge was in the lineup when the Yankees eliminated Boston in three games during the Wild Card Series. 

And Judge was spectacular in last year’s postseason, going 13-for-26 with a home run and a ridiculous 1.273 OPS before the Yankees eventually fell to Toronto in the ALDS. 

So Judge isn’t just talking about wanting to play. 

He knows what October feels like. 

He knows what Yankee Stadium feels like.

And he knows what happens when that building gets rocking. 

The problem is whether his calf can survive it. 

Because Yankee Stadium in October is going to ask Aaron Judge one question:

“Can you go?” 

And his soleus muscle might answer: 

“Absolutely not, sir.” 

That’s why the next few days are going to be fascinating. 

Judge is going to push. 

The Yankees are going to monitor him. 

Aaron Boone is going to say he’s not ruling anything out. 

The Yankees’ doctors are going to examine him. 

And Yankees fans are going to analyze every single video posted on social media. 

By Tuesday, somebody is going to post a 12-second video of Judge walking from the clubhouse to the dugout and we’ll have 400,000 Yankees fans arguing about whether his left foot looked 3% faster than his right foot. 

THIS IS OCTOBER IN NEW YORK.

Here’s what I know: 

The Yankees don’t need Aaron Judge at 70%. 

They don’t need Aaron Judge just standing in the lineup because his name looks good on the lineup card. 

If he’s going to play, they need the Aaron Judge who can actually be Aaron Judge.

But if that calf is ready? 

Oh boy. 

Because imagine Judge walking into Yankee Stadium for Game 1.

The lights come on. 

The crowd goes crazy. 

Boston is on the other side. 

And Aaron Judge steps into the batter’s box. 

That’s the kind of moment October baseball was built for. 

So, Aaron… 

Get healthy.

Take your time. 

Listen to the doctors. 

Listen to your body. 

And please, for the love of every Yankees fan in the tri-state area…

DO NOT TRY TO SPRINT BEFORE THAT CALF IS READY. 

Because Yankees fans have already survived enough this year. 

We don’t need Judge pulling his calf trying to beat out an infield single and 50,000 people simultaneously having a nervous breakdown. 

The Yankees have a chance. 

Judge wants to be there. 

And now we’re all waiting to see if his calf agrees with the plan.

Aaron Judge wants October. 

The Yankees want Aaron Judge. 

Yankee fans want Aaron Judge. 

And somewhere inside that right leg…

the soleus is currently negotiating a contract extension.

Welcome to October, Yankees fans. 

Grab your popcorn. 

And maybe an ice pack. 

We’re gonna need both.