Aaron Judge was not in the lineup Tuesday night. He also missed the first game of the four in Boston. Aaron Boone is picking his spots to keep the slugger off his feet as the Yankees try to manage the lower body, calf muscle tightness that has bothered him the last week or so.
Even though Judge felt fine Tuesday, Boone wanted him off his feet.
“I would say kind of through it a little bit‚ too,” Boone said of the tightness in the calves that had Judge sitting last weekend. “I just felt like we’re gonna take advantage of this off day (on Monday) with the idea of playing five straight into the All Star Game, so just being cautious with it. It’s striking that balance between obviously the urgency of the day and the long game here. Just trying to be smart with that.”
Judge has a history of calf issues, which cost him a trip to the injured list in 2020. That, in part, was a reason the Yankees were hesitant to move him to center field before this season. Now, Judge has made more starts in center field (42) than he has made appearances in right field this season (37). Judge has made just 26 starts at right field.
The 30-year old has a history of injuries, but did not make a trip to the IL last season or so far this year. Part of that is because Boone monitors and manages his workload.
Judge has played in 83 games this season and is on a historic pace. He’s slashing .283/.361/.610 with a .971 OPS. He leads the majors with 30 homers. And Boone reiterated this was planned.
“I just kind of had a conversation with him a little bit on the plane coming home and he wants to be in there, but then I think he understands it, too,” Boone said.
Judge will also start in Tuesday night’ All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.
Ron Marinaccio threw his first bullpen session since he went on the injured list with shoulder inflammation July 3. The right-hander threw 25 pitches, using all his pitches, and said it went well.
Marinaccio said he thinks the inflammation came when he got out of his normal delivery. He spent the last week working on mechanics as he played catch.
“We worked on the delivery and that will help it going forward,” Marinaccio said. “The shoulder feels good.”
Marinaccio could be ready to go coming out of the All-Star break, but Boone said they don’t have the plan set for him yet.
Boone enjoyed telling his first-time All-Stars Jose Trevino, Nestor Cortes and Clay Holmes that they were going to Los Angeles for the Midsummer Classic. He’s happy for all six Yankees that are going to be part of the festivities at Dodger Stadium and isn’t worried about their usage.
“I want our guys in there. Help the American League win,” Boone said. “I want them to have the experience.”
Boone has also been campaigning for a few more Yankees to be there, including Michael King and Gleyber Torres.
“He’s a guy that hasn’t been talked about enough in the All Star conversation, too,” Boone said of Torres, who made the team his first two years in the league. “I mean, I heard a lot about some other guys. Never about him. And it’s like, man, he’s played so well.”
One point the Yankees make regularly is how good they feel about their clubhouse. With the trade deadline looming, that can play with the chemistry as different players gets mentioned in rumors or moved.
Boone said he can’t worry about it.
“I think you’re mindful of that. And certainly, that all goes into anytime you’re considering a trade, an acquisition or whatever it may be,” Boone said. “You consider the larger group and implications not only between the lines, but in the room, too. So those are always things we factor in and take into consideration, but you know, it doesn’t preclude us from doing something.”
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