***
In the first of the final three games of the season, the Yankees lost, at home, to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
They lost 4-2.
With history within his grasp, the Yankees also sat Aaron Judge. (I'll discuss this, a great length, on the Dr. Sem Yankees Show tomorrow morning.)
Aaron Judge will always have to wonder, "Could I have had 400 total bases in a season? I never got the chance in the season's final games in 2024." I would assume Judge doesn't have any photos of Ted Williams in his home.
The Yankees say they benched Aaron Judge for a "much needed rest". How could it be "much needed" when he will have a full week to rest, with only 3 games to play before that week off.
Judge may have been the one who made that choice, as he DID say in this post game interview immediately after clinching the AL East that he is "probably going to take the day off" (CLICK BELOW)
not only did resting Judge and others place too great a handicap upon the members of the team sent out to compete tonight,
but the season was completely ruined.
worse than that, fans bought tickets and hot dogs and beers and did not get to see either a Yankee victory or even a Judge home run.
I would hope the NYC's mayor will be opening an investigation into this to determine whether the Yankee organization has defrauded the public and besmirched our fair city,
Despite Josh Hader's best efforts, the Astros have beaten the Guardians. Yankees' AL magic number is 1. Maybe the Astros can help them back into it tomorrow while they make no effort against Skenes and the Pirates.
There wasn't a great sense of urgency tonight. I'm guessing there was some let down after clinching the division but it's also true that there is more to play for and the Yankees took their foot off the gas prematurely. In the long run I don't think it will matter much. It would be interesting to know if Judge decided to sit or it was decided for him.
Yankees now 1-3 on the closing home stand, each one a potential clincher, the first three for the Division, tonight's for the AL.