Ponder all of the long-term concerns and questions raised by this near-half-season, combined with last years COVID-shortened campaign.

Thats why I believe its prematurely to start ballparking that contract. Let Judge finish this season and then we can begin to truly drill down on that.

And of course his offense helps the Yankees plenty. If Judge, almost at the seasons midway point, can duplicate whatever about his first half, hell leave himself and the Yankees in a far better state of mind about his status than weve seen in a few years, regardless of how the group fares in general.

Now go ahead and consider how much even worse all that would be if Aaron Judges 2021 didnt look so darn different, in a most positive method, from his 3 prior years.

The only issue Judge has presented into this franchises morass of angst is that his health and strong performance this season, if not as strong as his American League Rookie of the Year platform in 2017, muddies the estimation of how large an agreement he should have with complimentary company looming after next season.

Aaron JudgeN.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg

Yet at this juncture, when the Yankees must stress about so many plans failing, they can be appreciative and pleased that, up until now, Judge looks so ideal– and after that some, actually. After all, its not as if the Yankees envisioned Judge being a fundamental part of their center field mix.

Oh, Judge can still be streaky on offense. When he delighted in a breakout contest against the Royals on Thursday, homering, doubling, singling and strolling two times, it ended a. 205/.255/.227 funk over 10 games.

“I kind of feel like Ive been swinging undersea,” Judge said after Thursdays game, attributing his downturn to a stride issue that he corrected. Possibly it just includes being such a big man, the challenge of keeping whatever lined up.

It was reasonable to wonder whether Judges body has made it tough, also, to remain on the field. The leviathan, listed at 6-foot-7 and 282 pounds in the 2021 Yankees media guide, has mastered that accomplishment to date. As long as that continues, the Yankees will see Judges long-lasting assessment as a challenge theyll happily embrace.

” Hes so basically sound out there,” manager Aaron Boone said of Judge after Fridays video game. “I thought he made the plays seem reasonably seamless out in center field tonight.”

As long as that continues, the Yankees will see Judges long-lasting assessment as an obstacle theyll gladly welcome.

The Yankees 5-3 loss to the Red Sox on Friday night at Fenway Park marked Judges center field debut at this challenging venue and his sixth start of the season at the position. He managed 4 flyballs without event.

Judge stepped up on the protective side after the Yankees traded Mike Tauchman to the Giants (for whom he has actually struggled, as he did with the Yankees), Aaron Hicks suffered a season-ending left wrist injury and Brett Gardner really scuffled offensively. While Gardner, still a property on defense, gets many of the starts in center, Judge has given him some much-needed breathers and has not harm the Yankees. Through Fridays play, Judge graded out at no defensive runs conserved and zero outs above average, meaning that, if he hasnt shined at the position he played more frequently in college, he hasnt injure the Yankees there, either.

Judge stepped up on the protective side after the Yankees traded Mike Tauchman to the Giants (for whom he has actually struggled, as he did with the Yankees), Aaron Hicks suffered a season-ending left wrist injury and Brett Gardner really scuffled offensively. While Gardner, still a possession on defense, gets many of the starts in center, Judge has offered him some much-needed breathers and has not harm the Yankees. Through Fridays play, Judge graded out at zero defensive runs conserved and no outs above average, suggesting that, if he hasnt shined at the position he played more regularly in college, he hasnt hurt the Yankees there, either.

If Judge, almost at the seasons midway point, can replicate whatever about his first half, hell leave himself and the Yankees in a far better state of mind about his status than weve seen in a few years, regardless of how the team fares in general.

BOSTON– Consider all the headaches the Yankees have endured in 2021.