ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Aaron Judge again sat for the Yankees’ series opener against the Rays on Friday as the right fielder continues to fight the pain in his left side.
It was the second game in a row to keep Judge out of the lineup, sandwiched around the team’s day off on Thursday.
“I just felt like I wanted to wait at least another day,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone before the game. “We’ll see where we are in 24 hours.”
Judge attended batting practice and was treated Friday, and Boone said Judge “probably” could have played.
“It’s just wanting to play the long game and not force anything, just to be safe now,” Boone said. “I’m encouraged by what we saw in the cage.”
Despite homing in each of his previous two games, Judge appeared to be uncomfortable on base and in right field during his most recent appearance on Tuesday. Boone has said that the pain Judge developed in that game was not the reason Judge was withdrawn after seven innings on Monday, or the last three Grapefruit League games during spring practice.
Boone acknowledged Judge’s injury history – especially with regard to his oblique muscle – in the decision to use caution.
“It’s all baked in the cake,” Boone said. “It’s no secret how important he is to our club. The history of that injury is certainly not something we want to aggravate. “
But Boone added that he wasn’t sure exactly what Judge’s current injury is and whether it is, in fact, the tilt that is at the root of the problem.
“I’d say there’s nothing in his way,” Boone said. “It’s more that we take care of it – with any soft tissue, like a calf, hamstring, side – these are things that you want to feel good about letting it rip and not re-prick things or make something worse.”
Asked if Judge was hurt, Boone said, “I don’t know how to answer that.”
‘I don’t have him in line [Friday]Boone said. ‘I feel like he can probably play. We have more evaluation in 24 hours. “
Boone said he was also aware that it is still early April, and if Judge is healthy for the rest of the season, this absence will be considered a minor absence.
“The long game makes it disappear,” said Boone. ‘If he posts and goes out and has the kind of season [where he plays] 140 or 150 times, it’ll squash it. “
Since 28-year-old Judge has only had one of those seasons in his career, that’s a big “if”. Meanwhile, the waiting game continues.