New York Yankees star outfielder Aaron Judge lent a helping hand in the team's 15-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. Literally.
Judge's slide to break up a double play in the top of the sixth inning was met with plenty of controversy after the throw from shortstop Willy Adames deflected off the former's hand, allowing Alex Verdugo to reach first base safely.
After Brewers manager Pat Murphy briefly argued for an interference call, the umpires concluded no call would be made. The Yankees went on to score seven runs in the inning, fueling their second consecutive game with 15 runs scored.
"That's never happened before in my life,” Judge said after the game. “I've been sliding like that for years.”
Umpire and crew chief Andy Fletcher admitted after the game that they should have called interference on Judge.
However, that kind of play isn't reviewable by MLB rules so they stuck with their initial no-call during the game.
“On the field we got together and did the best we could to come up with a correct answer. After looking at it on replay, it appears that the call was missed. It was an unnatural part of his slide," Fletcher said after Sunday's game.
While it's true that the umpires probably should have called interference, Judge would argue the last part of Fletcher's comment in regard to his left hand being raised during the slide.
"You can look back at any picture you want of me sliding into second base; that's always happened,” Judge said. “I really don't know. I feel like there was plenty of time [for Adames] to go around. I'm just doing my job sliding into the base."
He's not necessarily wrong either. There's plenty of evidence suggesting Judge's natural slide includes a raised left hand—like countless players around MLB.
The main difference is that Judge is one of the rare MLB players built like a tight end.
Aaron Judge said in the clubhouse that he's been sliding with his left hand up when breaking up a double play at second base for years.
— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) April 28, 2024
"You can look back at any picture you want of me sliding into second base, it's always happened."
I did and he wasn't lying.
📸: AP photos pic.twitter.com/APPL8Ry4Su
While this is the talk of the town right now, this is likely to blow over in a week or so.
Judge and the Yankees took the series from the Brewers and now hit the road for a crucial four-game set against the Baltimore Orioles starting Monday night.
For more Yankees coverage, check out Kevin Hickey's work on Sporting News.
