NEW YORK — From a data perspective, Aaron Judge experienced a reasonable day.
During Game 4 of the ALDS, his performance included two hits out of four attempts, along with a deliberately awarded walk. The instances where he was out comprised a strikeout and a forceful 112-mph line drive directed towards the second baseman. He executed a few commendable plays on the field. Judge didn’t launch any balls soaring skyward — acknowledging that every day can’t be exceptionally fortunate — yet it still amounted to an efficient workday.
Yet, he concluded the session in the same disoriented manner that has marked the end of each year in his career. Crestfallen, dejected, with swollen and distant eyes hinting at recent tears, his voice subdued and exhausted. Once again, Judge’s Yankees were unable to secure the World Series title. The aspiration of “October glory in the Bronx” has once more faded.
[Stay informed with New York news: Yankees team updates]
As the current representative of this historic team, the embodiment of what the Yankees symbolize, and the captain burdened with ending the 16-year championship drought, Judge was yet again tasked with elucidating his team’s shortcomings on Wednesday, after a 5-2 defeat against the Blue Jays concluded the Yankees’ season.
“It’s challenging to articulate at this moment,” Judge responded when queried about any elements that the Yankees lacked to overcome their obstacles. “I need to reassess this season, carefully examine it. Perhaps I’ll have a more informed response for you then.”
The atmosphere around Judge in the Yankees’ locker room mirrored the familiar sights and sounds of a group conscious that their time together had concluded. Embraces, expressions of gratitude, handshakes, and promises to keep in touch were exchanged. There were fewer tears compared to a farewell in November, yet more than those shed in September. The most tearful individual was Paul Goldschmidt’s 10-year-old son, Jake, who received consolation from virtually the entire Yankees roster.
At one juncture, Andy Pettite entered, distinguishing himself as the sole individual present who had achieved a World Series victory donning the pinstripes. Concurrently, clubhouse personnel unfolded numerous cardboard boxes, filling them with the various personal items commonly found within a clubhouse. The pronounced ripping sound of packing tape being unwound frequently overshadowed the subdued murmurs of Yankees players conducting post-game analyses with the media.
“Very disappointed,” expressed second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. “Everyone here was confident that we possessed an exceptional team, and that we were the team to defeat. We have profound faith in one another. It’s devastating.”
“We fell short of our objective; we didn’t accomplish our goal,” Judge lamented. “We had a unique group here, with many talented players who made this year enjoyable. However, we didn’t secure the ultimate reward.”
That ultimate reward, a World Series championship, persists in evading and shaping Judge’s career. Despite dispelling any doubts regarding his postseason mettle with that unforgettable swing in Game 3, he understands the expectations associated with donning the pinstripes. Even without a championship ring, he is already widely regarded as the greatest Yankee player of all time.
He exerted his best efforts on Wednesday, delivering a praiseworthy performance that also underscored the limitations of baseball in establishing lasting legacies. This sport, more than any other, restricts the narrative of the lone hero. It’s ingrained in the game’s essence, both frustrating and captivating. A player can excel, inspire, ignite, but cannot accomplish everything independently. Each at-bat is a singular experience, yet the ultimate outcome is a collaborative endeavor.
While the result of Game 4 was gripping, the game itself lacked excitement, especially in contrast to the thrilling events of the preceding night. This contest was considerably more subdued, a gradual extinguishing of the Yankees’ season, a progressive realization within the Jays’ dugout that the Bronx powerhouse would be overcome. However, while the evening lacked significant drama, this outcome will leave a bitter taste in New York and endure as a significant moment in Toronto’s history.
“The ending is the most painful, isn’t it?” Yankees manager Aaron Boone sympathized afterward.
Aaron Judge played his part, but the Yankees fell short in the ALDS against the Blue Jays. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
(Al Bello via Getty Images)
The commencement also presented challenges. The game initiated with the Jays mounting a swift offensive against Yankees rookie Cam Schlittler, still riding high from his outstanding wild-card performance the previous week against Boston. Toronto secured a single run in the opening inning, courtesy of none other than Vladimir Guerrero Jr. With a runner positioned on second base, Toronto’s star batter sliced a line drive just beyond the first-base bag, resulting in an RBI. New York countered in the third inning with a solo home run from ninth-hole hitter Ryan McMahon, a veteran renowned for his glove work, acquired from the baseball outpost of Denver at the trade deadline.
The Jays regained a one-run advantage in the fifth inning through a combination of singles and a sacrifice fly. Meanwhile, a succession of Toronto relief pitchers continued to neutralize the Yankees’ offense. Toronto then widened their lead in the seventh inning, a pivotal moment marked by a critical error from Chisholm. A gentle ground ball that should have resulted in a double play deflected off the heel of his glove and trickled into the outfield. Subsequently, outfielder Nathan Lukes propelled an elevated Devin Williams fastball into center field for a two-RBI single.
That essentially sealed the game’s outcome. The Jays augmented their lead by adding a run in the eighth inning, extending their advantage to four. New York posed a threat in the bottom half of that inning, loading the bases with two outs, bringing Austin Wells to the plate as the potential tying run. He weakly flied out on the first pitch of his at-bat, extinguishing the threat. Judge blasted a ball off the wall in the ninth inning, an RBI single that narrowed the deficit to three, yet the game never genuinely felt within the Yankees’ grasp.
“I am confident we will overcome this,” Boone affirmed afterward. “I have been every year, and I have faith in many of the individuals within that room. That conviction remains steadfast. The passion has not diminished. Winning the World Series is a formidable challenge. I have been pursuing it throughout my life.”
As Boone is acutely aware, he cannot achieve it alone. No one can, not even the most exceptional hitter on the planet. Both Aarons are likely to return next season — Boone, when questioned, confirmed that he is under contract and anticipates resuming as manager — to embark on the journey once more. They will possess as good a chance as any other team. The Yankees possess substantial financial resources and boast a formidable pitching rotation. They also have Judge, a player of such extraordinary talent that he instills a sense of possibility in everything.
Including winning a World Series.
