This Aaron Judge story wont end in the Canyon of Heroes

KANSAS CITY, Mo.— In the aftermath of a Game 2 Yankee loss, Aaron Boone was doing his incredulous act regarding questions about Aaron Judge’s October struggles — and I get it.Boone was hired because management wanted a guy who would sooner swig paint thinner than publicly criticize one of his players.

And also because Boone knows he was handling similar inquiries during Judge’s April doldrums and scoffed at those, saying basically: “Just watch.” The reward was a near-certain second AL MVP season.But, of course, that was April.This is October.

There is not a long season ahead — just a long winter if Judge does not stir and stir quickly.If anyone should understand the value of signature moments for this organization at this time of year, it is Boone.

After all, even if he were willing to swig paint thinner by the gallon, he was only on the radar to become Yankees manager because he hit a forever homer for this franchise in October 2004.So Aaron Boone currently has more forever postseason moments than Aaron Judge.Also, Boone is not dealing with a bigger picture.This is not just a 2024 Division Series problem.

Judge has an infield single and four strikeouts against Kansas City and is now at .208 for 46 career playoff games with 70 strikeouts in 207 plate appearances — that 33.8 percent whiff mark is the second-highest ever for the postseason (minimum 175 plate appearances) to light-hitting catcher Martin Maldonado (34.2 percent).From 2022 through these two Division Series games, Judge is 6-for-43 with three RBIs and 19 strikeouts.“He’s going to get more opportunities,” Boone said.

“And I’ll continue to place my bets on him.”What choice does Boone have?These Yankees can’t get to the Canyon of Heroes — and maybe not even by the Royals — without their captain coming alive.The Yankees go as their stars go.

They are a homer-dependent team.And they go best when their biggest star is hitting those homers.So when Boone is trying to prote...