Aaron Judge Is off to a Great Start

Aaron Judge is off to a great start in 2017. Three mammoth homers and an exit velocity like we haven't seen before. Aaron Judge is trying to prove last years struggles are a fluke. He's trying to prove that his adjustments were good and he's doing it so far. So far he has more RBI than strikeouts.

Judge is also hitting the ball harder than every Yankee. Of the five hardest hits based on exit velocity over the past three years he has four of them , Alex Rodriguez has the other in 2015. Judge will have some tough stretches but he can possibly also have some stretches were he does more damage than most. We still need to see more of him before we set large home run goals however the start is promising.

Aaron Judge so far has proved the Yankees right in giving him the starting right field job. He is proving his critics wrong who said he couldn't adjust. He is also playing good in right field. It's early but Judge's early success is a great sign for The Yankees. If he keeps it up he could be the first Yankee since Alex Rodriguez too have a 40+ home run season. Aaron Judge is also giving the Yankees needed power. Greg Bird has been sick , injured and flat out bad. Gary Sanchez is injured for the next four weeks. Right now Judge is the youngster carrying the load and the guy everyone wants to see at the ballpark. If Judge goes into a slump don't think this stretch is a fluke. His adjustments look very real and so does his potential.

Managing Expectations

Managing Expectations

            The 2017 season is upon us and that means the return of Yankee baseball. As the Bronx Bombers return, youth is the common thread. Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird, Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, and Jonathan Holder are just a few of the young names that have made the Opening Day roster. The big three of these names consists of Sanchez, Bird, and Judge. Yankee fans have heard about them for years and they have given the fans a taste of what’s to come. This is a Catch 22 because production at the highest level, especially in New York, can cause a player to cringe in the big moments. With an illustrious history, Yankee fans expect these three to carry the team and that is just unrealistic.

            Gary Sanchez and Greg Bird combined for 31 home runs in their first seasons and they are being counted out for double that production combined. In reality, we must R-E-L-A-X as Aaron Rodgers would say. The Mets and Red Sox recent success makes Yankees fans want greatness ASAP but these kids are still growing. The young players that are in the majors and the others that are knocking on the door must be brought along slowly into the spot light. The 2017 Yankees should be viewed as a stepping stone year like a kindergarten student graduating to first grade. We as fans should not get on Judge if he strikes out in a big spot or if Gary Sanchez and Greg Bird combine for an error after a miscommunication. Instead we should just breathe and give them a mulligan.

            The first game of the 2017 season is a prime example for why we must temper our expectations. Gary Sanchez and Greg Bird did not register a hit and they made errors in the field. In the end its only one game, there are 161 more to go but more importantly they are years left for these guys so the next time a young guy makes a mistake just remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. The Yankees will be back before we know it but for now lets let the kids grow without overreacting.

By: Warren Tobin

Yankee Prediction and MLB Preditctions

Yankees win total - 85-77
Third place

Yankee Team MVP - Gary Sanchez

Yankee Team CY Young - Masahiro Tanaka

MLB Predictions

AL East :
1. Red Sox 93-69
2. Blue Jays 86-76
3. Yankees 85-77
4. Orioles 81-81
5. Rays 79-83

 AL Central :
  1. Indians 98-64
  2. Tigers 85-77
  3. Royals 82-80
  4. White Sox 73-89
  5. Twins 68-94

  AL West :
   1. Astros 92-70
   2. Mariners 90-72
   3. Rangers 87-75
   4. Athletics 75-87
   5. Angels 72-90

   AL Cy Young : Corey Kluber
   AL ROY : Andrew Benintendi
   AL MVP : Mookie Betts
   AL Wild Cards : Mariners , Rangers


   NL East :
     1.  Nationals 94-68
     2. Mets 93-69
     3. Phillies 79-83
     4. Braves 77-85
     5. Marlins 75-87

    NL Central :
      1. Cubs 100-62
      2. Pirates 90-72
      3. Cardinals 85-77
      4. Brewers 75-87
      5. Reds 70-92


     NL West :
       1. Dodgers 93-69
       2. Giants 92-70
       3. Rockies 80-82
       4. Diamondbacks 80-82
       5. Padres 65-97

       NL Cy Young : Clayton Kershaw
       NL ROY : Dansby Swanson
       NL MVP : Bryce Harper
       NL Wild Cards : Mets , Giants


World Series : Indians over Cubs