4 Things Yankees: Will Judge Repeat as MVP?

JASSON DOMINGUEZ GOES TO THE BENCH
I’m still all-in on Jasson Dominguez. He may not be the “out of this world” ballplayer that has been hyped since he signed as a 16-year-old in 2019, but he’s still a good young prospect.

Earlier this season, I ranted against Aaron Boone sitting him, especially against right-handers, because I wanted the New York Yankees to invest in his development. Well, when you go 20-31 from July 13 through August 5, development takes a backseat.

Dominguez has just one hit in his last 19 at bats and was the obvious choice to come out of the lineup when Aaron Judge returned last Tuesday (August 5) as the temporary full-time DH. 

Giancarlo Stanton is red hot with 9 hits in his last 17 at bats, and Trent Grisham continues to provide steadiness in center field and at the plate with a career-high 19 homers.

Dominguez is having a solid rookie year. If he wasn’t nicknamed “The Martian”, we would be encouraged by his approach at the plate, glimpses of power and his athleticism on the base paths—including a team leading 19 steals in 21 attempts. Considering Grisham is a free agent at the end of the season, and Dominguez is under team control through the 2031 season, he remains a big part of the franchise’s future.

However, the Yankees’ immediate future depends on snapping out of the team’s two-month funk. To do that, Dominguez has to step aside and wait his turn.

MODERN DAY MANAGING
I have no idea what goes on behind the scenes in the clubhouse or Boone’s office. IF he is not lighting into Jazz Chisholm for freezing on a pop-up, or Austin Wells for forgetting how many outs there were, or Jorbit Vivas for not sliding into third base, then I agree with all of the fans who want Boone fired for being too soft.

But I don’t agree with those who say he should publicly rip his players, or pull them from games as soon as they make a mistake. The world has changed and that includes how managers interact with ball players.

For those of you who long for the days of Billy Martin embarrassing Reggie Jackson:

Billy Martin famously pulled Reggie Jackson from a game mid-inning on this day in 1977.pic.twitter.com/vsUksndXfP

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 18, 2020

Now, if your boss treated you like Billy used to treat Reggie, routinely embarrassing you in front of your co-workers and customers, how quick before you walked into HR with a formal complaint?

Next time you are about to rip Boone for not ripping someone, remember its 2025.

AMERICAN LEAGUE MVP RACE
As you can see below, Judge still holds a statistical edge over Cal Raleigh in the AL MVP race. However, Raleigh has a few advantages.

• As a catcher, he plays a premium position, and the Seattle Mariners pitching staff is currently ranked fifth in AL ERA, and 10th in MLB ERA.
• Judge won the award in 2022 and 2024. In my opinion, voters tend to lean toward the new face in the race. 
• Their respective teams are going in different directions. The Mariners have won 34 games since June 12 while the Yankees have won only 22.

The stretch run will not only determine if the Yankees get a chance to defend their AL Championship in the playoffs, but whether Judge defends his MVP Award.

LUKE WEAVER
My Favorite Yankee Luke Weaver is the anti-Devin Williams. Here’s Weaver’s lifetime ERA with the six teams he’s pitched for in the majors:

• Arizona (4.72)
• Cincinnati (6.87)
• Kansas City (5.59)
• Seattle (6.08)
• Louis (4.79)
• Yankees (2.87)

Both relievers are free agents at the end of the season, only the one who has proven he can thrive in the Bronx should be coming back.

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