Let’s discuss the interconnectivity of a few items that loom over the final quarter of this Yankees season:
1. This version of the Yankees don’t score enough, and they particularly don’t score early
There is such an obvious before and after photo for this offense from when Aaron Judge was active and since he has been out with a fractured rib.
Among Judge’s assets is being an elite force in the first inning. He has homered in more than 8 percent of his first-inning plate appearances. His 1.042 OPS is sixth-best all-time (minimum 500 plate appearances) behind Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Ted Williams, Mark McGwire and Lou Gehrig.
Through 59 games and May 31, Judge had seven homers in the first inning with an 1.192 OPS, and the Yankees led the majors in opening-frame OPS at .893 and were second in runs with 44.
