Yankees’ Aaron Judge says rib not bothering him

Aaron Judge is the best baseball player in the league. On Earth, even. And as we can all see, his World Series at-bats have been far below his perennial standard.

In three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Yankees‘ slugger is 1-for-12 with seven strikeouts after an 0-for-3 performance in Monday’s Game 3 loss. For the postseason, he is batting .140.

Scouts and amateur psychologists have attempted many theories to explain Judge’s October struggle, but here’s an observation: Those 12 World Series at-bats have all come after a 96-mph fastball from Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee drilled Judge in the ribs during Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.

It begs the question: Is Judge banged up? Are his ribs bothering him?

“No, no,” the Yankee captain was quick to tell SNY after his media scrum broke up in the Yankees clubhouse early Tuesday morning.

Manager Aaron Boone corroborated with the same word: “No.”

In a general sense, the situation seemed to call to mind the 2014 National League Championship Series, when then-Dodgers infielder Hanley Ramirez suffered a hairline fracture in a rib after a hit-by-pitch. That, at least, was why the question seemed relevant.

But if Judge is feeling any effects of that drilling, he is refusing to create even the appearance of an excuse.