Yanks Go Yard: A New York Yankees podcast

Aaron Judge’s Rant Both Validates and Confuses Yankees Fans

February 18

56 mins

Episode Description

Spring training is underway and the most notable action so far isn’t on the field, it’s in the quotes. Aaron Judge called the waiting through the Yankees’ slow offseason “brutal,” hit the fanbase with a “we’re the New York Yankees” rally cry… and then finished by saying he loves where the roster landed. We break down why that both validates fans and confuses them, plus early spring training velocity buzz, what to watch from Elmer Rodriguez and Carlos LaGrange, why rushing LaGrange into the bullpen could create a Joba/Phil Hughes situation, Bryce Harper stirring the pot again (and name-dropping Judge), and the Mets continuing their “former Yankees” shopping spree. Plus the weird bag discourse that won’t die.

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0:00 Intro + spring training vibes

0:22 Aaron Judge’s rant: validated… then confused

3:37 “We’re the New York Yankees” — what Judge is really saying

6:57 Why the 96–00 comp doesn’t work (and what SHOULD be the standard)

10:52 What an “A” offseason would’ve included (bullpen/rotation)

13:52 Reliever spending PTSD + why Suarez felt like a layup

16:17 The process problem: passivity, waiting, letting the market develop

20:27 Why “players hyping the roster” isn’t lying

24:42 IKF/PR bait lesson: stop reacting to clipped quotes

26:52 Early velo watch + why it’s a little scary in February

27:57 Elmer Rodriguez preview + what Boone said