Tuesday, July 22

BALTIMORE -- Aaron Judge’s performance continues to garner historic comparisons through the season’s first month, making the reigning American League Most Valuable Player an obvious answer when examining the Yankees’ most encouraging developments thus far.

But Judge alone is not why the Yankees will enter May owning first place in the American League East. Left-hander Max Fried has been as advertised “and then some,” as manager Aaron Boone said on Wednesday, pitching to a 5-0 record and 1.19 ERA through his first six starts in his new uniform.

“He’s incredible,” Judge said of Fried. “Everything that people have said about him from afar, he’s the real deal. To see it up close, and see him come out here -- especially when you lose a guy like Gerrit Cole that you can’t replace -- to sub in a Max Fried to go be that ace for us, it’s been fun to watch.”

Trent Grisham, Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt are among the club’s leading offensive contributors, while Carlos Rodón has been solid. Though Devin Williams’ struggles have been in the spotlight, the Yankees have been getting excellent relief work from Luke Weaver, Fernando Cruz and others.

It is early, as Boone frequently notes, but the Yankees are largely pleased with how they have opened the campaign -- especially considering their injury-marred spring, in which Cole and Luis Gil were among the players lost for significant periods (in Cole’s case, the entire season).

An offense that figured to experience some drop-off with Juan Soto’s departure has instead proved more potent than forecast, including record-setting performances like Tuesday’s at Camden Yards, when the Bombers hit three consecutive first-inning homers (Grisham, Judge, Rice).

No other team in AL/NL history has achieved the feat twice in a single season; these Yankees have done it twice in a month.

“You have days when the long ball takes over; it’s a complete team,” Judge said. “Guys up and down the lineup are doing their jobs, and it’s not one guy just trying to be the hero.”

After Wednesday, the Yanks had outscored opponents 177 to 125, a +52 run differential that ranks as the AL’s best. 

“I thought we had a chance to still be really good offensively, just maybe in a different way,” Boone said. “I think we’re a little more diverse, a little more athletic. We’re counting on some young players emerging and getting better. I think that’s happening, and has happened.”

With the conclusion of the Baltimore series on Wednesday, the Yankees have now seen three of their four American League East rivals, posting a 6-4 record in the division thus far.

They won’t see the Red Sox until June 6-8 in New York, but with the Blue Jays, Orioles and Rays all showing mixed results thus far, there is not much to suggest the Yankees shouldn’t still be viewed as favorites to repeat as division champions.

As of Wednesday, the Yanks had a 95.5 percent chance of reaching the postseason and a 9.4 percent chance to win the World Series, as forecast by Baseball Reference.

“It still feels like anyone’s division, a month in,” Boone said. “I know the Orioles are off to a really tough start, but we also know what they’re capable of. As they get more and more healthy, you know they’re going to go through a period where they really get it going.

“We got a peek at Tampa [Bay]; I think they can really pitch. We haven’t seen Boston yet, but I think they’re a really well-rounded club. We know Toronto can pitch, and they have some star power there. It still feels wide open, still feels a little imperfect. It still feels like, pack a lunch when you go play them.”

On the Yankees’ most recent road trip, I had the opportunity to spend a memorable morning at the Babe Ruth Birthplace & Museum in Baltimore, which is a must-see for any baseball fan.

Located just two blocks from Camden Yards at 216 Emory Street, the museum occupies a former rowhouse and showcases many artifacts of Ruth’s career, plus other notable items related to Maryland sports history.

Among my favorite items: a 1914 Baltimore News card of Ruth, valued at more than $6 million, an original 1923 box seat from Yankee Stadium (they’re much more comfortable today), Ruth’s game-used bats and home run balls, and, of course, a recreation of the bedroom Ruth was born in on Feb. 6, 1895.

Other treasures found in the museum’s archive room included a Yankees game sweater worn by Home Run Baker (can they bring those back, please?), a Lefty Grove game-used glove, a baseball signed by Ruth, Lou Gehrig and the rest of the 1932 Yankees roster and a game ball from the 1958 NFL championship game between the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants, known as the “Greatest Game Ever Played.”

It was a visit I won’t soon forget. If you find yourself in the Inner Harbor, be sure to stop by!

This week in 2019, CC Sabathia became the 17th pitcher (and third left-hander) in Major League history to record 3,000 career strikeouts. Which of Sabathia’s former Yankees teammates was the batter for the milestone whiff?

A. Starlin Castro

B. John Ryan Murphy

C. Austin Romine

D. Ronald Torreyes

May 1, 1951: Mickey Mantle hit his first Major League home run, connecting off Randy Gumpert of the White Sox in an 8-3 victory at Chicago’s Comiskey Park.

B. Murphy

Murphy (a Yankee in 2013-15 who had the opportunity to catch Mariano Rivera’s final Major League pitch in 2013) was the batter for Sabathia’s 3,000th strikeout in the April 30, 2019 game against the D-backs at Arizona’s Chase Field.

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