Carton and Big Mac: Will Judge’s Roster Absence Cost Boone His Job?

Craig Carton (0:00)

Playoff Baseball, we wait for this moment every year.

And now it's finally upon us. That's right. Giancarlo Stanton on the roster, Aaron Judge not on the roster. Here's Mike in a flat push on the fan. Mike, good afternoon, how are you?

Chris McMonigle (0:18)

Good afternoon, boys. Thanks for taking my call. Let me take you a possible, one possible scenario. A dark parlay, if you will. You can't argue that this can't happen, so the Yankees lose this series.

The CBA is, drags on, and there's a lockout next year. Now, Aaron Judge starts 2020, that's eight, at 36 years old, with a lot of mileage on him.

Craig Carton (0:47)

Yeah, but that's, I gotta stop, I gotta stop here.

I appreciate that. Here's the thing I don't understand about that particular call and some Yankee fans, all right?

The playoffs start tonight. Why would you be concerned about the 2028 season when the playoffs of 2026 start tonight? There's gonna be plenty of time to worry about Aaron Judge getting too old to be an everyday outfielder. Those days are gonna come soon enough. That day is not today. As a matter of fact, you can have an opinion about Judge not being on the roster today because it's happening right now. Or not being on the roster for the entire best of three wild card series. But why in the world would you be concerned today? I never understood that. It drives me crazy.

Chris McMonigle (1:39)

Well, I mean, I don't even understand.

Craig Carton (1:40)

Well, you know, he's talking about any baseball next year. And then in 2028, he's 39 years old. I'm trying to win a series today.

Chris McMonigle (1:46)

I know. And I don't even know how that impacts, what today impacts that, that like, if they don't win the World Series, we're all going to feel crappy about that situation, whether he played in the series or not.

Craig Carton (1:54)

And by the way, if he wins the World Series, he's still going to be the same age two years from now.

Chris McMonigle (1:59)

And it's still going to be disappointing.

Chris McMonigle (2:00)

Yeah, look. Come on, guys, be better than that.

Chris McMonigle (2:02)

Yeah, look, I don't know. The one thing I would say is, like, I wonder how, if they lose this series, I wonder how Aaron Judge and all the power he wields.

And we talk about the, now him and the manager haven't been on the same page about this. Maybe him and the organization haven't been on the same page about this. Like, is there a world where Judge, like, does Boone's head roll if they lose this series and Aaron Judge didn't play in it?

Craig Carton (2:30)

Yeah, but that's it. Look.

Chris McMonigle (2:31)

But that's it. Again, that's not a question for today necessarily either.

Craig Carton (2:34)

He definitely has that kind of power, clearly, but he shouldn't be in this series. No. I'm sorry.

It's great for us to watch you take batting practice. It's great because it means you're close to being able to come back. So I'm not suggesting that wasn't a great video that we all saw today, right? Yeah. But by your own admission, you have not yet been cleared to run, at least run the bases. Maybe you can run straight. I don't know. So if you can run the bases, how can you be upset that the manager made a decision that's in the best interest of the team? Yeah. I think sometimes...

Chris McMonigle (3:08)

Because he doesn't view...

Craig Carton (3:09)

Yeah, but it's not the New York Aaron judges.

Chris McMonigle (3:12)

He views him being in the lineup is what's best for the team.

Chris McMonigle (3:14)

It's not.

Chris McMonigle (3:15)

I know, but you think that, I think that. We all can think that. He doesn't think that.

Chris McMonigle (3:19)

Okay, but he's wrong.

Chris McMonigle (3:19)

He thinks he's the best hitter in baseball and he should be in the lineup.

Craig Carton (3:22)

And by the way, when he's healthy, he is.

Chris McMonigle (3:24)

He came back from the injury.

SPEAKER_4 (3:25)

He thinks he's healthy enough to swing.

Craig Carton (3:26)

He batted 143

Chris McMonigle (3:28)

He doesn't care.

Craig Carton (3:29)

I care.

Chris McMonigle (3:29)

He's the best hitter in baseball.

Chris McMonigle (3:30)

As a fake Yankee fan, I care.

Chris McMonigle (3:33)

Look, I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just saying judge won't view it the way we view it.

Craig Carton (3:36)

I don't give a rat's ass what judge views it as.

Chris McMonigle (3:38)