Aaron Judge can change a game at the plate and in the field

Joe Girardi started the joke in April and it resonates every time Aaron Judge hits the outfield wall when making a catch. It has different variations but basically goes like this: Judge is OK, the wall is day-to-day.

So it was again Monday night in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Astros when Judge had another loud game, this time on offense and defense. His three-run home run was his offensive contribution, but his adventurous outfield play was an additional calling card.

In the fourth inning, Yuli Gurriel sent an opposite-field shot to right that sent Judge crashing into the wall. Judge then tumbled over backward and got to his knees all while clutching the ball. He got up slowly to the chant of “M-V-P! M-V-P!” Judge’s left shoulder took the brunt of the collision with the wall, but he did not appear injured afterward. His homer came in the bottom of the inning. In the fifth, Judge made a diving backhand catch on Cameron Maybin’s fly to right.

“That’s what we want. That’s what every teammate wants to see,” third baseman Todd Frazier said after the game. “As a pitcher you dream of that kind of stuff. He’s been doing it all year, even before I’ve watched -- or I played with the Yankees, I’ve watched all the stuff he’s done. And he’ll go to the wall for you. That’s all you can ask for as a teammate, as a player, as a friend.

“You see a guy put his head basically through the wall and then dive -- he’s a big guy, so the ground is going to shake when he hits the ground. So he’s got to be careful.’ But at the same time we love it, enjoy it. And that’s what we have. We have guys on this team that will basically go through walls for everybody. Those are big plays that really go unnoticed after an 8-1 game. Could have changed the outcome of the game, for sure.”

Judge ultimately will be critiqued for his offense, which has been erratic in in the postseason with a .147 average.

“Well, I think that in the struggles he’s still been pretty patient,’’ Girardi said. “Yeah, he gets a little bit off mechanically. I think part of that is probably being 6-7. And I felt like there’s been some borderline pitches called on him that didn’t go his way. That can change an at-bat. The difference between 2-0 or 1-1 or -- or 2-1 and 1-2, it’s a big difference. I think he’s extremely talented. You can look at his numbers and say he’s not hitting for an average. We’ve played how many playoff games, 9? He gets seven RBIs, he gets his walk, got another one tonight. I know how dangerous he is. He can really change a game really quickly.’’

Judge does not seem bothered by his slumps, saying “To be honest, I get a chance to play baseball every day. I get to live my dream. So you’ve got to take the ups with the downs. You can’t have all the good, come out here and hit 1.000 even though I want to. It’s baseball, I’ve got to enjoy the good times and the bad times. That’s what I picked up and learned from my teammates. They’ve supported me through the good times and the bad times. Like I said, I get a chance to play in the ALCS with the New York Yankees, it’s a dream come true.

“I haven’t changed anything since Day One. It was a big change I wanted to make this year, was just prepare the right way, prepare the same way, and see how it works. It works during the regular season, and why would I come in the postseason and try to change something, even though I’m struggling for three or four games, five, six games? It’s six games, I’ve got to get ready to play for the game today and that’s what I’m focused on.’’