“Always Had Their Back”: ‘Upset’ Aaron Judge’s Opinion on MLB Umpires Remains Unchanged After Controversial Ejection

Something happened in Aaron Judge‘s life for the first time. His first career ejection was a surprising moment for both fans and Judge himself. A deeper dive into the incident shows the Captain’s side of the story. He also reveals an interesting opinion of Ryan Blakney, the umpire. 

Judge has built a reputation for being a composed and level-headed player. However, his ejection raises questions about whether this incident was an anomaly or a sign of mounting frustration. In a post-game interview, while discussing the incident, the 31-year-old highlighted the context—a close game in the late innings. But it is worth wondering whether the pressure to perform at a high level, combined with a questionable call, triggered a rare outburst from Judge. 

Aaron Judge Reveals His Opinion On Umpires

The exact words of what Judge said to umpire Ryan Blakney remain unclear. Neither Judge nor the umpiring crew have revealed the specifics. So much so that upon being asked, Judge said he’d not want to disclose it. In the midst of this, though, he shared an important message. He has immense respect for the umpire.

He said, “I got a lot of respect for Ryan and what he does. I know their job’s tough. I’ve always had their back because it’s tough back there. So for that to happen that way, that’s what I’m most upset about, especially late in the game like that.”

To add to that, Judge didn’t even notice that he had been tossed out. He shared in the post-game interview that it was the audience’s reaction that he learned from the fact the fact that he had been ejected. He shared, “I didn’t even see myself get tossed. It was kind of a crowd reaction. I kind of assumed at that point.”

As the Yankees‘ captain, Judge is a role model for his teammates. The ejection, while understandable given the circumstances, could be seen as a missed opportunity to display composure under pressure. However, one can’t help but notice the acknowledgment that he gave about the umpires’ tough job. Judge’s response after the game, emphasizing respect for the umpires, could help mitigate any negative impact on his leadership.

Do All Recent Ejections Have a Similar Pattern?

There was no clear audio of what Judge said, based on which Ryan, the umpire, decided to eject Judge. In fact, this ejection was quite different from the time Manager Aaron Boone was ejected by Hunter Wendelstedt. In that incident, there was video proof that Boone didn’t say a word. 

Such incidents serve as valuable learning experiences for Judge and other players in the MLB. These instances highlight the importance of managing emotions, especially in high-pressure situations, even if there are some controversial calls. Whether this ejection becomes a footnote or a turning point remains to be seen. It’s an event worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses.