“I Thought It Was a Good Idea”: Aaron Judge Reveals How His Surprise Meeting Turned Yankees’ Fortunes in September

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ByAnanya Gondhi

Sep 29, 2024 | 3:00 PM EDT

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Did Aaron Judge's leadership save the Yankees' season, or was it just a lucky break?

Have you ever been in one of those work ruts where it feels like no matter how hard you try, you just can’t do it? Until your mentors help you out. Well, that’s the vibe the Yankees captured! Their captain stepped up with some rallying words that shifted the team’s entire mindset, laser-focused on the divisional title like nothing else mattered. As one knows, all through August, the Yankees were in a tough race for first place in the American League East against the Baltimore Orioles.

And it was not like they were not working for it. The Bronx Bombers were hustling hard, but it felt like the stars just weren’t aligned for them. Then came September, and the rough patch only got rougher. Just when the Bronx Bombers were gearing up to face the Texas Rangers, the captain swooped in with a plan. Forget more practice sessions or extra drills; Aaron Judge came up with another idea, and it was time for a heart-to-heart meeting! Such a different approach, right?

What was the meeting all about?

As Judge recalled, he decided it was time to bring the team together—no coaches, no staff, just players huddled in one room with the door shut tight. This wasn’t your typical meeting; we can even dub it as “get-together.” Judge felt it was crucial to share a few words and help everyone refocus, saying, “I thought it was a good idea for me to say a couple of words and kind of talk it out.” So, what was the crux of Judge’s message?“ Well, as he told Athletic, “What’s important is what happens in this room and how we support each other.”

So, who better to spill the tea on that meeting than the players themselves, right? Several of them said it hit at just the right moment to boost the morale of the Bronx Bombers. Reliever Luke Weaver even chimed in, saying it helped the team get its “bearings back in order.” But what magic words did Aaron Judge drop to create this spark? He zeroed in on team spirit, reminding everyone that they’re all in this together—like one big family. That same perspective really resonated with utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera and became his favorite takeaway of the meeting.

Who echoed Judge’s sentiment perfectly: “We are in this situation. The players. The coaches. We are a group. We are family. And we have to take care of each other.” You can see it in their celebrations or even when they’re just playing video games—this team is all about sticking together! And with that camaraderie in mind, the captain encouraged them to be bold! Do you want to hear another gem from the meeting? Aaron Judge advised everyone to tune out the social media noise. Now that’s some solid advice we could all use!

What was the impact of Aaron Judge’s words?

The 2024 season from August to September wasn’t just a challenge on the field—it was a wild ride off it too. With fans voicing their frustrations about lineup changes and more, starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt put it perfectly: “You are going to be constantly talked about. You’ve got to be able to compartmentalize all that stuff.” And let’s be real, it’s not just the Yankees feeling the heat. Every team has to deal with their fair share of online backlash! Even MLB’s official page took a hit when they tried to compare Shohei Ohtani to a football legend.

So the chaos keeps going! But the main thing? As Judge believes, it’s all about blocking out the noise. And as Alex Verdugo says, the timing of this advice couldn’t have been better! —If you’re not convinced by the players’ words, just look at their performance. Since that meeting, the Yankees faced a little bump in Texas, dropping two of three games. But by Sept. 5, they were right in the hunt, just half a game back. Fast forward to Sept. 7, and voilà! The Yankees had reclaimed the division lead and didn’t look back, finishing strong with a 12-6 record. And at the end, they finally achieved the dream they were chasing.

While the ultimate dream remains the World Series, clinching the division with a 10-1 win over Baltimore was just what the Yankees needed. Especially after a rocky 2023 and part of 2024. It looks like Aaron Judge’s inspiring words really worked like magic. It’s fascinating to see how a team meeting transformed the Yankees’ fortunes, much like what happened with the Detroit Tigers.

Both teams are now reserving a playoff berth! What are your thoughts on this incredible turnaround? Can they go all the way? Drop your comments below!