Captain Aaron Judge got brutally honest while reviewing the New York Yankees lost season this weekend. As the team got eliminated from the playoffs, Judge wasted no time in labeling the season a “failure.” Moreover, the slugger assured of getting things fixed in time for the 2024 season by introducing major changes during the off-season.
As Aaron Judge got real on his season assessment, his best pal and Yankees’ reliable infielder, Anthony Rizzo, resonated with the captain’s sentiments. While talking to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Rizzo pinned the blame on the players and urged them to take a close look into the mirror and find answers. Read on to know the baseman’s full statement.
Anthony Rizzo Blasts Yankees Teammates For Not Stepping Up This Season
New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo’s 2023 season ended prematurely owing to a concussion injury. However, even before that, Rizzo wasn’t doing enough to contribute. Moreover, he acknowledged his struggles during a latest interview with MLB.com. He said that the blame for the lost season should certainly fall on the players. A lot of players, including himself, failed to channel their full capabilities. It’s easy to point fingers at other stuff, such as injuries and bad management. But in reality, the players need to look themselves in the mirrors and ask tough questions. The infielder further added that the chemistry within the roster was not a problem. They had been playing together for years, and thus, there was no divide in the clubhouse.
“There’s stuff behind that, I think, as we get into the offseason even more, we’ll be able to dissect what didn’t go well,” added Anthony Rizzo. Further, the baseman backed captain Aaron Judge and wholeheartedly lent his support to the latter’s brutal season assessment. He believes that Judge is way more involved in the organization than anybody is and thus is a perfect man who can offer solutions. If he thinks stuff needs to change, it does need to change. There is no second-guessing to it. Having said that, Rizzo confirmed returning in time for the 2024 season. His concussion rehab is headed in the right direction, and he is already feeling a lot better than at the time of injury diagnosis.
DJ LeMahieu Hopeful Of The Future Despite Lost Season!
Another reliable infielder of the New York Yankees, DJ LeMahieu, reviewed the 2023 season. He said that a lot of things need to be addressed during the upcoming off-season. Having said that, DJ does not want to think about what the changes could be and what direction they should head to. At this point, LeMahieu just wants a reset into the season.
Keeping the negativity aside, DJ LeMahieu seemed excited about the future, especially with the youth movement. “Some of the younger guys are good, and our pitching staff is great. I know we have the pieces,” said LeMahieu. Certainly, the Baby Bombers 2.0 has given a reason to cheer and smile to the fans in this past month. All the prospects collectively have put up an excellent teaser of what’s coming in 2024.
