Analyst: Blue Jays should've sent Aaron Judge 'a message'

Aaron Judge. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Analyst: Blue Jays should've sent Yankees' Aaron Judge 'a message'

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 5/17/23

One noteworthy individual has suggested the Toronto Blue Jays should've delivered an in-game response to New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge following Monday's events.

As shared by Brandon Contes of Awful Announcing, former MLB player and current Sportsnet analyst Caleb Joseph hinted before Tuesday's game between the Blue Jays and Yankees that a Toronto pitcher should at least give Judge a little "chin music" after the reigning American League Most Valuable Player may have participated in some legal sign-stealing on Monday night.

"Every team in the big leagues, they’re taking what’s handed to them," Joseph acknowledged. "And it’s only bad until you get your hand caught in the cookie jar. If I’m a mom or dad when I see my kid with their hand in that cookie jar, I’m slapping that hand. So I’m trying to send a message. And there was a time earlier in my career when, yes, messages were sent to me too. Right at my head when it wasn’t good. I would like to see (Blue Jays starting pitcher) Kevin Gausman come out and send a message."

The controversy started after Blue Jays announcers Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez mentioned Judge glanced off to the side on multiple occasions during an at-bat against right-hander Jay Jackson in the top of the eighth inning of Monday's contest. Judge crushed a home run off Jackson, and some quickly took to social media to accuse the 31-year-old and the Yankees of violating MLB rules regarding the use of technology for sign-stealing purposes.

However, Jackson later revealed he was tipping his pitches, and it's now assumed either Yankees first base coach Travis Chapman or somebody in the dugout used a hand signal to communicate a tell to Judge. Sharing such information is within MLB rules as long as electronic devices aren't involved.

Meanwhile, Toronto demoted Jackson to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.

Contes pointed out that no Toronto pitcher intentionally threw at Judge on Tuesday, and the four-time All-Star selection blasted three homers over the series' first two games. Theoretically, the Blue Jays could have a change of heart about sending "a message" to Judge when they again host the Yankees on Wednesday and Thursday.

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