It was a tough night for the New York Yankees and their World Series hopes. After a 3-2 road loss at the hands of the Houston Astros, the Yankees are now in a deep 2-0 hole in the American League Championship Series.
And it all almost changed on one key Aaron Judge at-bat in the eighth inning. With one man on base and New York trying to rally from that very same one-run deficit, Judge launched a nice shot to right field. It certainly looked like it had the distance … until it fell safely into the glove of Kyle Tucker. Threat over, and the Astros would leave the inning unscathed.
In the post-game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone asserted that Judge’s fly-out might have been a two-run homer if not for the open roof at the Astros’ home stadium.
Huh. Okay. Let’s hear him out!
"I think the roof open kind of killed us. I think it's a 390' [foot] ball."
Aaron Boone thinks the roof open at Minute Maid Park tonight played an impact on Aaron Judge's flyout in the 8th inning pic.twitter.com/ouhUcgIqwN
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) October 21, 2022
Hmm, plausible at first glance, but probably not actually true. Also, the Astros were playing under the same conditions. (Note: The Yankees have struck out 30 times as a team in just two games.)
Per Statcast, that Judge fly-out would’ve been a homer in just one ballpark. Oh, yeah, you guessed it: Yankee Stadium.
that Judge fly ball is a HR in 1 ballpark…
Yankee Stadium
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 21, 2022
Maybe Boone has a point about the open air and weather affecting the final trajectory of the ball. But in a pure distance sense? The Yankees were only getting that two-run Judge shot if they were playing at home.
MLB fans had lots of thoughts about Boone's gripe about the open roof in Houston
It's possible.
But they also struck out 30 times in two games. https://t.co/v9BZC5KfQV
— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) October 21, 2022
Yankees play in a ballpark smaller than Williamsport and they’re lamenting not getting cheap homers on the road. Amazing. https://t.co/qH376dIfrU
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) October 21, 2022
I hope this guy manages the Yankees for the rest of my life https://t.co/DlmYDZQHhR
— JY (@yahdley) October 21, 2022
Why is this a topic…. Try getting more hits https://t.co/hBy5JBNS7y
— “didn’t write back” (@Seahawksyankees) October 21, 2022
both teams played under the same conditions, aaron. https://t.co/hDBcO46tZP
— Jack Ramsey (@jackwramsey) October 21, 2022
We've struck out 30 times in two games dude https://t.co/0C4B4V45h3
— Justin (@brackett_justin) October 21, 2022
This is embarrassing https://t.co/CAAMdIjcn1
— 💀 Zach of the Dead 💀 (@zmullis) October 21, 2022
Loser talk. 30 K’s in 2 games! https://t.co/EOsy2lliq5
— James Garavaglia (@garavagliajames) October 21, 2022
Struck out 30 times in two games and can’t hit a beach ball but we’re blaming a retractable roof I’m going to bed https://t.co/2ZThdlMuKu
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 21, 2022
