The Yankees' addition this week of The Judge’s Chambers, an area in the right field stands at Yankee Stadium recognizing RF Aaron Judge, "constitutes a necessary idea" at a time when baseball "desperately seeks stars," according to Ken Davidoff of the N.Y. POST. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said, "It's kind of taken on a fun time for the fans in right field. We're just trying to make the experience better." Judge said yesterday that the Yankees "consulted him recently with the idea and he offered neither support nor objection." One line of criticism is that this "isn’t a Yankee-like move." Davidoff: "Well, the Yankees no longer are 'Yankee-like.'" With just one postseason appearance in the past four seasons, home attendance has "decreased five of the last six years, the only exception being Derek Jeter’s retirement tour" in '14, and it is "down again this season, significantly, despite the club’s surprising success." People "can’t call this a money grab because the Yankees aren’t selling these spots at a premium." Rather they are "seeking out enthusiastic-looking fans to place in The Judge’s Chambers" (N.Y. POST, 5/24). In N.Y., Mike Mazzeo writes the Yankees are "guilty of overhype." There was "no need" for the new section, "not this soon, anyway." Baseball HOFer Dave Winfield said, "Judge’s Chambers, huh? It may be risky. Making it in New York is a tough proposition. ... I hope he doesn’t get distracted." Mazzeo writes it is "fine to want to engage the fans in this new era of outdoor spaces, kid zones and tiki bars, but using a young player who has all of 230 career at-bats under his belt to do so seems to place an unnecessary spotlight, pressure and expectation on him" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/24).
WHEN IN DOUBT: USA TODAY's Scott Gleeson notes the Yankees joined the N.Y. Fire Department and other high-profile organizations in "dropping out of the Puerto Rican Day Parade in response to parade organizers’ plans to honor freed militant Oscar Lopez Rivera." The team "didn’t elaborate on its decision." However, a spokesperson said that the franchise "still plans to financially support the parade's scholarship program." The June 11 parade, which draws 1 million people each year, also "lost key sponsors because of the decision to honor a man considered to be the leader of the ultranationalist Puerto Rican group responsible for more than 100 bombings" (USA TODAY, 5/24).
