Aaron Judge Blamed Over Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s Attitude

Aaron Judge is being unfairly called out because of Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s reported attitude, according to a growing number of baseball observers.

A veteran beat writer suggested the Yankees captain should have done more to rein in the second baseman’s behavior.

But others say the criticism misses the mark.

Here is what the reporting actually shows.

The New York Yankees declined to extend Jazz Chisholm Jr. a qualifying offer by the Nov. 2 deadline.

That one-year offer would have been worth $23.15 million.

By declining it, the Yankees made a reunion less certain — though not impossible.

Chisholm is now a free agent.

Multiple reports have indicated that his attitude has not made many in the Yankees’ front office or clubhouse happy.

But the problem is not with his play.

It is with his behavior.

Chisholm drew criticism for playing with a lollipop in his mouth during a postseason game.

He also wore his back pocket turned out.

Those details became symbols of a larger argument over how the Yankees enforced standards during a season marked by sloppy fundamentals.

Now, some are pointing the finger at Aaron Judge.

Randy Miller of NJ.com wrote a column examining whether teammates, rather than the manager alone, should enforce the standards expected of Yankees players.

In that column, Miller directly tied Judge to Chisholm’s antics.

“I’ll start with this: All the stuff that Jazz Chisholm got away with the last few years and that clubhouse culture stuff you’re hearing from CC Sabathia, Joe Girardi, Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and other Yankees alums who won World Series is partially an indictment on Aaron Judge,” Miller wrote.

“He is the captain.”

Miller acknowledged that Judge is widely respected.

“I know Judge is a great leader because I’ve heard it from almost every player who’s been in the Yankees clubhouse going back to 2017, Judge’s rookie year,” he wrote.

“You can’t find a better teammate.”

“He calls team meetings to give pep talks and point out mistakes.”

But Miller argued that Judge should have been tougher.

“But I think the Yankees had problems this year that weren’t stopped — Jazz’s antics, players getting picked off base, fundamental mistakes,” he wrote.

“I think that needs to change and I’d like to see Judge be a little tougher.”

“I think if he was tougher, some of this stuff would stop because Judge is so respected.”

The column sparked immediate pushback.

Columnist Bob Klapisch challenged the assessment.

Klapisch drew a clear line between the captain’s influence and the manager’s authority.

“That’s Aaron Boone’s responsibility to sit a player, fine a player, call him into the office and get in his face if he’s done something egregious,” Klapisch said.

Boone has preferred to address player mistakes privately.

That philosophy has drawn criticism from former Yankees players.

But the debate now centers on whether Judge shares some of the blame.

What complicates the story is that Judge did not ignore the issue.

According to Miller, Judge personally intervened with Chisholm.

“I know Judge has sternly told Jazz to stop doing certain things, because Jazz told me it happened,” Miller said.

That account establishes that Judge challenged Chisholm’s behavior directly.

It also suggests Chisholm was aware of the captain’s concerns.

Yet the behavior continued.

That is where the disagreement lies.

Some argue that Judge’s intervention should be enough.

Others say that as captain, he should have done more to ensure compliance.

Judge is undeniably one of the best players in Major League Baseball.

He is the Yankees’ captain.

He dealt with injuries this season but remained the voice in the locker room.

His reputation as a supportive captain is well established.

But the question of accountability is following the Yankees into the offseason.

It reaches beyond the manager’s office.

The decision to decline the qualifying offer to Chisholm is a direct result of the clubhouse concerns.

Miller’s column examined whether Judge should have pressed harder, given his stature in the clubhouse.

Klapisch’s counterargument was that the manager holds the actual power to impose consequences.

“That’s Aaron Boone’s responsibility to sit a player, fine a player, call him into the office and get in his face if he’s done something egregious,” Klapisch repeated.

So the debate splits along a clear line.

One side says the captain sets the tone and should enforce standards.

The other says the manager has the formal authority to discipline players.

Neither side disputes that Chisholm’s behavior was a problem.

The Yankees have not commented publicly on the specific episode.

Chisholm has not responded to the reports about his attitude.

Judge has not addressed the criticism directly.

What is known is that Judge confronted Chisholm privately.

Chisholm acknowledged that confrontation to a reporter.

The Yankees then declined to make a qualifying offer.

Those facts are not in dispute.

What remains open is whether Judge should have done more.

Some of the loudest criticism has come from former Yankees who won World Series.

CC Sabathia, Joe Girardi, Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada have all spoken about clubhouse culture.

Their comments have added weight to the argument that standards have slipped.

Miller’s column explicitly tied those alumni voices to his criticism of Judge.

He argued that the captain bears some responsibility for the culture.

Others disagree.

The Sporting News ran a piece with the headline: “Yankees’ Aaron Judge unfairly called out because of Jazz Chisholm Jr’s reported attitude.”

That headline captures the sentiment of many fans and analysts.

The argument is that Judge cannot be held responsible for the actions of a grown man.

Chisholm is 28 years old.

He makes his own decisions.

Judge can’t control him going out to second base with a lollipop in his mouth.

He can’t control fundamental mistakes on the field.

He can call team meetings.

He can speak to players privately.

He did both, according to the reporting.

But the behavior continued.

That may say more about Chisholm than about Judge.

It may also say something about the manager.

Boone’s preference for private conversations has been criticized before.

Former players have said the Yankees need a firmer hand.

But that criticism is directed at Boone, not Judge.