Aaron Judge calls out Yankees’ ‘lack of focus’ in rare pointed criticism
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The Yankees have committed eight errors and allowed 14 unearned runs during their six-game losing streak. Wendell Cruz / Imagn Images
By Chris KirschnerJuly 1, 2026 2:15 pm EDT UpdatedNEW YORK — Aaron Judge is rarely candid with reporters when discussing behind-the-scenes matters concerning the New York Yankees. So it was interesting that the captain openly expressed his displeasure with what he’s been watching over the past week during the club’s six-game losing streak.
“Well, it’s not great,” Judge said at his locker before Wednesday afternoon’s game against the Detroit Tigers. “Just a little lack of focus. We just gotta dial it in. Our ultimate goal is to win a World Series. I think guys have to remember that every single day they show up here. We’re here to win a World Series.
“That should motivate you every single day you step on that field, no matter what happens, no matter what happens the day before. ‘I got a job to do.’ We’ve got an important sign when you walk out on the field. It’s the last sign you see before you’re out there; it says do your job. Guys are here to do their job.”
Judge mentioned he’s talked with unidentified players about the matter and said the club will be speaking “with a bigger group here soon.” When asked what he meant by not liking the lack of focus from his teammates, he declined to discuss specifics.
“I think you guys see it,” Judge said. “There are a couple of things, but we don’t need to get into that.”
Over their six-game skid, the Yankees have committed eight errors and allowed 14 unearned runs due to defensive miscues. Part of New York’s problem during this stretch is several players are playing out of position. For example, José Caballero is playing center field on Wednesday. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said several players are dealing with food poisoning, which is why the team has a funky defensive alignment in the series finale.
But the Yankees’ defensive issues extend beyond the injuries they’ve endured. Ben Rice and Jazz Chisholm Jr. rank last at their respective positions in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), Boone’s preferred public metric for evaluating defense, and the Yankees as a team are tied for the third-worst mark in the majors. Cody Bellinger is MLB’s best defender in left field with 16 DRS. The Yankees’ next best defender by DRS is Caballero at shortstop with five, but because of injuries, he no longer plays the position often.
“I think when we’re right, we’re a quality team in those areas, where we’ve made some errors this week and we’ve let unearned runs go,” Boone said. “I think, moving forward, that shouldn’t be the case. There’s a little bit of a product of us having some important guys around Judge that settle us, especially defensively. Guys are moving around a little bit. I think that’s factored in. Individually speaking, I feel like the guys are in the right frame of mind.”
But it’s not just defense where the Yankees have struggled of late. The offense has been abysmal. In their past five games, the Yankees have only 16 hits, the fewest number in any five-game span in franchise history. Numerous players are out of sorts at the plate.
Why are the Yankees in a slump right now?
Goldschmidt: 0 for his last 14
Rice: 5 for his last 41
Domínguez: 2 for his last 17
Volpe: 5 for his last 30
Caballero: 5 for his last 35
Bellinger: 3 for his last 30
Chisholm: 1 for his last 15
Wells: Entire season— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) July 1, 2026
Judge thinks the offense, as a whole, is “just trying to do too much.” He referenced how much he liked the offense in the season-opening series against the San Francisco Giants. He thought the hitters did a good job of working at-bats and having faith in the players behind them in the order.
“I feel like right now, collectively, guys are trying to do too much and be the one guy that will hit the grand slam with nobody on,” Judge said.
“I think at times when we’re scuffling, we don’t trust ourselves. We don’t trust that maybe the guy behind me will help me out. Anytime I step into the box, I got Cody Bellinger behind me. I got Paul Goldschmidt behind me. I’m gonna go out there and just focus on what I got to do at the plate. If I don’t get it done, the guy behind me will. That takes a lot of pressure off you when you’re in the box and scuffling a little bit. They’re gonna be fine, though.”
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Even with their cold streak, the Yankees are tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the third-best offense in MLB, by WRC. They will get offensive reinforcements later this week, as Trent Grisham and Ryan McMahon are expected to be activated off the injured list for Friday’s game against the Minnesota Twins. Their returns should also provide relief defensively, as there will be less shuffling of players who usually don’t play positions they’ve been forced into.
As for Judge, he did not provide an update on when he might return to the lineup. The Yankees’ training staff has not cleared Judge for re-imaging on his ribs, and they will not know a potential timeline until that happens. In the meantime, Judge is forced to watch from the dugout as his teammates struggle and lose ground to the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.
“It’s the worst,” Judge said. “That’s one thing that always kills me throughout the year. I hate missing games, but I hate missing them in times where things aren’t going your way. That’s when I want to be out there. I want to be grinding with the guys and be a part of the solution to get us back to where we need to be.”
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
