00:00Yankees just wrapped up a workout here a short time ago at Tropicana Field on the eve of the ALDS,
00:05and once again, all eyes were on Aaron Judge.
00:07Took on-field batting practice here, looked pretty good,
00:10didn't seem hobbled at all by the calf strain that he suffered two-plus weeks ago,
00:15but I realized that was it for his activity here, at least.
00:18He did work out earlier in the day at Steinbrenner Field.
00:20The big question, though, is whether he could be a player here on the turf at Tropicana Field.
00:25The Yankees have to submit their roster for the ALDS tomorrow morning.
00:28It sounds like there's a scenario where he's not a full player for the first two games here,
00:33whether that's not available at all or maybe a pinch-hitting threat,
00:36but then maybe by the time the Yankees get back home for Game 3, he could be a player, as
00:40in right field.
00:41They don't seem to love the idea of doing a DH.
00:44That would put Ben Rice at first base and Luis Garcia Jr. on the bench,
00:47but there's enough off days in this series.
00:49There's an off day after Game 1, Game 2, and Game 4,
00:53so does that allow Judge enough time to make himself a legitimate option
00:58to play right field when the Yankees get back home for Game 3?
01:01It's possible, so we'll see what they end up doing.
01:04Carrying Judge on the roster seems more realistic for this round than it was last round.
01:08You know, other things in the workout that stood out,
01:10obviously the Yankees working on their bunt defense
01:12and all the intricacies of the turf here at the chop.
01:15You know, the Rays dominated at home this year.
01:17They're a team that puts the ball in play, have a lot of contact, do a lot of bunting,
01:21so the Yankees need to be prepared for that.
01:23Know their piece and cues of all their bunt defense,
01:25know how the turf plays, everything like that.
01:27They even did pop-up drills to, you know, as you can see behind me,
01:30the roof is pretty much the same color as the baseball,
01:33so they did a lot of drills being able to see pop-ups into the dome,
01:37so kind of getting their senses here
01:39and trying to prepare themselves for Game 1 of the ALDS starting tomorrow night.
