When the month began — the darkest of all months for Yankee fans — we got the worst news imaginable: Aaron Judge would be out for a while. Given the team’s recent struggles in June, it seemed like we were due for more of the same or even worse. We’ve conveniently forgotten that the Yankees were historically good in June of 2022, going 22-6, but the last three years have seen early season success evaporate into mediocrity as they posted marks of 11-12, 14-13, and 13-14. June Swoon, indeed.

There were lots of theories floated ranging from complacency to an organization-wide lack of fundamentals, but it’s probably more coincidence than anything else. If the June Swoons had been caused by Aaron Boone or by something lacking in the organization, surely a team missing its best player would be knee deep in it right now, right? But they’re not. They’re thriving.

The Yankees are 11-4 during this month, a surge that’s seen them move back into first place with the best record in the American League, and somehow the offense doesn’t seem to miss the best non-Barry Bonds hitter you and I have ever seen. They’ve scored 6.3 runs per game and compiled a +38 run differential in just fifteen games. They’re getting essentially nothing from the catcher spot (zero home runs, one RBI) and Anthony Volpe is Anthony Volpe (4 hits, 1 RBI), but three batters have been hitting at MVP levels. Take a look:

I think people around baseball have accepted that Rice is one of the best hitters in the game, and his overall stats for the season aren’t terribly different from these fifteen games. Bellinger is exactly what the Yankees hoped they’d get when they resigned him during this past off-season. He’s been invaluable on both sides of the ball. But Goldschmidt? He was supposed to play a couple games a week and maybe pinch hit against a lefty from time to time, but mainly his role was going to be clubhouse leadership and defensive tutoring for young Master Rice. No one was expecting this level of production from an aging star on what was assumed to be his final contract. Given this recent spate of injuries, it’s difficult to imagine where the team would be without Goldy.

But even with all this success, I miss Aaron Judge. The team is winning, but there’s something missing. I don’t have the anchor of Judge’s five at bats to mark time through nine innings. I’m not tracking the league leaders to see where he stacks up. I’m not looking at the career home run list to find out which legend he’ll be passing next. I miss all that.

And it seems like Aaron’s feeling it, too. Each time one of his teammates returns to the dugout after hitting a big home run, the camera always finds Judge. He’s happy enough, but his smile is different. He’s there, but he’s one step removed. I could just be projecting, but there seems to be a wistfulness in his gaze as he watches his team push on without him. He’s fallen behind. Does he want them to wait, or is he desperate to catch up?