Three-time MVP and Yankees captain Aaron Judge made clear how badly he wants to play against the reviled Red Sox in Round 1. And it surely would be a great and maybe even historic story if he could beat all odds and make it back within two weeks of straining the soleus muscle in his right calf. 

Judge desperately wants to be playing, maybe even more than the Yankees hope to activate him. But let’s be smart about this. 

Appearances suggest he might be halfway through the recovery process, if that. He took live batting practice for the first time Monday since the latest injury. 

He also said he’s still using an anti-gravity machine to run.