Yankeetorial: The team we need to beat is coming to NY

The Oriole Spring has wreaked havoc on the power structure of the AL East. Nevertheless, Showalter's insurgents will probably fade, as they have done in the past. There is still the months of June, July, August and September to play. It's a long season.

But Tampa is not Baltimore.

If Mariano never returns, the Rays will remember their last meeting with him and smile. Years ago, we could harumph at Tampa's youth: Pick first for a decade, and you ought to improve. (See Nats, Washington). But Tampa has contended since 2008. They're not drafting high any more. When they unveil young stars, while we waive Andrew Brackmans, we can't blame our draft slot. They're just doing it right. And make no mistake: Tampa could run away with the AL East and turn our October into a one-game free-for-all.

Listen: No MLB season ends in May. Fans scream, fans moan, fans do what fans do in the privacy of their homes, but secretly, we all know that the season, no matter how prophetic or tumultuous it may seem, cannot end in May. Nope-er. No way.

But a Yankee week is like a month on the Royals. That's why Giambi and Damon wanted so desperately to wear pinstripes. Tommy John, who played in Chicago and Los Angeles, said neither compared to the Yankees, "the Cadillac."

Perpetual crises take their toll. (See Redsocks, Boston.) We've already reached our seasonal limit. 

If we flub this series - go 0-3 or 1-3 - we will still have June, July, August and September to catch up.

I just don't understand why anybody would believe we will.