Swan Song

It is time to bring an end to the suffering and the illusions that so many of us have held since things began to fall apart in spring training.

The false hopes that emerged as the Yankees again led the majors in home runs.  Derek hitting well over .300 at age 37, and collecting 200+ hits.  Carrying the team for months.

The Pineda disaster.  The total failure of the "three B's."  Mo's torn acl at age 40.  Brett Gardener's early exit.  Joba off the trampoline. Andruw staying a year too long, maybe two.

Robbie Cano being the best pure hitter in baseball, and as slick a second baseman as we'll ever see.

Swisher a constant cheerleader and favorite of the bleacher creachers.

Tex, the best fielding first baseman since Donny Baseball, and a guy who made outs from bad throws from third and short.

Granderson, a fleet center fielder with power, who last year overcame a known inability to hit against lefties.

And the 600 homer, hall-of-fame bound menace manning our clean-up spot.

The depth provided by the second best Yankee this year ( behind the Captain ), Raul Ibanez.

The surprising emergence of no one from our minor league system.

And, finally, our only playoff threat, a crumb tossed to us by the laughing Mariners, in the form of Ichiro.

So it comes down to the last day.  The last game.  What must we do?

Put all the regulars back where they belong.  We can't put Derek back, of course, so let Nunez play.

Have this be their "swan song" game.

Have it end with grace and dignity.