Fiction v Facts : The True Story Revealed

FICTION:  The Yanks persevered last night and defeated their cross-town rivals, 7-2 in twelve innings. The Mets had played brilliantly, and Matt Harvey was spinning a shut-out  At the end of 8 innings, the score was 2-0 Mets ( The 2 run total, ironically, was the same maximum run production per game generated by the Yankees in 2015).

There was an overhanging fear, however, and that was that this Yankee team was pesky, aggressive, and would not be intimidated.  In the 9th inning, the rookie , Greg Bird, made the play of the day.  He was on third, the Yankees had moved the score to 2-1 and there was one out.  The Mets' personable and entertaining Manager played the infield in to cut off the tying run at the plate.

Sure enough, a soft ground ball was hit to the left side of the infield.  Unfortunately for the Mets, David Wright had to field it, leaving no one to hold the runner close to the bag.  Instinctively, David tried to look him back and throw to first for the second out.   Bird realized, however, that there was no threat to him  at third and, even with the look over ( a kind of "neighborhood play" in his mind), he crept closer to home.  The instant that Wright released his throw to first, Bird took off for home.  He knew that the team had been behind all day and this might be their only shot at tying the game,  breaking the spirit of the Mets and their fans with one move.

Duda caught Wright's throw and threw awkwardly to home.  He did not have the time to really set his feet, and his throw went awry.  Bird scored.  Tie game.

  Now it would be a battle of bullpens, and you knew the Mets had no shot.

FACTS :  The real Yankee team had long ago dispersed and started their off-season golf and fishing trips.  They had lost 11 of their last 12 regular season games but, somehow, still backed into the one game play-in, where they scored zero runs.  The Yankee management and owners are patting themselves on the back, lighting cigars to the success of the 2015 season.  A great step-up from 2014.

From a Yankee fans' perspective, this is a dead franchise now.  We have no chance of getting back to the World Series, much less a shot at scoring runs, coming from behind, being aggressive and winning it.  Not in most of our lifetimes.

The owners get richer every year and the team gets worse.  Cashman and Girardi are rewarded for failure.   Each year, the Yankees take some extreme action against a meaningless member of the organization, and convince themselves that the problem has been excised.

The young players the Yankees have all fit in the, " average," category though, by comparison ( to the over-paid, former star players still under contract ) they are refreshing and fun to watch.  But there is no future.  Compare them to the young players you just saw playing in the World Series.  It makes your spirit and enthusiasm sag, doesn't it?

  We are burdened, for several more years, with a bunch of worn out tires.  High end, Michelin tires, but worn out just the same.  You think A-Rod will be better next year?  Jacoby will be faster?  Brett will hit .300 and be an all star again?  Our hot young, flame throwing pitcher ( Eovaldi ) could not hold up, while those of the Mets and Royals are thriving, and throw harder with more control.  We fill out the staff with an old drunk, a Japanese guy who will need arm surgery, and idiot who can only pitch well with pine tar, and another guy who we traded Jesus to get.  Luis Severino will surely need arm surgery and Adam Warren will be our " go to " guy.  And one guy in the bullpen, upon whom we can depend.  Nice work, there, Brian.  Enjoy your off-season celebration.

The truth is:  the Yankees are done.  And for a decade, minimum. What is there to root for?

So some of us substituted the "play-in " game Yankee roster for the Royal line-up, tocreate a fictional interest in the goings on.  The baseball was exciting and dramatic.  The better team won, though the Mets will certainly be back next year.

The Yankees will win 80 games.  And Girardi will wear  number 27 on his back until he gets sciatica and retires.

The truth hurts.