The Yankees don't seem to understand: Yes, it can happen here

Yesterday, humanity caught its first-ever glimpse into the event horizon of destiny... the death of a distant star... the angry eye of God... a black hole.

This calls for a Hal Steinbrenner joke, but let's not. Nope. Instead, let's stare hard into the amazing Polaroid Instamatic to the right and recognize it as a taillight of the Tampa Rays, vanishing off into the distance of the Yankees' 2019 season. So long, hope. It was fun, while we knew ye.

Wait a minute, you think. It's early, it's early, it's early... 

No it isn't. Listen: We hot tubbed all winter, assuring ourselves that the owner - eternally rich, as Forbes just reminded us - was pretending to sleep through the auctions for Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. When it became clear that the Yankees would not spend their money, much of the Yankiverse actually sided with the Steinbrenners, rooting for the billionaires to save more money. (How is it that fans should feel that way? My best guess: The Stockholm Syndrome?)

Here at IIH, we cursed the cosmos. But few of us foresaw a 2019 Yankees train wreck. Our aggregate projections stand at 93 wins, which could win the AL East. Even now, we tell ourselves it's a long season, and this wave of injuries will eventually even-out. But these Yankees were always a dangling chandelier, and it's time to wonder if 2019 could be killed by tweaks and tears.

And here's the rub: We knew this was likely to happen.

Ten days ago, when he went down, Giancarlo Stanton was supposed to miss only 10 days. He is now starting to swing a bat. Throughout his time in Miami, injuries were the most consistent part of Stanton's game. As soon as the Marlins received a healthy season, they traded him. We knew. 

Last summer, Luis Severino fell off the table. He went from a Cy Young candidate to a guy who couldn't go five in a playoff game. Clearly, something was wrong. Now, he's out with a shoulder strain - an extinction event for power pitchers. They won't say it aloud, but the Yankees must be wondering if he'll throw a pitch this season, or what kind of pitcher he'll be, if he returns. We knew.

Troy Tulowitzky looks like a dream. The Yankees observed a two-day workout, and then decided to balance the season on him. Why? Simple: He was cheap. We needed him to last three months. He didn't last a home stand. But who should have been surprised by this? We knew.

Miguel Andujar was going to be our break-out star. Now, he's lobbing balls in the outfield, hoping his slightly torn shoulder will let him - what? - play 3B? Are you serious? The big issue of spring training was whether Miggy could make accurate throws from third. If he can return - we hope so - will he be a DH? If so, his presence ricochets throughout the lineup, forcing Stanton to play LF, sending Clint Frazier back to Scranton, along with Bird or Voit (looks like Bird.) We didn't know this could happen. But now we do. 

With the exception of Andujar, none of these injuries were unexpected. Aaron Hicks had never played a full season for us. God knows when he'll return, and what kind of hitter he'll be. James Paxton's problem in Seattle? Injuries. Aroldis Chapman's big concern? The knee. Brett Gardner? Wear and tear. CC? Just his cardiac stent, that's all. Yeesh.

Meanwhile, one question looms increasingly loud: Is Tampa for real? The 10-3 Rays are once again showing how a small market team competes with big-spending Boston and Brian "Cooperstown" Cashman. Tommy Pham is one of the most exciting players in baseball. Austin Meadows, 23, is right behind him. Blake Snell is the reining MVP. They are young and hungry - the opposite of us.

If Tampa is for real, the Yankees are playing for a Wild Card, an act that has become tedious. We keep telling ourselves, It's early, It's early, It's early... but that taillight in the distance gets no closer. We sit on the brink of disaster. One or two injuries could turn 2019 into 2013 - the year of Pronk and Overbay.

All winter, we waited for the Yankees to play their cards. Instead, they counted their money. This calls for a Hal Steinbrenner joke. Trouble is, none of them are funny.