Which Yankees will show up tonight? The grinders who beat Oakland? Or the team that has folded all year?

As we've heard before... it's deja vu, all over again... 

First time: After a miserable April, the Yankees came alive. They won 11 of 14, beating Baltimore, Detroit, Houston, Washington and even Tampa. Remember that historic Bomber lineup? Aaron Hicks in center! Kyle Higashioka behind the plate! And Setback Sevy healing in Tampa. We were on our way!

Then we took time off to suck.

Then came that magical week in late May. Cory Kluber threw his no-hitter. Remember Cory? (I even forgot that he spells it "Corey.") We luxuriated through five quality starts - FIVE! - even one by Tailspin Tailion! We won five in a row, FIVE! With Setback Sevy healing in Tampa. We were on our way! 

Then we lost five of six.

Okay, yeah... we've deja vued this before. It's the part of the movie where Batman beats up the Joker only to find that it was merely a diversion, and Gotham City is now in the clutches of the nefarious Catwoman, who is pissed that Batman refuses to - ahem - have you been following Twitter lately? Seems as though the Caped Crusader won't - um - perform a certain - uh - oral function for the fearsome feline feminist fatale. It's time for our boy to take off that mask. He either steps up or - well - he's Ben Affleck, who - have you been following Twitter lately? - is cowl-deep in a romantic Kekick/Peterson bootie swap with A-Rod. (I'm not making this up. After Affleck - Redsock fan alert - was seen canoodling J-Lo, A-Rod was reported snuggling Affleck's ex. Who is keeping score here? Is this the end of the pandemic, or the end of civilization?) 

Beginning tonight, the Death Barge hosts KC for three big games. (Note: Every Yankee game is a big game.) Already, demented bloggers across the Yankiverse are eyeballing the Royals roster, pondering various players that Cooperstown Cashman should scoop up like a whale gulping krill. Talk was heavy about Andrew Benintendi, until he cracked a rib. But the way some folks talk about trades, you'd think we had an endless supply of prospects, instead of a Scranton outfield of Socrates Brito, Thomas Milone and Ryan LaMarre. Listen: The Railriders cavalry is not coming, unless we want to trade away the rest of this decade for another Lance Berkman (and maybe give up another Mark Melancon.) 

Make no mistake: This is the real Hope Week. The Yankees need to beat the Royals like a rented mule and then put down Boston in its own back yard. The days are getting shorter. The season is no longer young. And Setback Sevy is still in Tampa.