The Yankees' 11-game winning streak is over. Now, what?

Okay, we remember what happened last August: 

The Yankees won 13 straight, then gave it all back - losing 11 of their next 13. To call them hot v cold does no justice. They were fire v ice... Sean Connery  v George Lazenby...  Tom Jones  v Englebert Humperdink...  the Beatles v the Archies...

And in the end, the love they saved what not equal to the love they made they were what we feared: One & done, wild card punch-outs. 

For the last five or six games, we've awaited this defining moment: What happens when our luck runs out? Through this stretch, I've increasingly struggled to stay negative. I performed this Christlike task with no hint of self-agrandizement, even though it meant flailing against a rising tide of hope. I knew that any positive words about the Yankees could and would be held against us in the Court of Juju Gods law. 

The first rule of Juju is to never ever EVER express hope. (Note: That's why I stopped posting Ryan McBroom "sweep" photos; they clearly had become a juju gods trigger.) Remember: The juju gods are always watching, and they're bastards. They see you when you're sleeping, they know when you're awake - but unlike Santa, they only come to drop lumps of Kei Igawa into your stocking, as they did last August.

So, on that note, I offer some positive negatives about last night's wretched, 2-1 loss. 

1. It was great watching Boone go Amanda Heard on the home plate ump and get tossed. Good for him! Ever since he arrived on the MLB scene, Aaron Judge has been screwed by home plate umps who think his 6'7" frame means a strike zone the size of an area code. 

This could be Judge's career year (though, yeah, it's too early to talk tipsy) and it's time the Yankees made his expanded strike zone a thing.  (See above.) Today, across MLB, the TV analysts will be looking at video and - if their eyes work - realizing how badly Judge has been treated by home plate umps. This needs to become a national controversy - overruling the Jan. 6 insurrection and Roe/Wade.  From now on, whenever Judge gets squeezed, I hope Boone comes out charging, like Will Smith. I never thought I'd write these words (but hey, 11-straight wins do change you)... Good job, Boonie. 

2. When the Yankees last night seemed to rally against the Jays' unstoppable stopper, I had a feeling that we might witness Joey Gallo's "Jason Giambi game winning grand slam" moment, where he becomes a True Yankee. Obviously, I shouldn't have licked that toad. 

Turned out, Gallo drew a walk. Can't fault him. But one of these days, either he single-handedly wins us a game, or we will have to conclude that this horse simply isn't suited for Gotham. On the season, Gallo has three HRs - each a solo shot - and none that changed the course of a game. They came in:

April 26, in the fourth, making it 4-0 Yanks, in a 12-8 win over Balt.

April 27, in the seventh, making it 4-2, in a 5-2 win over Balt.

Last night, early, in the 2-1 loss to Toronto.

Look, a run is a run is run, but none of Gallo's blasts turned a game around. And this year, he has 4 measly RBIs. Four. Total. Last night, he came up with a chance to win the game... and swung through a 3-0 fastball. Then again... he did drew the walk. Can't blame him.  

But my heart sinks when he comes up in critical situations. He needs that moment. Actually, he needs a few. 

3. Friday night, Gerrit Cole pitches against Texas. He better shut them down. 

This is why they signed him, though he has not been the big game pitcher we dreamed of. The winning streak is over. We'll hand Cole the ball. Okay, Mister Life-long Yankee fan/superstar pitcher... now, what?