Nine up with 10 games to go. Now, it's all about the stats and October.

All you need to know: After you went to bed, the Yankees and Redsox did not tiptoe out in their pajamas to finish the game, and Aaron Judge did not hit The Home Run. 

The media gaggle, the marked balls, the Maris family, The Master & Suzyn - everything now moves to Toronto, where some lucky BJ pitcher can inscribe his name into history - quite lucratively, if he enjoys airport Ramada card shows. Also, some Canadian will catch the million dollar ball.  

Tonight, the Yankees can clinch a first-round bye. But Toronto can send a message: A three-game sweep would a) keep our champagne on ice, b) set them on a path to face us in the second round, and 3) jangle our continually frazzled nerves. Also, if they can handle Judge, they can handle the Yankees. 

Our boy remains in the lead for the Triple Crown, though - like the HR chase - everything will boil down to his final at-bat of the season, against Baltimore.

What if, in that fateful plate appearance, Judge leads slightly in the batting crown but remains tied with Roger at 61 HRs? Would Judge come to bat, knowing that a pop-up would cost him the Triple Crown, but it also would scuttle his last chance to beat Maris? (Spoiler: Of course he would! He's Aaron Fucking Judge, you ninny!)

The problems with a first-round playoffs bye: a) Your team sits around for a week, drinking Mad Dog 20-20 and watching porn, and b) Then you face the hotter of the two wild card candidates, which has already tasted the blood of its first-round opponent. But in this case, a week off should do Judge some good. Between now and mid-October, he'll need a break. 

Other matters:

1. The Death Barge is said to be pondering whether to DFA Aroldis Chapman before the season ends. Is that wise? Not sure I see the advantage in publicly pissing on one of your players. Yeah, El Chapo has been awful since June, but why offend him?

What if Tampa picks him up? Considering their hatred of the Yankees, they would do such a thing. Do we want Chapman deliriously throwing at our heads in the postseason? 

Look, there's no way he returns next year, unless he pitches for free. I can't imagine him making the playoffs roster, and that tattoo infection was an embarrassment, but still... ditching him? Is Cashman that mad at him?

2. Miggy is a Pirate. Let's wish him well. I hereby predict he will be the comeback player of 2023. 

I should add that I predicted the same for Greg Bird, Clint Frazier and Gary Sanchez. 

3. Once we clinch, I'm all for giving El Chapo, Zack Britton, Andrew Benintendi, Matt Carpenter and DJ LeMahieu multiple chances to show they belong on the playoff roster. But once the season ends, I'm sorry. Taking batting practice or throwing in the bullpen is not the equivalent of game action - especially postseason competition.

4. I watched the KayRod alternative broadcast last night, and I can never erase from my mind the PTSD-launching video images of Roger Clemens performing as DJ for weddings and special occasions.