Searching for meaning in a meaningless universe

Yesterday was a beautiful day for a ballgame, so the Yankees played two. In doing so, they showcased the vast chasm between heaven and hell, in terms of what this team might accomplish in 2024.

Against Philly, they managed one measly hit, an 8th inning slap single by Greg Allen - a moment of relief undercut by the sudden revelation that we have Greg Allen. (Don't mean to pick on Allen, but he's 30 and hit .217 last year; for him to impact 2024, a slew of Yanks must go down.) 

Oswald Peraza made two errors and went 0-3 with two Ks and a grounder to SS that coulda been a DP, if anyone had been on base. Wow. A disaster. Obviously, it's too early to dismiss Peraza, who hopefully just shook off a winter of rust. But he might turn out to be another Yank prospect we shoulda traded when we had the chance. He better not have another game like yesterday, unless he's got a girlfriend in Scranton he wants to see.

Marcus Stroman started, retired the side in the 1st (two flies and a liner), then couldn't survive the 2nd, even after striking out Kyle Schwarber. Three singles and a walk. Yikes. Peraza's botched DP play made it 3-0 Philly, and that was that.

In the second game, played before a fawning YES spin machine, the Death Barge piled up 12 runs with two drunken happy narratives: Carlos Rodon and Juan Soto. 

In the 1st, Rodon mowed down the Jays, a popup and two Ks. In the 2nd, he loaded the bases before retiring the side. In the 3rd, he gave up a HR and was retrieved. YES spent the next seven innings celebrating his return, comparing him to the Bad Rodon of 2023. It's a story line we better get used to hearing. Let's hope it's true.

As for Soto, he belted a HR to left-center - the former Death Valley - and gave Yank fans their first taste of his celebratory bat flip. In this case, it conjured unfortunate memories of Josh Donaldson. As an Old Schooler, I prefer players who don't preen, but - hey - it's a new world. If Soto hits well, nobody will criticize - including me. Celebrating in the dugout, Soto was clearly delighted, and his smile is a beacon. He also walked and grounded out. 

The rest of the game featured pitchers I have never heard of, which is scary because I actually follow the minors. Oh, well, it's just a dream, I right? If a tree falls in a forest, and John and Suzyn don't call it, does anybody hear?