The Albatross Strikes Again

 When Giancarlo Stanton came up with the bases loaded, and the Yankees holding a three run lead, I said the following to myself:

" If he hits into a double play we are going to lose this game."

The Yankees , behind the great pitching of Stroman, had dominated the game to that point.  But you could tell, from the Seattle at bats, that they could easily score some runs.  The Yankees needed to build on the lead.  They needed to knock the confidence out of Seattle. 

Stanton, the Yankee Albatross, has already killed one potential rally by hitting into a DP.  We could not afford to come up empty again.  I prayed for a strikeout ( one out is better than two ).  

When Stanton isn't hitting solo homers in 8-1 routes, he usually strikes out.  "One more time, I pleaded." At least if he only made one out, some real Yankee might come through.  We needed runs. 

But the Albatross is the " weight" ( some say the "curse") that prevents teams from accomplishing what they want to do.  Stanton cost us the game.  

Sure, Boone can be accused of mis-managing ( leave Weaver in the game?), and our closer crapped the bed.  

But Stanton lost the game.  Rally killers are game killers. 

I am beginning to think the trade that brought us Stanton is worse....all things considered....than the trade that cost us Jay Buhner. 

We may go into a slide as a result of this mind F*** of a loss by Stanton.