The Yankees look dead in the water, and they are straining lifetime loyalties

 At times lately, I stop punching the Aaron Boone kewpie pillow to remind myself that, despite all their problems, the Yankees still have...

1. The third best record in the AL.

2. Baseball's best slugging twosome.

3. Gerrit Cole.

4. Nice uniforms.

5. Suzyn Waldman.

6. 27 world championships, (15 before I was born.)

7. YES, the Newsmax of sports.

8. A home stadium steakhouse.

9. Daily bus service to Scranton.

10. Fans who see a hopeless situation but watch anyway.

I'm No. 10. Last night, after we left the bases loaded in the 8th, I killed the tube. They'd lost another to Tampa, a certified tomato can. I'd draw the line, maintain my dignity. I'd watch no more.

A few minutes later, I caved. I clicked it on, expecting Boone's postgame hostage video. Instead, there we were: Two outs, down by one, runners on first and third, Gleyber at bat. (He'd been having "good swings" lately, according to Newsmax YES.) 

First pitch, ball outside. Good eye. 

Second pitch, another ball outside. GOOD EYE!

Next pitch, another ball, low and away. A problem, though: Gleyber lunges for it. Fuck me. Instead of 3-0, it's 2-1. Heart sinking.

Next pitch: Outside. Ball four, if Gleyber hadn't chased. 

Next pitch: Inside corner. Three and two count. 

Next pitch: Down the middle. Gleyber swings.

Pop fly.

Of course, a pop fly. That's what Gleyber does. That's what the Yankees do. Pop flies. This one almost falls in. Almost. That's what Yankee pop flies do. The Tampa second baseman snags it - he's young and fast. Remember young and fast?  What a concept. 

Game over. Don't touch that dial. Jack Curry will be right back with the postga-CLICK. 

It's over. No Boonie shapeshift. Time for bed.

This season, that is. It needs to be put to bed. 

Like Joe Biden, the Yankees need to hear harsh realities from their advisers. This is not a team that can simply trade its way back into relevance. This is a looming disaster, one of worst Yankee seasons in recent history. They had the best record in a baseball, and now they have shat the bed against everybody in the AL East. 

Last winter, they drained their farm system to get here - which is nowhere. They are now seeing what happens when Aaron Judge slumps - (he can't hit .370 forever) - and the bullpen is showing itself to be exactly what it is, a mishmash of rag arms salvaged off the scrap heap.

This team just gives me a headache. Where is that Scranton bus station, anyway?