Not sure it ever will.
I mean, when you talk Great Yankee Fiascos, you flash upon 2004 -still the gold standard for fan humiliation in American sports. The morning after Javier Vazquez delivered his generational meatball, I remember thinking that I could quit the Yankees, the team of my life, once and for all - so deeply ran my disillusionment. It took years to diminish - it has never ended, never will - but in 2009, with a new stadium and a seemingly committed new owner, I told myself that the universe had been reset, that the Yankees would return to greatness, that all was right - a belief that today seems laughable.
The collapse of 2004 remains the greatest choke in sports history, courtesy of our mortal enemy. And it still defines the modern Yankees, increasingly more than our 27 championships, most of which came a billion years ago. But 20 years later, up until two days ago, we actually thought we were immune to such disasters - that we'd paid our existential dues, that we could never again stuffer such cruelty from the Fates. Even if the Yankees went out in four games, a horrible sweep, it would not rival 2004 for catastrophic pain.
Well, they were not done with us. What else to say? Three ridiculous errors, a balk, a catcher's interference, a week's worth of RISPs, horrible manager decisions, pitchers who couldn't throw strikes, batters lunging at balls in the dirt, our opponents celebrating in our park... all in one night. An everything bagel of shit.
I dunno if I can do this anymore.
Next year, regardless of where Juan Soto goes, the Yankees will suck. Their core will be one year older, and, generally, three years past their sell-by dates. With the exception maybe of Luke Weaver, who deserved so much better, I don't care about seeing any of their faces again.
Yeah, Soto is great. If all that matters to him is money - a point he's driven home all year - so long! If Gerrit Cole wants to exercise his free agency option - well, Yankee fan for life - so long. Gleyber? Rizzo? Giancarlo? Anybody, if you think this fan will miss you, shoo, shoo, shoo...
The Yankees are going to suck, while they drain the great regular seasons from Aaron Judge, and bestow bloated contracts on the stars of 2020 and 2022. They are a detached, soul-less corporation run by a tightwad, country club billionaire and a GM whose job is to enable the owner's cheapness, while they piss away money like a tropical storm surge.
Next spring, when the YES barkers blather-up The Martian, or Volpe's newest approach to hitting, or whatever bullshit they've dredged from the sewers below Tampa and painted gleaming gold, why should we believe anything?
Nope. I can't get this taste out of my mouth. Pttuuii.
Posts
