Yes, it's that bad.

 

Opening Day, Yankee Stadium, 1923. Col. Jacob Ruppert, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, Col. Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston, Harry Frazee, Edward J. Flynn, "Boss of the Bronx."

 

We interrupt this holiday cheer fest for a different look at years gone by and the years ahead—all of Brian Cashman’s scuttlings around the Plan B market notwithstanding.

 

How bad is it that your New York Yankees let Juan Soto skip to the Mets? 

 

It’s…

 

—As if instead of saying, “That’s too far from Broadway” when offered the ownership of the Cubs in 1915, colonels Ruppert and Huston had replied, “Chicago? That toddlin’ town? Hey, they have the best record ever over the last ten years, and a new ballpark to boot!”

 

—As if instead of saying, “I need some financing for my next Broadway show,” Harry Frazee had told Babe Ruth, “You’re not goin’ anywhere, big guy. This baseball thing is going to take off—and your salary is doubled to $20,000! You stick around, too, Ed Barrow.”

 

—As if Joe Devine and Bill Essick had told Barrow in 1934, “Forget that DiMaggio kid! He’s got a bum knee!” Or if, in 1946, Clark Griffith had called back Larry MacPhail to say, “Joe D. for Mickey Vernon? You got a deal!”

 

—As if when Yogi Berra asked the Yankees for a $500 signing bonus to match that of his friend, Joe Garagiola, the Yanks had told him, “Forget it, kid, we don’t toss around money like that.”

 

—As if when Mickey and Mutt Mantle went up to St. Louis for a tryout with the Browns, some kindly old front-office soul had told him, “Ah, who cares if it’s raining? You come all this way from Commerce, let’s see what you can do!”

 

—As if George Steinbrenner had told Billy Martin near the end of 1976, “Billy, I was thinking we should go for Reggie Jackson. But if it’ll make you happy, we’ll offer Joe Rudi and Bobby Grich so much money they can’t not come to New York!”

 

—As if Pete Bavasi had called back George in the spring of 1977 and told him, “I may be crazy, George, but the Blue Jays are a young team. Sure, you can have a proven star like Bill Singer for that Guidry kid.”

 

—As if Gene Michael has decided, “Sure, Paul O’Neill’s got a lot of fire. But Roberto Kelly’s a five-tool star.”

 

—As if George had told Stick in the spring of 1996, “Look, Clyde King is right! Derek Jeter just isn’t ready! He’s goes back to Triple-A for now, and we’re sending—what’s his name?—Mariano Rivera to Seattle for Felix Fermin.”

 

—As if Aaron Judge had said after the 2022 season, “I love New York, and all that the fans have meant to me. But I’m taking my game back home to San Francisco.”

Once upon a time, we not only ripped other teams apart—so much so that they plunged into baseball hell for decades—but we even dragged their owners along to the opening of our grand new ballparks, like so many human trophies in a Roman tribute. 

Now...not so much. Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you. Or waving at you.

Just keeping up the spirit of the holiday!