Yanks finally win a game in the "WHY DIDN'T YOU SIGN BRYCE HARPER!" series.

Well, it's over. The Phillies series. It's always fun, in a hurtful way. Every other year, we get to see what might've been. 

In our hearts, we can break into our most unifying cheer, hoping that, somehow, Food Stamps Hal Steinbrenner will hear...   

"WHY DIDN'T YOU SIGN BRYCE HARPER!"

It echoes across the Bronx. 

It relieves the bowels of our souls. 

It defines the Yankees in this millennium. 

"WHY DIDN'T YOU SIGN BRYCE HARPER!"

Since 2019, the year Harper came to us, seeking to fulfil his childhood dreams, it's the difference between zero Yankee world championships and - say - maybe three? Because if you add Harper's Hall of Fame lefty bat to the Yankee lineup - in front of or behind Aaron Judge - well, that's a championship team. That's the Dodgers. 

Add Harper to the Yankees and, over the last six years, the Canyon of Heroes looks like a much more traveled path. There is no Joey Gallo fiasco, no waiting on Luke Voit, no Rougned Odor, no endless stream of intentional passes to Aaron Judge. Imagine Harper as a Yankee in 2021 - adding 35 HRs and a .309 batting average to Judge's 39 and .285, a lefty-righty combo that would make Juan Soto the afterthought he deserves to be. Add one of the great clutch hitters of this era... well... close your eyes. Altogether, now:

'WHY DIDN'T YOU SIGN BRYCE HARPER?"

That winter, remember how Harper came to NYC, pleading for an offer? He grew up wanting to be a Yankee. It was huge in the Sports Illustrated cover article about him. He wanted to play in Yankee Stadium. He wanted to wear pinstripes. So what did Food Stamps do? He hid under his bed, didn't answer the phone, never offered a deal - terrified that if he did, Harper would accept. Then he did the same with Manny Machado, whose wife had grown un in NYC and wanted to return. Nope. Not interested.

Okay, let's note that Hal had just signed Gerrit Cole - another guy who grew up wanting to be a Yankee. But then, Hal just stopped. He had the money. He just chose not to spend it. So he kept the Yankees one star hitter away from greatness, which is where they have been ever since. 

One player away. That's the Yankees. The funny part is that Hal thought he was being frugal. Actually, he was being stupid. Harper will be paid $27 million this year. He's worth every penny. 

The Dodgers have no problem adding extra stars to powerhouse lineups. Think of Freddie Freeman and Shohei Otani. They refuse to accept being one key player away. 

The Yankees? Well, Hal is content to contend. Year after year, the Yankees are in the race - (in an expanded playoff system that rewards middle of the road mediocrity) - and year after year, they fall short. Spoiler alert: They will again this year. 

So, my friends, raise your eyes from this screen, fill your lungs with indignation, lift your voices and cut loose to the universe...

"WHY DIDN'T YOU SIGN BRYCE HARPER!"