Here we #@$%# go again.
The game offered all the earmarks of the Unfettered 2025 Yankee Disappointment Experience.
Early lead, followed by complete offensive shutdown. CHECK.
Bullpen collapse because a pitcher cannot throw strikes. CHECK.
Nobody capable of driving in runs. CHECK.
Yep. From our ICE checkpoints and YES communication links, we were tuned into the standard '25 Yankee meltdown:
A three run lead into the seventh, where everything would surely go POOF. Inning after inning, the Death Barge put runners on base, then left them to rot. The Captain, all by himself, seemed to strand the entire cast of Glee. In his last AB, Aaron Judge just stood there, smiling like Vladimir Putin on the tarmac, killing another rally. And one of Cashman's prized Aug. 1 pick ups - Camilo Doval, the banished former Giants closer - nearly opened the zombie gates to Hell. How many times can Boone go to Luke Weaver, the Slender Man, in yet another crisis, before the guy's arm falls off?
What's amazing - and disturbing - is how, with one shake of the Magic 8-Ball, the Yankee lineup can go from formidable to fractured. It's the vast metaphysical difference in RF between Aaron Judge (and/or Giancarlo Stanton) and Boone's newest toy, Joey Caballero, a banjo-hitting shortstop who is struggling to reach .230, and who looks terrified of his shadow in the outfield.
I understand why the Yankees last night rested Stanton: The St. Louse OF is large enough for a zip code. With Giancarlo's statue in right, opposing singles could become doubles, or worse. But if the Yankees keep stranding runners, or failing to move them (see Grisham's frustrating bunt attempt), this season will not end well.
So, a squeaker win last night. Could it break the spell? We'll see. But vultures are still circling overhead. Boone needs a winning streak, and there has to be more than simply the last-available AL wild card berth. There has to be more.
As Fats Waller said, one never knows, do one? Or as Peggy Lee said, is that all there is? Or as Felix Cavaliere said, how can I be sure? Or as Randy Newman said, this ain't the way to have fun, and Three Dog Night seconded that.
ReplyDeleteA wop bop a loo bop a wop bam boom.
Nothing from nothing leaves nothing
DeleteThe indisputable mathematical genius of Billy Preston. I think he won a Nobel Prize for that.
DeleteHe had to strongarm them first...
Delete
DeleteSo tired, tired of waiting
Tired of waiting for them
La la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la
La la
La la la la
Do di do do di do
Do di do do do
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ReplyDeleteOh gosh ….. no again !
DeleteThis blog post is jammed with broken heroes.
ReplyDeleteFrom my laboratory in the Castle east
DeleteTo the master bedroom, where the vampires feast
The ghouls all came from their humble abodes
To get a jolt from my electrodes
I might still have the original single somewhere on the GARPAX label
DeleteI never knew Minnie Riperton recorded on that label
Delete“all a friend can say, is ain’t it a shame”
ReplyDelete"Livin' on hope, scrap heap players, and change-ups."
DeleteNoticed the Redbird starting pitcher this evening. He sucked with Yankees "coaching", but looking back at his record, cash flow would probably sign him again
ReplyDelete"Unless there is less."
ReplyDeleteWhat a great lede, Duque! "The innings gathered like mourners..." This seems to me to sum up Brian Cashman's entire, 21st century. In how many big games have we seen the Yankees just waiting around to lose?
ReplyDeleteGiving up leads, in games or in runs, has become our stock-in-trade: in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2017, 2024...
And hey, gee, what's one common factor over all those years? Hmm...
Oh, and JM: yes, exactly. Boone is Cashman's human shield. As long as he has him out there, he can divert fire. And as long as Hal has Cashman out there...
ReplyDeleteThe trouble—and the firings—will come when Cashie can no longer bring in the cash.
Shame Cashie doesn’t….rappel no mo
DeleteAre we great yet?
ReplyDeleteWait... wait..any minute now...
ReplyDeleteThe Blind Squirrels found an acorn. Probably better refers two the boobs that head the organization. Just how many risp will the Yankees leave on? Theey cannot and do not pad their leads.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you think this is bad, you should hear the Mets fans calling for Mendoza’s head…and Stearns’ head…and Cohen’s head…
ReplyDelete