Coney: "This is one you just wanna flush."

Last night, after the final nail was driven, David Cone - who has become such a Yankee icon that his wife could be named "Cora" - astutely addressed the team's existential condition. 

He compared the 2-0 loss to hateful Toronto - the Yanks' 9th loss in 13 games - to debris swirling in the well of a porcelain bowl. 

Shakespeare couldn't have topped it, though William S. Burroughs might have taken a swing.

For the third time in two weeks, Yank bats turned as limp as Wally Cox - scoreless for nine, four of which were pitched by a Rule 5 roster-holder. In the cold month of May, the Yankees graciously allowed their grapefruit league cousins - miserable, always angry Tampa - to take over the AL East and - worse - opened the door for Boston and Toronto to save what once loomed as lost seasons. It's another Wild Card year, and the Yankees are now equidistant - six in the loss column - to Tampa above - and Toronto/Boston below. 

This weekend, the Rays could set off a seven-alarm fire: 

1. Tonight, with Gerrit Cole returning, we have no way of knowing what's in the box of chocolates. But it's hard to imagine Cole throwing more than 80 pitches, which leaves us in that familiar 6th inning bullpen quagmire. We better score nine. 

2. As Aaron Judge keeps flailing, we keep telling ourselves, it's just a short-term slump; he'll pull out of it. And he will. Honestly. It's just a short-term slump. No need to keep chanting that it's just a short-term slump. Everybody knows it. He'll pull out. Short-term slump. Nothing more to say. Really. Short-term slump. Go away! 

3. Like the Yankees, Tampa last winter stood pat and chased no new free agents. So, why are they six games up? Well, unlike the Yankees, the Rays didn't trade away a wave of prospects last August for Jake Bird, Camilo Doval, Ryan McMahon, David Bednar, et al. 

4. Of course, Yank fans can tell themselves that - come July 31 - the front office will solve our problems by trading that next wave of youth for - um - somebody to replace Doval? 

5. Once again, the brain trust must decide on the fate of Anthony Volpe. In his recent return, he hasn't looked bad. So, back to Scranton? Stick as a utility infielder? Either way, let's hope Jose Caballero doesn't suffer a back-from-injury slump. 

6. It's scary to imagine where the Yankees would be without Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler. With the emerging flat-line failures of McMahon, Austin Wells, Jazz Chisholm and Trent Grisham, without Schlit and Rice, we'd be looking up at Boston. That's a dangerous place to be. It's a long season.

7. For the first two months of 2026, the YES team has generally celebrated Yankee management - aka their bosses - for their prudent winter strategy. This weekend, if things continue to go sideways, I wonder: Will our sporting version of Fox News start asking tougher questions? And if so, will they hone-in on Cooperstown Cashman rather than Boonie? 

The Yankees really need this series. If it turns out to be another flusher, better bring the plunger.