A dark night in Tampa foreshadows a dark October in the Bronx

It was a great Yankee season, 2019, the greatest of any MLB team.

The Bombers won 102 times - still counting - with an adorable mix of spare parts and ascending stars, and didn't even blink at the trade deadline, as they usually do. They saved their seed corn for winter trades or - who knows? - maybe even a crop of future Yankees. Yep, a great season, 2019.

But there is a difference between a great season and a great year. 

And last night brought a Schindler's list of reasons why the Yankees are in trouble. We've seen what happens to Death Stars: They fly around, merrily blowing up planets, looking unbeatable, and then - kaboom - it's fireworks night with Jason Pierre-Paul. 

One measly hit - a little league single slapped to right. Sixteen strikeouts, most of them involving home run swings that began in Sarasota. A golden sombrero for Giancarlo Stanton, reminding us of just how terrible he is capable of being. Another bed-wetting for Jonathan Loaisiga. The end of our quest for home field advantage. All in one game. Let me count the ways that last night ended our great season.

A. By dominating us as he did, Charlie Morton surely sets himself up as Tampa's wild card game pitcher. Thus, if the Rays reach the Divisional round, Morton will only be able to face Houston - his old team - once. So much for our hope that someone would beat the Astros for us.  

B. In case you missed it, I'd like to recap Loiasiga's first six pitches: 
1) A ball, way outside. 2) A ball, in the dirt. 3) A fastball down the middle, hit 430 feet by a second basemen with only two HRs this year. 4) A ball, way high. 5) A ball, which the umpire called a sympathy strike. 6) A fastball, lashed to right for a double. At that point, I left. For two years now, the Yankees have touted Loaisiga in ridiculous ways, even hinting he could be the next closer. His ERA is 4.70. He is why Corey Gearin, the toe-tapper, could make the post-season roster. 

3. Sixteen strikeouts. Wow. In the ninth, three whiffs, with batters lunging for home runs despite being down by four. All year, the Yankees have battled back in the ninth. You don't win 102 times by quitting after eight. But last night, three home ball attempts - nothing to show. In the middle was Mr. Stanton, reaffirming every negative moment within his brief Yankee legacy. 

Lately, the YES team has pushed a line of stats that supposedly show homer-hitting teams doing well in the playoffs, debunking the morbid fears of their fans. Well, last night we saw what happens when a homer-drunk team faces a stopper. Houston has three Charlie Mortons.

4. Then there is Minnesota. For nearly 25 years, the Yankees have owned the Twins. It's almost a mini Curse of the Bambino. Trouble is, we know what happens with curses: At a certain point, the fireworks explode in your hand, blowing off a few fingers, and you never sack another quarterback. 

One of these days, the Death Star will fold against Minnesota. Nothing lasts forever. The Twins are young and hungry, and suddenly - larded with Giancarlo and Edwin and J.A. - we don't look like rising underachievers any more.

I suppose this could still be just a glitch. Speaking hopefully now: Maybe the Yankees just needed to be embarrassed, kicked in the butt before the season ends. If so, they sure bent over to take it. The last series means nothing. We cannot lose the home advantage to Minnesota. Still, I wonder if we just glimpsed the end? There's a huge difference between a great season and a great year. 

It was a great season, 2019.