Tied for second, fading fast, all the Yankees might glean from this wretched season are some long overdue answers

Yesterday, Miguel Andujar went 2-4 with 2 runs and an RBI, his first of 2020, lifting his MLB beautistics to .176 with 0 (zero) HRs. Two years ago, he chased Joltin' Joe DiMaggio. Now, he chases Thairo "the Pharaoh" Estrada. Worse, until yesterday, Miggy's Yankee prospects were confined to the LF/DH dung heap, a location that mysteriously has attracted all Yankees, Railriders and the former cast of Glee. However... beginning tonight, for at least the next two weeks, Miggy's exile into the red rocks of Central Pennsylvania has ended: Two years after finishing second for AL Rookie of the Year, he'll get his true tryout at 3B.

That's because Gio Urshela is no longer "a happy fella." (The other day, though, John Sterling labeled Gio "a top Yankee," so there's that.) He's out with a bone spur, and though the YES men (and women) swear on the Bible that he'll soon return, that's a little like Trump saying the vaccines will be handed out on Halloween night. When it comes to reporting injuries, the Yanks have a worse record than Baghdad Bob. There is no guarantee Gio will return in 2020. Suddenly, for better or worse, the job of playing 3B is Andujar's. And I'm all for it. In this wretched mini-season, maybe that's the best we can hope for: An answer on Andu.

Meanwhile, Gleyber Torres drove to Baltimore yesterday to watch the Yankees pee themselves in the second game. Today, for better or worse, they will activate him to play SS and become the team's Jeter, (a de facto role that's been handled by DJ LeMahieu.) Before he tweaked a drumstick last month, Gleyber had been lost in a trainwreck of a season: .231 with one HR and six RBIs. Maddeningly, he seemed to be heating up, just before the injury. (That's the Yankee way.) Gleyber looked uncomfortable at first, raising questions of whether he can play SS and hit. Now, the job is his. In this wretched mini-season, maybe that's the best we can hope for: An answer on Gleyber. (Plus, maybe a better Homer Holler than, "And like a good Gleyber, Torres is there." That's gotta go.)

The Death Star is now tied with Toronto for second place in the AL East, though the teams seem headed in different directions. Last night, our once-vaunted bullpen blew yet another lead. It's laughable, recalling the YES spring propaganda that touted the team's trove of young arms - a vast stable of hard-throwing kids, the envy of MLB, a sleeping giant of fireballing prospects, each on the verge of a promising career! Remember?

What a joke.

Last night, Aaron Boone put a cherry on it. He brought in Clarke Schmidt, a starter throughout his minor league career, to launch his MLB career with two runners on and a game in the balance: His first major league appearance, in a high-pressure role, trying to cork-up a rapidly leaking team. Here you go, rook. Hey, you ever relieved before? Watch the runners. Hope you're warmed up. 

At times, this miserable little season cannot end soon enough. 

Tonight, Gerrit Cole pitches. Thus far, there is no other way to say it: He has been a disappointment. Maybe it's not his fault. Maybe it's just the cloud that hangs over this team. Everything - everything we do goes sideways. Maybe all we can hope for from 2020 are answers, even if they're not the ones we want.