Keep a lid on those good vibes, bub!

 

Sure, winning the first game of a playoff series is supposed to give a team an incredible advantage. I'm sure the numbers are a gazillion percent to nacho, or some such. And to win it in the way the Yankees did, with most of their stars making egregious flubs or flops...well, that's gotta keep those good vibrations coming, huh?

Fuhgeddaboutit.

Of the 16, multi-game playoff series your New York Yankees have lost since 1997, in a majority of them—nine, to be exact—they won that all-important first game. To give you the hideous review:

1997—After a stirring comeback from a 5-0 deficit against the Indians in the ALDS—a game that featured belly-to-belly-to-belly home runs from Tim Raines, Jeets, and O'Neill, for an 8-6 win—the Yanks broke out to a 3-0 lead in Game Two, at the Stadium. But then Chad Curtis botched an easy flyball in left, David Justice got a key hit with the entire crowd of 57,000 chanting "Hal-lie Ber-ry" at him, and Raines and Wade Boggs left the bases loaded against José Mesa. Further horrors—Sandy Alomar, Jr.'s oppo home run off The Great One, etc.—would ensue. Cleveland in five.

2002—Again, a stirring, come-from-behind win in Game 1 of the ALDS, clinched by Bernie Williams' three-run jack in the 8th. But the next night, Joe Torre inexplicably left El Duque in too long, after he'd pitched 4 innings of gutty relief, and the Angels turned the tables. In Game 3, Mike Mussina could not bring home a 6-1 lead. Anaheim in four.

2004—The terror that darest not speak its name. Boston in seven.

2005—After a 4-2 win out in LA to start the ALDS, Yanks blow a 2-0 lead to the Haloes, thanks to a key A-Rod error, and lost, 5-3. Alex hits .133 with no homers or ribbies on the series, The Big Unit comes up small, and Bubba Crosby collides with Sheffield in the finale. Anaheim in five.

2006—After a dominant batting display in Game 1 of the ALDS, Mike Mussina lets a 3-1 lead at home against the Tigers slip away, Randy Johnson gets pounded, and A-Rod bats .071. Hmm, am I sensing a pattern here? Bengals in four.

2010—Yet another stunning, Game 1 comeback in the ALCS, as Yanks score 5 in the 8th to edge Texas, 6-5. Even A-Rod gets a big hit! But Texas takes apart Phil Hughes, Andy Pettitte, and A.J. Burnett in quick succession. Texas in six.

2011—Rain takes out CC and Justin Verlander in Game 1 of the ALDS, but Ivan Nova comes in to pitch 6 1/3 of dazzling relief, and Yanks win opener, 9-3. But in the finale at the Stadium, Jeter's ball (with Jorge on first) falls just short of the wall in the 8th. A-Rod strikes out swinging for the final out, capping a .111 series. Detroit in five.

2017—Yanks open ALCS in Houston with masterful, 7-0 win behind Tanaka. But after homering in the opener, Stanton begs out of all but one remaining game in the series. Judge begins his long playoff decline, Sanchez strikes out with two on in the 11th, and Yanks lose Game 2 on a walk-off. They also lose the deciding Game 6 on a walk-off, as all sorts of mysterious sounds travel through the Texas night air. Cheatstros in six.

2020—In the Covid playoffs, Yanks smack around the Rays before 30,000 cardboard cutouts in San Diego, winning Game 1 of the ALDS, 9-3. But the bats then go south once again, and The Wet One gives up yet another walk-off homer at the end. Tampa Bay in five.

Woof. 

So you see, we have nothing to look forward to. And don't get excited even if we do, somehow, win Game 2 tonight. 

Some of the most gut-wrenching defeats in Yankees postseason history have come after the Bombers got up 2-0. To wit: 1921 World Series (lost to the New York Giants, 5-3); 1955 World Series (lost to those Bums in Brooklyn, 4-3); 1981 World Series (lost to those same Bums after they moved to Los Angeles, 4-2); 1995 ALDS (lost to the Mariners, thereby saving them for those poor fools in Seattle); and the 2004 ALCS (of which we shall not speak more).

Ugh. So whatever happens tonight, don't get excited. Remember: juju never sleeps.