Boston has lost three straight and they face Toronto's last stand. It's time for the Yankees to try something crazy

 

Well, well, look who suddenly can't hit...

Boston just did a perfect stand-up impersonation of the Yankees, losing 2-1 - its third straight - in a game to Toronto. And get this: Toronto's starter Jameson Taillon - remember him? - tweaked an elbow, and a Triple A replacement came in and shut Boston down. 

Yep, a perfectly executed Yankee-style loss.

Could it be a market correction the Greatest Team Evah? We now lead them by two in the loss column, and let's table discussion on Tampa, which has practically clinched the hibernating AL East. 

The Yankees face a grim three weeks, culminating in a four-game home series against Boston, which then leads into a September of canned tomato. Here's what the rest of August looks like: 

Three against Seattle. (Home.)
Three against Toronto (Away.)
Three against Baltimore (Away.)
Three against Toronto (Home.)
Three against Houston (Home.)
Four against Boston (Home.)

If we're still cogent in Septemer, it's the Angels, Padres, Rockies, Mets, Diamonbacks, Rays and O's. I hate playing the Mets, who'll be in a frenzy to erase the '26 season. By then, several teams will be playing Triple A lineups, which - as Yank fans know - often kill us. 

The Yankees won't have a wave of young arms, having traded away four for Cashman's looming six-man DH rotation: Judge, Giancarlo, Garcia, Heliot, Goldie and Ben Rice. Which leads me to the blaspheme of the day.

Could Rice catch a couple games, just to see if he's viable? If he could catch a game or two in the postseason, the Yankees would go from the worst-hitting catcher in baseball... to the best.  

I know, I know... Rice is too valuable to ruin his knees from the wear and tear of catching. But we're not talking about a 162-game run. When the playoffs arrive, Judge will have to play RF, Garcia might need to play 2B, and we'll need an upgrade at catcher, if Rice is feasible. 

Isn't it worth a try? The Yankees are running out of moves. Close your eyes. What if this was real...

Rice C
Judge RF
Stanton DH
Bellinger LF
Garcia 2B
Goldschmidt 1B
Grisham CF
McMahon 3B
Lombard SS