Tragic...

That’s exactly what this season has turned into and it can be summed up by this past weekend’s series with Seattle. While the Yankees have readily admitted that every game is a “must win” they somehow managed to lose 2 of 3 to the worse team in the AL, one where they were nearly no-hit. I think this re-emphasizes the point that the starting pitching, despite being decimated this season, is not the problem with this team. It is the lack of offense and their innate ability not to drive in runs when they need them the most. With this weekend’s debacle the Yankees now find themselves in 4^th place in the AL East and in the Wild Card standings as Toronto has jumped ahead of them.

Tragic…how this team has not played with emotion or heart the entire season, what I would give to have the heart of the players from the ‘96-’01 teams. Instead the Red Sox have found that magic with players like Beckett, Pedroia, and Youkilis. I would kill to have Pedroia playing 2B for the Yankees instead of that nonchalant/lazy piece of crap who grins after not making a play that is out there now.

Tragic…one of the losses over the weekend was a Mussina start. I think he has 4 starts remaining if he goes on normal rest. His shot at winning 20 is running out. It actually could come down to the last game of the season against the Red Sox.

Tragic…as in tragic number. With the Red Sox win and another Yankees loss the Yankees tragic number is now 12. The Yankees have 19 games remaining and find themselves 8.5 games back in the wild card. If the Yankees go 15-4 that means the Red Sox only need to go 8-12 over their last 20. Another way to look at it the Yankees could win out finishing the season on a 19-0 run and the Red Sox could go 12-8 over their last 20 and still win the wild card.

Tragic…as in the way this club is ushering out the old ballpark in the Bronx. In the beginning of the season there were dreams of closing the Stadium with post-season champagne filled celebrations, giving it 27 World Championships. Now the greatest memory of the year for the grandest of ballparks has to be the All-Star game and the performance of Josh Hamilton in the HR Derby. Certainly a great story in its own right, but not the memory we were all hoping for in the ending of this Stadiums era.

Tragic…in less than 2 weeks the Yankees will close the Stadium with a game against the Orioles. I can see it now…the Yankees trail 3-2, bottom if the 9th, 1 out, base loaded,

A-Rod at the plate…he swings… (you can fill in the blank).