The New York Yankees are seeking their 14th straight trip to the postseason, but it looks less likely every day; and a couple of interesting stats reflect the problem, reports the NY Times:
"The Yankees started Thursday six games behind Boston in the wild-card race after 121 games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, they had never before been six games behind in that race at least 100 games into a season. By the end of the day they were six and a half games out because Boston defeated Texas, 10-0. Yet the wild card is the more realistic route to the playoffs, because the deficit in the American League East is even worse. The Yankees started the day nine games behind Tampa Bay in the division, and the deficit grew to nine and a half when the Rays beat Oakland. According to Elias, it is the first time they have been that far out this late in a season since the morning of Sept. 7, 1997, when they trailed Baltimore by nine and a half."
The Yankees' long run earning postseason berths deserves respect.
I don't like the Yankees, believe me; far from it. But we Yankee-haters are in a unique position as we head towards the playoffs, aren't we? On the one hand, we love watching the Yankees...because we love to root against them. So it's been fun to watch them struggle this season, and it's fun to see them with a huge mountain to climb to make the playoffs.
On the other hand, when the playoffs come, and there are no Yankees--who will we root against???
Well, given the Bronx Bombers have been in the postseason for 13 straight years, certainly we can get along without them for one year, at least. Right?
