The Apple Remains Rotten

The breaking-out of the Yankees' slump lasted all of 5 innings. Last night, in the opener of a 4-game home series with the Toronto Blue Jays, what has stood as normal service since July 9 was restored.

The newly-acquired Frankie Montas started, and he had nothing, giving up 2 runs before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took him deep in the top of the 2nd inning, to put the Yankees in a 5-0 hole. At the rate the Yankees have been hitting lately, that meant game over.

The Yankees tried to come back in the bottom of the 3rd. Jose Trevino led off with a walk, Estevan Florial (now 0-for-16 in official major league at-bats this season) was hit with a pitch, DJ LeMahieu singled Trevino home, and Aaron Judge got Florial home on a fielder's choice. But the Yankees got no closer: Anthony Rizzo struck out, and Josh Donaldson, the previous night's hero, flew out to short right field.

That was all the Yankees would get. Blue Jays 9, Yankees 2. WP: José Berrios (9-5). No save. LP: Montas (4-10).

The series continues tonight. Another home Friday night, another game we can only watch on Apple+, if we have it. I don't. So I won't get to see another pathetic hitting performance. The apple is rotten.

*

It's been 2 months since I did a countdown. Here goes, and, keep in mind, all dates are subject to change, due to TV networks' whims, COVID protocols, or anything else:

Days until the next Arsenal match: 1, tomorrow, at 10:00 AM New York time, away to Dorset team Bournemouth.

Days until the next New York Red Bulls game: 1, tomorrow at 6:00 PM, home to FC Cincinnati.

Days until the next East Brunswick High School football game: 14, on Friday, September 2, away to Hillsborough, in Somerset County -- the defending Central Jersey Group V Champions. Swell. Anyway, just 2 weeks.

Days until the next Rutgers University football game: 15, on Saturday, September 3, away to Boston College.

Days until the Red Bulls again play a nearby rival: 15, on Saturday, September 3, home to the Philadelphia Union.

Days until the Yankees' next series against the Boston Red Sox begins: 25, on Tuesday, September 13, at Fenway Park.

Days until the next East Brunswick-Old Bridge game: 35, on Friday, September 23 against arch-rival Old Bridge. Just 5 weeks. Hopefully, our home field, under renovation through the entire 2021 season, will be ready, so we don't have to go back to the purple pit.

Days until the next North London Derby: 103, on Saturday, October 1, at 7:30 AM New York time, at the Emirates Stadium. 

Days until the New Jersey Devils play again: 55, on Thursday, September 13, away to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Days until the New Jersey Devils again play a local rival: See the previous answer.

Days until the next elections for the U.S. Congress and for the Governors of most States in the Union, including New York and Pennsylvania: 81, on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Under 3 months.

Days until the next Rutgers-Penn State football game: 92, on Saturday, November 19, at 12:00 noon, at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Under 3 months.

Days until the next World Cup opens: 94, on Monday, November 21, 2022, in Doha, Qatar. A shade over 3 months.

Days until the next game of the U.S. National Soccer Team: Same day, 2:00 PM New York time, against Wales, in the Group Stage of the World Cup, at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

Days until the next Women's World Cup opens: 325, on Friday, July 10, 2023, jointly held in the neighboring nations of Australia and New Zealand. Under 11 months.

Days until the next Summer Olympic Games: 707, on Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Under 2 years, or a little over 23 months.

Days until the next Presidential election: 809, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Under 2 1/2 years, or under 27 months.

Days until the next elections for Governor of New Jersey and Mayor of New York City: 1,173, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Under 3 1/2 years.

Days until the next Winter Olympics open in Milan, Italy: 1,267, on Friday, February 6, 2026. Under 3 1/2 years.