(UPDATE: Since the revelation of the Astro cheating scandal, my rage has increased, but it has shifted somewhat: From 90 percent blaming the Yankees for their defeat, and 10 percent being angry at the Astros for doing it, to about 70-30 on the Astros.)
The Yankees did win Game 5, and didn't let another team clinch on their own field.
Honestly, if this wasn't going to be the year, I'm glad they lost this Game 6, so it's not to drag it out. Get it over with. I just wish they'd put up a better fight than this.
All seemed lost going into the 9th inning. But a single by Gio Urshela and a home run by DJ LeMahieu tied the game. There was hope.
But the Yankees didn't get another run in the top of the 9th. In the bottom of the 9th, Aroldis Chapman got the 1st 2 outs, and looked great doing it.
And then, Cliché Alert: Walks can kill you. Chapman walked George Srpinger. And then he threw a meatball to José Altuve, who then wrote his name into baseball history, alongside those of Bobby Thomson, Chris Chambliss, Rick Monday, Jack Clark, Aaron Boone (in the other dugout for this one), Magglio Ordóñez and Travis Ishikawa.
The Yankees won 103 games, won the American League Eastern Division, and won the AL Division Series, and won Game 1 of the AL Championship Series. It was all looking very good.
And yet, this season ended in a spectacular failure.
Most Major League Baseball teams would have considered what the Yankees did this season to be a spectacular success. Most MLB teams are not the New York Yankees. This season is a failure.
We have now gone an entire decade, 2010 to 2019, without winning a Pennant. That had not happened in 100 years (1910-1919).
*
As I wrote a few days ago:
Every year, it's the same. The Yankees make their transactions, and the season starts with great optimism, and then they get off to a poor start, and the fans panic. And then the players right the ship, and then they make the Playoffs, and the optimism starts all over again.
Then, I say, "This is it. This is Brian Cashman's legacy on the line. If the Yankees don't win at least the Pennant, he deserves to be fired. Enough is enough. Either we win the Pennant, or he has to go."
And what happens? The Yankees don't win the Pennant, and Cashman keeps his job anyway. Everyone says, "He's the best general manager in baseball. Give him a little more time. This will be the year."
Except this really was supposed to be the year. Big contracts came off the books, thus freeing up space under the luxury-tax threshold, allowing Cashman to finally spend some money, and make the acquisitions he needed to make. And, finally, all those seemingly dumb trades that Cashman made in 2016, 2017 and 2018 were supposed to finally pay off. The Baby Bombers were supposed to be ready in 2019, ready to take the team all the way.
And yet, when it was obvious to everyone that we needed to acquire another good starting pitcher at the trading deadline, Cashman didn't.
This was supposed to be the year. These next 4 to 7 games, the 2019 World Series that we are not in, should have been his legacy. To paraphrase Game of Thrones, this was the season that was promised.
The promise was broken. Not by the players. And I'm not blaming the opposition. (UPDATE: Again, written before the cheating scandal was exposed.) Or the umpires. No, this is all on Cashman.
As #YankeesTwitter correspondents @StaceGots correctly said:
So. Another year with the Yankees not living up to expectations. Another year with the Mets having a more recent Pennant. (2015 to 2009.) Another year with the Red Sox having a more recent World Championship. (2018 and 2013 to 2009.) Another year with both of those bastard fanbases taking the piss with us.
Cashman is from Washingtonville, Orange County, New York, in the Catskill Mountains. Although he began working for the Yankees in 1986, as a high school intern, he has admitted that, growing up, he was a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He does not appreciate how humiliating and disgusting it is to Yankee Fans to have the Mets with a more recent Pennant, and the Red Sox having won 2 World Series since our last. He just doesn't get what it means to be a Yankee Fan.
Cashman needs to be fired. Right now. Let him pay his own way back to New York. And let it be like Steve Martin's way back to Chicago in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. And let it be with Joe Pesci instead of John Candy.
#CashmanOut. Now. Bring in a GM whose 1st priority is winning the World Series. Not making money. Winning the World Series.
If Cashman had that priority, he would have traded some of his goddamned prospects for an ace pitcher. He refused.
I want Cashman fired. For 10 years of failure. He's never gotten it done without George Steinbrenner's money, and he's never gotten it done without Gene Michael's players. 1996? He wasn't the GM yet. 1998? 1999? 2000? 2009? Even the Pennants but lost World Series of 2001 and 2003? That was George's money and Stick's players.
Cashman's team has won no Pennants. And that is unacceptable. He has to go.
*
Days until the New York Red Bulls play again: 0, this afternoon at 3:00 PM, against the Philadelphia Union, at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania, in the MLS Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
Days until the Red Bulls next play a "derby": See the previous answer. Their other regional rivals also qualified for the Playoffs: New York City FC, D.C. United and the New England Revolution. They could play the Revs in the Conference Semifinals, and NYCFC in the Conference Finals. However, DCU were eliminated by Toronto FC last night.
Days until Arsenal play again: 1, tomorrow afternoon at 3:00, away to newly-promoted Yorkshire team Sheffield United.
Days until the New Jersey Devils next play a local rival: 5, this Friday night at 7:00, against the Philadelphia Flyers, a.k.a. The Philth, at the Prudential Center. The next game against the New York Rangers, a.k.a. The Scum, will be on Saturday afternoon, November 30 at 1:00, at the Prudential Center. The next game against the New York Islanders will be on Thursday, January 2, 2020, at the Barclays Center. After losing their 1st 6 games of the season, the Devils have now won 2 straight, against The Scum and the Vancouver Canucks.
Days until East Brunswick High School plays football again: 5, Friday night at 7:00, home to Somerset County school Hillsborough, a team we've played only once before, in our 2004 State Championship season. This past Friday night, we won a thriller away to New Brunswick, to get up to 3-3.
Days until Rutgers University plays football again: 6, this Saturday, at noon, home to Liberty University of Lynchburg, Virginia. Yesterday, in front of 26,000 -- the new Rutgers Stadium, whatever the hell it's named this year, was literally only half-full for Homecoming -- the Scarlet Knights lost to the University of Minnesota 42-7. True, it's the best Minnesota team in 52 years, but that number doesn't help. Next, they play an FCS (formerly Division I-AA) team, the "Christian" school founded by Jerry Falwell, and now run by Jerry Falwell Jr. What's their mascot? The Bigots? The Herods? The Pharisees? The Pool Boys? The Fighting Hypocrites?
Days until the U.S. national soccer team plays again: 18, on Thursday night at 7:30, against Sweden, an international friendly, at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, home of MLS' Columbus Crew. As part of the CONCACAF Nations League, they slaughtered Cuba 7-0 at Audi Field in Washington, and then clowned their way to a 2-0 loss to Canada at BMO Field in Toronto. They hadn't lost to Canada since 1985.
Days until the next Rutgers-Penn State football game: 41, on Saturday, November 30, at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. Under 6 weeks.
Days until my 50th Birthday, at which point I can join AARP and get discounts for travel and game tickets: 59, on December 18, 2019. Under 2 months.
Days until the premiere of the final Star Wars film, Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker: 61, on December 20, 2019.
Days until the Baseball Hall of Fame vote is announced, electing Derek Jeter: 93, on January 21, 2020. Just over 3 months.
Days until the 1st Presidential voting of 2020, the Iowa Caucuses: 106, on Monday, February 3. A little over 15 weeks. The New Hampshire Primary will be 8 days later.
Days until the Yankees' 2020 Opening Day: 158, on Thursday, March 25, away to the Baltimore Orioles. A little over 5 months. And it's going to be a very long, hard, cold 5 months.
Days until the Yankees' 2020 home opener: 165, on Thursday, April 2, against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Days until the next North London Derby: 188, on Saturday, April 25, Arsenal's 1st visit to the new Tottenham Stadium, adjacent to the site of the previous White Hart Lane. A little over 6 months. It is currently scheduled to be on the 16th Anniversary of the 2nd time that Arsenal won the League at White Hart Lane -- but also the last time Arsenal won the League anywhere. Of course, for TV reasons, the game could be moved to another date, probably the next day.
Days until the next Yankees-Red Sox series begins: 201, on May 8, 2020, at Yankee Stadium II. Under 7 months.
Days until Euro 2020 begins, a tournament being held all over Europe instead of in a single host nation: 236, on Friday, June 12, 2020. Under 8 months.
Days until the next Summer Olympics begins in Tokyo, Japan: 278, on July 24, 2020. A little over 9 months.
Days until the next East Brunswick-Old Bridge football game: Presumably, given the 2019 schedule, 327, on Friday night, September 11, 2020, away at the purple shit pit on Route 9. Under 11 months.
Days until the next Presidential election, when we can dump the Trump-Pence regime and elect a real Administration: 380, on November 3, 2020. A little over a year, or under 13 months.
Days until a fully-Democratic-controlled Congress can convene, and the Republicans can do nothing about it: 441, on January 3, 2021. Under a year and a half, or under 15 months.
Days until Liberation Day: 458, at noon on January 20, 2021. Under a year and a half, or exactly 15 months. Note that this is liberation from the Republican Party, not just from Donald Trump. Having Mike Pence as President wouldn't be better, just differently bad, mixing theocracy with plutocracy, rather than mixing kleptocracy with plutocracy.
Days until the next Winter Olympics begins in Beijing, China: 838, on February 4, 2022. Under 2 1/2 years, or under 28 months.
Days until the next World Cup is scheduled to kick off: 1,128, on November 21, 2022, in Qatar. A little over 3 years, or just over 37 months. The charges of corruption against Qatar may yet mean that they will lose the tournament, in which case it will be moved to a nation where it would not be too hot to play it in June and July.
Days until the next Women's World Cup is scheduled to kick off: As yet unknown, but probably on the 2nd Friday in June 2023, which would be June 9. That would be 1,328 days, a little under 4 years, or under 44 months. A host nation is expected to be chosen on March 20, 2020. Since 2 of the last 3 host nations have been in Europe, North America (Canada) hosted in 2015, and Asia (China) hosted in 2007, my guess is that it will be in either Asia (Japan, possibly Korea, but not China) or Oceania (Australia, possibly a joint bid with New Zealand).
#CashmanOut. Now. Bring in a GM whose 1st priority is winning the World Series. Not making money. Winning the World Series.
If Cashman had that priority, he would have traded some of his goddamned prospects for an ace pitcher. He refused.
I want Cashman fired. For 10 years of failure. He's never gotten it done without George Steinbrenner's money, and he's never gotten it done without Gene Michael's players. 1996? He wasn't the GM yet. 1998? 1999? 2000? 2009? Even the Pennants but lost World Series of 2001 and 2003? That was George's money and Stick's players.
Cashman's team has won no Pennants. And that is unacceptable. He has to go.
*
Days until the New York Red Bulls play again: 0, this afternoon at 3:00 PM, against the Philadelphia Union, at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania, in the MLS Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
Days until the Red Bulls next play a "derby": See the previous answer. Their other regional rivals also qualified for the Playoffs: New York City FC, D.C. United and the New England Revolution. They could play the Revs in the Conference Semifinals, and NYCFC in the Conference Finals. However, DCU were eliminated by Toronto FC last night.
Days until Arsenal play again: 1, tomorrow afternoon at 3:00, away to newly-promoted Yorkshire team Sheffield United.
Days until the New Jersey Devils next play a local rival: 5, this Friday night at 7:00, against the Philadelphia Flyers, a.k.a. The Philth, at the Prudential Center. The next game against the New York Rangers, a.k.a. The Scum, will be on Saturday afternoon, November 30 at 1:00, at the Prudential Center. The next game against the New York Islanders will be on Thursday, January 2, 2020, at the Barclays Center. After losing their 1st 6 games of the season, the Devils have now won 2 straight, against The Scum and the Vancouver Canucks.
Days until East Brunswick High School plays football again: 5, Friday night at 7:00, home to Somerset County school Hillsborough, a team we've played only once before, in our 2004 State Championship season. This past Friday night, we won a thriller away to New Brunswick, to get up to 3-3.
Days until Rutgers University plays football again: 6, this Saturday, at noon, home to Liberty University of Lynchburg, Virginia. Yesterday, in front of 26,000 -- the new Rutgers Stadium, whatever the hell it's named this year, was literally only half-full for Homecoming -- the Scarlet Knights lost to the University of Minnesota 42-7. True, it's the best Minnesota team in 52 years, but that number doesn't help. Next, they play an FCS (formerly Division I-AA) team, the "Christian" school founded by Jerry Falwell, and now run by Jerry Falwell Jr. What's their mascot? The Bigots? The Herods? The Pharisees? The Pool Boys? The Fighting Hypocrites?
Days until the U.S. national soccer team plays again: 18, on Thursday night at 7:30, against Sweden, an international friendly, at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, home of MLS' Columbus Crew. As part of the CONCACAF Nations League, they slaughtered Cuba 7-0 at Audi Field in Washington, and then clowned their way to a 2-0 loss to Canada at BMO Field in Toronto. They hadn't lost to Canada since 1985.
Days until the next Rutgers-Penn State football game: 41, on Saturday, November 30, at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. Under 6 weeks.
Days until my 50th Birthday, at which point I can join AARP and get discounts for travel and game tickets: 59, on December 18, 2019. Under 2 months.
Days until the premiere of the final Star Wars film, Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker: 61, on December 20, 2019.
Days until the Baseball Hall of Fame vote is announced, electing Derek Jeter: 93, on January 21, 2020. Just over 3 months.
Days until the 1st Presidential voting of 2020, the Iowa Caucuses: 106, on Monday, February 3. A little over 15 weeks. The New Hampshire Primary will be 8 days later.
Days until the Yankees' 2020 Opening Day: 158, on Thursday, March 25, away to the Baltimore Orioles. A little over 5 months. And it's going to be a very long, hard, cold 5 months.
Days until the Yankees' 2020 home opener: 165, on Thursday, April 2, against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Days until the next North London Derby: 188, on Saturday, April 25, Arsenal's 1st visit to the new Tottenham Stadium, adjacent to the site of the previous White Hart Lane. A little over 6 months. It is currently scheduled to be on the 16th Anniversary of the 2nd time that Arsenal won the League at White Hart Lane -- but also the last time Arsenal won the League anywhere. Of course, for TV reasons, the game could be moved to another date, probably the next day.
Days until the next Yankees-Red Sox series begins: 201, on May 8, 2020, at Yankee Stadium II. Under 7 months.
Days until Euro 2020 begins, a tournament being held all over Europe instead of in a single host nation: 236, on Friday, June 12, 2020. Under 8 months.
Days until the next Summer Olympics begins in Tokyo, Japan: 278, on July 24, 2020. A little over 9 months.
Days until the next East Brunswick-Old Bridge football game: Presumably, given the 2019 schedule, 327, on Friday night, September 11, 2020, away at the purple shit pit on Route 9. Under 11 months.
Days until the next Presidential election, when we can dump the Trump-Pence regime and elect a real Administration: 380, on November 3, 2020. A little over a year, or under 13 months.
Days until a fully-Democratic-controlled Congress can convene, and the Republicans can do nothing about it: 441, on January 3, 2021. Under a year and a half, or under 15 months.
Days until Liberation Day: 458, at noon on January 20, 2021. Under a year and a half, or exactly 15 months. Note that this is liberation from the Republican Party, not just from Donald Trump. Having Mike Pence as President wouldn't be better, just differently bad, mixing theocracy with plutocracy, rather than mixing kleptocracy with plutocracy.
Days until the next Winter Olympics begins in Beijing, China: 838, on February 4, 2022. Under 2 1/2 years, or under 28 months.
Days until the next World Cup is scheduled to kick off: 1,128, on November 21, 2022, in Qatar. A little over 3 years, or just over 37 months. The charges of corruption against Qatar may yet mean that they will lose the tournament, in which case it will be moved to a nation where it would not be too hot to play it in June and July.
Days until the next Women's World Cup is scheduled to kick off: As yet unknown, but probably on the 2nd Friday in June 2023, which would be June 9. That would be 1,328 days, a little under 4 years, or under 44 months. A host nation is expected to be chosen on March 20, 2020. Since 2 of the last 3 host nations have been in Europe, North America (Canada) hosted in 2015, and Asia (China) hosted in 2007, my guess is that it will be in either Asia (Japan, possibly Korea, but not China) or Oceania (Australia, possibly a joint bid with New Zealand).
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