Every Year, It's the Same

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.

So, here we are. Today will be Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. The Yankees do not have home-field advantage, and they're facing the Houston Astros, a team that's beaten them, and eliminated them from the postseason, twice in the last 5 seasons.

All they have to do is win 1 game in Houston, and then win all their games in New York, and it's off to the World Series, to play either the St. Louis Cardinals or the Washington Nationals. And, right now, both American League teams left look better than both National League teams left. So we should be 8 wins away from glory.

But we've got to win the 1st 4 first. A lot of people are confident. Masahiro Tanaka starts Game 1 in Houston. If he pitches well, and we get him the runs he needs, then maybe we win the whole thing. But if he gives up a couple of gopher balls, or we don't hit for him, or both, then the Yankees are in serious trouble.

Do I like the Yankees' chances? No, I don't, not based on experience, including with these guys. Some of these guys have never been through it. Some have, and have failed. Yes, I'm talking to you, Giancarlo Stanton. It is time for you to step up. Alex Rodriguez eventually stepped up. And it's time for Stanton to do so.

Am I asking the Yankees to win it for CC Sabathia, who is retiring? Am I asking them to win it for Brett Gardner, who is what passes for a "grizzled veteran" among the hitters? Am I asking them to win it for their manager Aaron Boone? Am I asking them to win it for me? Am I asking them to win it for any individual fan?

No. I'm asking them to win, period, and I don't give a damn who they win it for, as long as they do it.

But maybe they need to win it for Brian Cashman. This was supposed to be the year. These next 4 to 7 games should be his legacy. To paraphrase Game of Thrones, this was the season that was promised.

Are we going to save the Seven Kingdoms, or the Five Boroughs and the Many Suburbs? Or is another long Winter coming? Is one of the players going to write the next chapter of Yankee history? Who has the better story?

Yes, I know, Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin is a Mets fan, and he is not predisposed toward happy endings. When the TV show version of his story came to an end, it was a just ending, but it wasn't exactly a happy ending. There was peace, yes, but at a terrible price.

The Yankees have certainly paid their prices. It's time to win. We don't know what is west of Westeros, but we know what comes after winning the World Series: A parade, and legendary status for those who made it happen. Let's make it happen one more time. Let's not make this year the same.

For its root, root, root for the home team. If they don't win, it's a shame.

*

Hours until Rutgers University plays football again: 4, today, at noon, away to Indiana University. They are 3-2, but their 3 wins are over Ball State, Eastern Illinois and Connecticut, while their 2 losses are to Big Ten opponents Ohio State and Michigan State. So maybe 1-4 Rutgers have a chance after all.

Days until the U.S. national soccer team plays again: 3, Tuesday night at 7:30, against Canada, uba, part of the CONCACAF Nations League, at BMO Field in Toronto. Last night, in this same comptetion, they slaughtered Cuba 7-0 at Audi Field in Washington.

Days until the New Jersey Devils next play a local rival: 5, this Thursday night at 7:00, against the New York Rangers, a.k.a. The Scum, at the Prudential Center. The next game against the Philadelphia Flyers, a.k.a. The Philth, will be on Friday, November 1, at the Prudential Center. The 1st game against the New York Islanders will be on Thursday, January 2, 2020, at the Barclays Center. The Devils have lost their 1st 4 games of the season, although 2 of them have come in shootouts, gaining them a total of 2 points. They try again tonight, away to the Boston Bruins.

Days until East Brunswick High School plays football again: 6, Friday night at 7:00, away to New Brunswick, a team which started 4-1, but had to forfeit their wins due to an ineligible player. Last night, EB clobbered J.P. Stevens of Edison, 40-0. But they are now 0-6, and are far from their several championship teams. I am not optimistic about the New Brunswick game.

Days until the New York Red Bulls play again: 8, a week from 30, tomorrow, at 3:00 PM, 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 have 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, but if NYCFC and DCU both advance, they will play each other before the Red Bulls could play them.

Days until Arsenal play again: 9, a week from Sunday afternoon, away to newly-promoted Yorkshire team Sheffield United. We are currently in an international break, a.k.a. an "Interlull."

Days until the next Rutgers-Penn State football game: 49, on Saturday, November 30, at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. Just 7 weeks.

Days until my 50th Birthday, at which point I can join AARP and get discounts for travel and game tickets: 67, on December 18, 2019. A little over 9 weeks.

Days until the premiere of the final Star Wars film, Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker: 69, on December 20, 2019.

Days until the Baseball Hall of Fame vote is announced, electing Derek Jeter: 101, on January 21, 2020. A little over 3 months.

Days until the 1st Presidential voting of 2020, the Iowa Caucuses: 114, on Monday, February 3. Under 4 months. The New Hampshire Primary will be 8 days later.

Days until the next North London Derby: 196, 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: 209, on May 8, 2020, at Yankee Stadium II. Under 7 months. Yes, the 2020 MLB schedule has already been released. 

Days until Euro 2020 begins, a tournament being held all over Europe instead of in a single host nation: 244, on Friday, June 12, 2020. Exactly 8 months.

Days until the next Summer Olympics begins in Tokyo, Japan: 286, on July 24, 2020. Under 10 months.

Days until the next East Brunswick-Old Bridge football game: Presumably, given the 2019 schedule, 335, 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: 388, 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: 449, on January 3, 2021. Under a year and a half, or under 15 months.

Days until Liberation Day: 466, at noon on January 20, 2021. Under a year and a half, or a little over 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: 846, on February 4, 2022. Under 2 1/2 years, or under 28 months.

Days until the next World Cup is scheduled to kick off: 1,136, on November 21, 2022, in Qatar. A little over 3 years, or a little 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 1,336 days, a little under 4 years, or under 43 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).