A friend of mine who roots for the Sox loves to hate Mark Teixeira. So, this friend was happy last night because the Sox clinched the AL East when he Orioles beat the Blue Jays. But he got a little irritated I’m sure when Teixeira hit a grand slam home run in the 9th inning to give the Yankees the win. I’m sure the annoyance was momentary and then he went to sleep happy.

But for Teixeria, who has only 3 games left in his career, I’m sure it felt good. And we’ll take it where we can get it, right?

What’s funny is that the Yankees celebrated like all teams celebrate a “walk-off” win—as if they’d won the pennant. There is no building up to the big celebration these days, is there? Ha. I’m an old man.

[Photo Credit: EPA/Jason Szenes] 

Cool and breezy.

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Losing your engagement ring in front of how many thousands of  fans at a baseball game… Then finding it again hours later and proposing, only for her to say “Let me think about it; you’re kind of a loser…” Well, that last part didn’t happen as far as I know (though technically it would be true if she did say it), but does summarize the 2016 Yanks and the relationship with its fan base this season, no? At any rate, if the kids play again tonight, expect them to bring some Wu tonight, because BlowSux…

Between the Marlins tribute to Jose Fernandez and that other televised event (which need not be named), I missed most of the Yankee game last night, especially the ruckus. Well, nice to see the Yanks stage a 5-run rally in the 9th and then hang on—by the skin of their teeth—to win it and irritate the Jays.

Jays look to sweep the Yanks.

Never mind the chatter:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

The Yanks are getting pushed around by the Jays and while it’s not official yet, they are pretty much playing out the string at this point.

But that all seems minor—the losing, C.C.’s resilient but hard-luck season, whatever is going on with Joe Girardi—in light of the news that Jose Fernandez, star pitcher for the Miami Marlins, died last night in a boating accident. This is truly a horrible day in the annals of the sport.

We’ll watch the Yanks today, and root for them, but with muted emphasis. Our thoughts and prayers are with Fernandez’s family.

Picture by Bags 

Back to their roles as spoilers the Yanks look to give the Blue Jays a hard time and a headache this weekend.

Here’s hoping they do just that.

Never mind those scruffy bastids:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

So keep it going, already.

Never mind the preamble:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags 

He’s gone beyond Kevin Maas now. Sanchez mashes, Yanks win, we smile.

Who?

Never mind the dome:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Yanks down in Tampa playing out the string…unless…nah, playing out the string.

Never mind the pitching changes: Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

The 4-game thumping ended in predictable fashion—with Hanley Ramirez sending the Yankees home unhappy. Sox slid passed the Yanks on Saturday afternoon, 6-5, and against last night, they rallied from down 4-0 to win 5-4.

That’s a wrap, young upstarts.

It’s pretty funny that the Yanks are giving Ortiz a little send off next time the Sox are in town. They should give him an all-expenses paid trip to the North Pole so he doesn’t change his mind—which he will—next year and come back to drive in more runs against the Bombers.

Sox buried the Yanks 7-4 last night and it’s getting late, fast, for the upstarts.

More this afternoon.

Oh, well, never mind reality:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Yanks took a tough loss last night—crushing, devastating, back-breaking, the worst!—but they’ll be back at it again tonight.

Never mind the hang-over:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

The Yanks had a 5-2 lead going into the 9th inning but Dellin Betances had less than zero and that, coupled with the fact that the Bombers stranded about 37 men on base over the course of the game, did them in. The Sox rallied, capped by a game-winning home run by Hanley Ramirez. Joy at the Fens, sorrow for the upstarts.

Final score: Sox 7, Yanks 5. 

Quelle Dommage.

The Yanks are in Boston for a big four game serious. Sox are in first place, a game ahead of the O’s , 2 ahead of the Jays, while the Yanks sit a couple of games out of the second wildcard spot with 2 teams ahead of them. That’s a whole lot of 2’s…and a lot still left to settle.

Be nice if the Yanks can cause the Sox some trouble, perhaps even some grief over the weekend. Or maybe the Sox will cause us misery instead. Usually either goes one way or the other, don’t it?

Never mind the standings:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Dodgers 2, Yanks 0. Delayed by rain then the Yanks were undone by their own mistakes.

Drag.

Picture by Bags

C.C. Sabathia pitched into the 7th last night, didn’t allow a run, and the Yanks hit three solo home runs late (two by pinch-hitters—Ellsbury, Didi—and the other one, of course, by Sanchez), good for a tidy, 3-0 win against the Dodgers.

Later this afternoon—4:oo p.m. start—they’ll face Clayton Kershaw as they look to take the series.

Never mind the chill:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

C’mon Fellas, how about givin’ ‘em a hard time tonight, whadda ya say, hah?

Never mind the gorgeous autumnal chill:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Aaron Judge hit a long home run for the Yanks last night into the left field bleachers, a true bomb, and that was about the only thing worth savoring for the home team. The Dodgers—with plenty of their partisans cheering in the stands—rolled over the Yanks, 8-2 (how you like that short porch in right field, fellas?). Nothing to see here, carry on.

Picture by Bags