Yankees' Unlikely Loss

"Anyone who thinks they can figure this game out is crazy."--(Reggie Jackson/Paraphrased.)

Mr. October's sage commentary, uttered a few decades ago, remains true today. Doubters can consult the scorecard from Saturday's New York Yankees/Tampa Bay Rays game.

Yankees' ace CC Sabathia took the hometown hill with flail inducing 97 MPH heat. He was backed by a confident, power-laden Bombers lineup playing with home launching pad advantage. The greatest closer in history was rested and ready to provide elite relief.

In the visitor's dugout, a ravaged Rays team featured a long list of notable voids: 1) Evan Longoria--All-Star third baseman, MVP candidate, Yankee killer. 2) Jason Bartlett--SS hitting a league leading .370 3) Akinori Iwamura--2B featuring gold caliber glove. 3) World Champion import Pat Burrell--DH 4) Closer-Troy Percival. (News that Yankee castoff Randy Choate was actually Tampa's surrogate closer produces belly-laughs in the Bronx.) As Ernie Banks said, "Let's play two."

Then, the game started. The AL's defending champs relied on stellar defense in '08. Yesterday Tampa officially committed five errors, factor in the unofficial botched center field play, the D was dreadful. The Yankees' biggest issue would appear to be overconfidence. So much for that.

The depleted, inept Rays tore a page from the Bombers' book, launching a couple of long-balls into the unfriendly confines. Ninth inning, game tied 5-5, The Great Rivera emerges from the Yanks' pen to extinguish Tampa's unlikely quest for hope. Not so fast. Mo gets whacked with four runs. ("Who are these guys?--Butch Cassidy.) In a simple twist of fate, Randy Choate notches his third consecutive save. The bewildered Bombers don't know what hit them.

Photo/Frank's Field of Dreams