Well, no Ryan McMahon.

Nine years to the day. Let's do it.

Maybe one of these days people will accept that analytics aren’t the “big bad boogeyman” of baseball and that they’re just a part of the game. In the 1940s the Dodgers started using statistical analysis for scouting rather than “feel.” Casey Stengel popularized platoons in the 1950s. Sabermetrics have been used since the 1970s. There was Moneyball in the late 90s-early 00s. Over time, analytics have only evolved and gotten better, now in the Statcast era, providing data to make better decisions during a game that for the most part is impossible to predict (because baseball.) I’d much rather have the best information at my disposal rather than not, wouldn’t you? The Rays are a top-tier analytical organization, the Brewers use analytics, the Dodgers use them. Winning teams use data and information. The sooner fans, FORMER players, and FORMER managers realize that, the sooner they’ll be living in reality.

Will my day end in optimism or crippling depression? The answer is up to the Yankees.

Ah yes, the Rays and Brewers. The perfect teams for the anti-analytics crowd to embrace. The irony knows no bounds.

"This isn't normal. Other teams don't lose like this. The Yankees of old would never do this." 2001: Team with the most plot armor of all time takes a 3-2 lead in the World Series, goes back to Arizona needing a split against an expansion team to win its fourth straight title. Playoff Riser Andy Pettitte gets destroyed in game 6, team never has a chance. Playoff GOAT Mariano Rivera allows a hit, makes an error himself, gets an out, then allows two more hits to lose the World Series. 2002: Team that has won four straight pennants allows 31 runs in four games, including 26 in the last three, to lose the ALDS despite having HFA and having won 103 games. Playoff Riser Andy Pettitte gets crushed for his second straight time in the postseason. Torre leaves David Wells in to allow EIGHT RUNS in a do or die game. 2003: 101-win team can't touch "Brad Penny," leaves five men on base in extra innings of game four with a chance to go up 3-1, gives up a walk off homer to the eighth hitter on a 91-win team. ANOTHER expansion team beats them and this one celebrates on their field. 2004: You already know what happened. Rivera walks the seventh hitter in game four. Dynasty Cornerstone Bernie Williams leaves the bases loaded in the 11th. Five LOB in extras again. Gordon and Rivera combine to blow the lead in game five, the Yankees leave six on base in extras. Jeter, Bernie, and Posada combine to go 2-12 in game six. Torre goes to JAVIER VAZQUEZ to lose game seven in the second inning. 2005: Get Bullpen Game'd by 22-year old Ervin Santana. 2006: Blow a 3-1 lead in game two because Torre won't pull Mussina. Get shut out by 41-year old Kenny Rogers. "Jeremy Bonderman" pitches into the 9th in game four. 2007: BUGS! LOSE BECAUSE OF BUGS! WERE THERE NO BUGS WHEN THE OTHER TEAM WAS ON THE FIELD? BUGS. Also get dominated by, at the time, Fausto Carmona. 2008: New manager, bring back a 94-win team, miss playoffs entirely. Can anyone tell me which of these wasn't "embarrassing?" In which of these years did the Yankees look good losing" At least they were equal opportunity losers to the NL, ALE, ALC, and ALW!

Pain

This isn’t to say I’m going to be sunshine and rainbows on Wednesday if the team goes down. It is to say, zeroing in on them potentially losing isn’t the focus. The focus is to win the next game, and then the next, and next. For now.

I want to preface this by saying I like the Talkin’ Yanks podcast: But I feel like this video is one big “get out of jail free” card for the social media account and the podcast to say illogical things. More thoughts in the thread below:

I’m riding with this Yankee team until the last out of the last game. Only soft fans give up beforehand. We’ve got a game to win tomorrow.

It’s amazing how much shit you’ll get on this app for not being a massive pussy that quits every single time bad things happen Anyways, series not over, there’s a game Wednesday night

At least Ben Rice still wants to compete

You can thank the Yankees defense for this game

The Yankees are just giving this game away

Of course this didn’t carry, because it’s the Trop, and Jesus Christ I hate this ballpark.

Austin Wells with his 5th hit of the postseason (Thank god he’s safe)

THE YANKEES ARE ALIVE

BEN RICE BREATHES LIFE INTO THIS TEAM