Those plucky Yankees have done it again! Cursed with a payroll that once dwarfed the national debt, these vagabonds, survivors of both the 1997 All-Star game and 2005 waiver wire, have overcome their rivals and now stand atop the American League East. Their improbable run, which has dampened the championship hopes of the mighty Orioles and Devil Rays, also threatens the reign of everyone's second-favorite lost cause (after Bill Clinton, natch), the Boston Red Sox. And while their lead of one game is not insurmountable, the Yankees, in their familiar underdog role, have captured the hearts of baseball fans throughout New York City, and even parts of New Jersey, prompting an unprecedented outpouring of support for the team, some say as far south as turnpike exit 7. Even George Steinbrenner, the always sensible owner of the team, is totally excited, unequivocally guaranteeing the safety of manager Joe Torre's job through October 2nd.
Alas, Red Sox Nation, unmoved by the Yankees' triumphant tale of perseverance and sacrifice, has vowed to derail New York's title hopes and deprive the country of the feel-good story it so badly needs. And thus, the stage is set: three games, the final weekend of the season. A morality play in which the forces of wholesome American goodness, the Pinstripers themselves, will face off against the rag-tag cavemen and ex-cons representing Boston. Although the result is by no means certain - there's no controlling the influence of self-serving Republican tricksters - Providence clearly favors the clean-cut Yankees over the dastardly Sox.
My prediction: Yanks take series, 2-1, win AL East.
No comments:
Post a Comment