A WIN, A TEST & A HERO

Awkward title, I know, and you don't even know what I'm talking about, but that's why you came into our piece this morning... I'm here to explain. Don't Panic.

Obviously the big thing today is a win.  The Yankees are literally hanging from a tight rope by their pinkie.  There needs to be a rush of energy so enormous, that they find it down deep in their plums and just cross the finish with authority.



We are 4.5 out of the Wild Card.  There are other teams playing a helluva lot better than we are ahead of us. But there needs to be something, anything, to bring the Yankees to the finish standing tall. That's where Tanaka comes in...

Masahiro Tanaka is taking the mound.  Yes, he's back! Many are skeptical and calling out Yankee brass for pushing this guy into a season that doesn't matter, and I get that. But here's the thing, this is NOT about the Yankees... this is more about Tanaka.  He needs to keep throwing.  If you "shut the guy down", it serves no purpose.

Throwing him in a game will truly test the arm. We'll be on egg shells, no doubt, but it needs to be done.  Then they can see what can happen next.  The biggest thing is they want to avoid surgery, and if the doctors are saying this is the best thing for him, then it is.

The other big thing is Derek Jeter.  89% of the people I speak to now don't care what happens to the Yankees as much as they want to see Derek Jeter finish his career in style.  The support is overwhelming among us fans.  #2 is all over the stadium... the advertisers have done their best to keep all of us on the edge of our seats.


Celebrating Jeter is what needs to be done now... because many of us, as big a fan as we all may be, see the writing on the wall for our team.

It does NOT however, take away from honoring the Captain.  Sure, we wanted something more for the guy that gave us 5 championships while he was here, but we're in an unusual spot.  Not making the playoffs 2 years in a row will sting like crazy. But the Yankee PR machine will try and cloud us with Jeter celebrations till the end of the season, almost as if to soften the blow of not making the playoffs. I see right through that, and to be honest, I don't care. Jeter is the man. I'll honor him every damn day. 

Ultimately though, we know our season is probably over... and much as it's important, it's not as important as not seeing Jeter on the field after this week.

That's why we attend the rest of the games of this Yankees homestand.  That's why Yankee fans will make it up to Fenway to see Jeter's last game ever up there.  Jeter's our hero, our icon and the greatest living legend we've ever seen.

So while today's about the win and the big Tanaka test... let's get passed that and honor the Captain... Today, and every day until his career comes to a close.

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