This is how I’ll look from now until the end of Tuesday’s game. As Girardi said, a one-game wild card is like Game 7 of the World Series – one loss and you’re out. Done. Season over.
On the other hand, I didn’t expect this Yankees team to even make the postseason, so Tuesday is gravy and I’m excited as well as nervous. We can beat the Twins. Of course we can. We can hit. We can pitch (with a few exceptions). We can field (again, with a few exceptions). And we’ve got the home field advantage.
My dream scenario? Severino pitches a no-hitter or at least a shutout. Gary Sanchez has zero passed balls. Judge hits three homers with Bird, Sanchez, Castro and Didi adding bombs of their own. We make no errors, no mental mistakes. The crowd is loud and into it. Oh, and the Twins have an off night – all of which will lead to a blowout for us, AKA a Janer. I can’t take the thought of a close game with nail biting throughout.
I wish – and I know I say this every year – the games didn’t start at 8pm. Between all the commercials on ESPN and the pageantry of a postseason game, it’ll take forever and I’ll have to prop my eyes open with toothpicks. But bottom line? It’s great to be in it, late ESPN game or not, and I’m grateful. Thank you, Yankees, for extending our season. All rise.
