Welcome to Playoffs Outsider. As a baseball fan with no dog in this fight, and no knowledge or expertise about any of the remaining teams, I do wish to blog.
Today we focus (as Playoffs Outsider will) on the Yankees.
The Yankees like to market class and tradition when convenient. They also have canonized George Steinbrenner, the Santa Claus-like lovable grandfather who just wanted to win. Brings a tear to your eye unless you are Billy, Billy, Billy, Billy, Billy, Lemon, Lou, Lou, Yogi, Dick Howser, and whoever else is on that list.
Today I got an email from the Yankees titled “C.C. ya in the postseason.”. There’s even a logo and everything. Jeter seems pretty excited!
Yep, getting all excited about the wild card.
I can tell you first hand that wild cards are something losers and little brothers get excited about. Wild cards are the domains of teams that get off to slow starts under Bobby Valentine. Wild cards are the realm of those who hope to get lucky.
Can a wild card win the World Series? Sure. Is it manly? Nope.
It is hard to reconcile the image of Saint George with this acceptance of second place. I guess the cuddly old codger would be giving some quote like “Gee whiz it’s great to know we’re in the playoffs! We can take it easy now and rest our players.”
Playoffs Outsider is looking to see how soon everyone in America comes to hate Conan O’Brien due to enthusiastic promotion from TBS.