Elimination

For the first time since 1993 (excluding the '94 strike), the New York Yankees will not be playing October baseball. This is something I accepted back when they got swept by the Angels in early August, so I'm not as angry or depressed or miserable as some people are at the moment. This team didn't play like a playoff team for most of the 162 game stretch, and as such, it didn't deserve to make the postseason.

However...!

We must be optimistic about 2009! Now that the burden of always winning for the sake of winning has been removed from the shoulders of the organization, it should be able to release some payroll, sign one or two necessary free agents, call up some of the talent in the minors, and charge ahead once again. I am proudly looking forward to next April.

But you have to wonder how guys like Jeter, Posada, and Rivera feel about this. Having to start golf season early will most likely feel quite awkward. After all, it will be the first time ever for them.

And yeah, it's biting irony that the season in which Yankee Stadium would be laid to rest is also the same season in which the team failed it this much. The baseball gods sure are pretty mean.

...So how many days until pitchers and catchers?