(Editor’s Note :  though Toronto’s been on a tear since the end of July and currently holds a half game lead in the American League East, the New York Yankees — winners of 8 of their last 10 — would still host Texas in the AL Wild Card game were the current standings to hold up.  In spite of this, attendances  have been underwhelming, leading the New York Post’s Larry Brooks to declare, “NY doesn’t seem to care” about the Yankees’ postseason push, claiming that during Monday’s matinee against Baltimore, “the stadium appeared half empty”.  Following the publication of Brooks’ column, our good friend and decorated Bronx baseball executive Randy L. offered, no, he demanded equal time – GC)

Greetings, loyal citizens of the Yankee Universe and those of you still coming to grips with the craven, selfish, gutless machinations of our crosstown neighbors and their alleged ace, Matt Harvey.  You know, there’s a saying in baseball that sometimes the best trades are the ones you don’t make.  I’ve never really understood this adage  — if you’ve not made a trade, how can it be considered a “best” trade?  I’ve asked Cashman to explain this to me on several occasions over the years but nearly every time I try to talk to the guy, I walk into his office and he’s screaming, “I told you never to call me at work” at someone he claims is selling magazine subscriptions.  Seems pretty suspicious — he’s got a secretary to screen that sort of thing.

But I disgress.  Larry Brooks is a wonderful journalist and an all-time must-read in the Randy L. household.  When covering hockey.   When it comes to having any understanding of baseball and the real life obstacles faced by the World’s Most Successful Professional Sports Franchise, however, Larry’s dangerously out of his depth.  For instance :

We can talk about ticket prices finally turning off a segment of the population. We can talk about the departures, one after another, of the charismatic and beloved Core Four. We can talk about the absence of charisma on this team in which low-key seems to be the favored octave of the organization.

The fact is that there’s essentially no buzz around this team that — still far from being a little engine that could at a payroll in excess of $200 million — goes out and gets its hands and pants dirty one day after another.

Excuse me, “NO BUZZ?” We’ve got a sure thing, first-ballot Hall Of Famer as our Designated Hitter, and he’s reaching career milestones almost every day. We’ve got a young shortstop whose solid 2015 puts him right on pace to someday supplant what’s-his-name in the hearts and minds of Yankee fans around the globe. Our starting CF is 195 pounds of pure sex appeal (or so I’m told) and our catcher is a 7-time All-Star who has forgotten more about how the game of baseball is supposed to be played than the Mets’ latest rental will ever learn. Or he’s learned more than Yoenis Cespedes will ever forget. One of those two. Damn you, Larry, you’ve got me all confused!

If our beautiful, historic venue was not full to capacity earlier today, to quote the Anti-Nowhere League, SO FUCKING WHAT? This is New York City, Brooks, a place with no shortage of cultural distractions. We’ve got Centerstage tapings, NYFC soccer matches, the ever popular “Is That A Member Of The ‘Mr. Robot’ Cast Or Just A Random Asshole?” game that’s fun for families to play during an afternoon in our own many splendid public parks (don’t ask Cashman about this, he’ll have no idea what you’re talking about). If one out of eighty one games is poorly attended, of course it’s likely to be during a holiday Monday against a team as ferociously dull as the Baltimore Orioles.

In conclusion, I’m deeply disappointed a quality newspaper like the New York Post would see fit to publish this type of trash. Larry, someday soon your employer is going to fill your space with someone who cuts and pastes screenshots of embarrassing Matt Harvey tweets (though it might be a two person job) and when that day comes, I’m moving your comp. seats to the upper corner of section 434B. Since I’m not totally heartless, however, I won’t make you sit next to Prime Minister Pete Nice (assuming he’s not in prison at that time).

yours in headed-to-the-playoffs-ness,
Randy L.