WHY THE YANKEES WILL LOSE ALDS WITHOUT MOMENTUM

The Yankees lost tonight and yes, they are Eastern division champs, but don't we want to win? We need momentum and we need to build momentum tomorrow, the final game of the season, just in time for the playoffs. Without it, we lose the ALDS.

Tonight Matt Joyce was the hero for the Rays, and when that happened, momentum changed...the Rays got hungry. Ben Zobrist homered tonight as well and the Wild Card race between the Sox and Rays is crazy right now...it's unbelievable.Rafael Soriano looked lost tonight when Joyce cranked out his home run. He didn't look too promising. Again, it's all about momentum and earlier in the game when Russell Martin hit into a triple play and blew a chance for the Yankees to break it wide opened, it changed momentum away from New York and toward Tampa Bay.

In addition to the triple play, Martin hit a solo shot off of Jeremy Hellickson. Nick Swisher hit an RBI double to give the Yankees their 3 runs.
Bartolo Colon, whom I have hammered as of late pitched decent tonight. Not outstanding and not shitty, but good. He allowed 2 runs and 7 hits in 5 1/3 innings. He finishes the season with a 4.00 ERA. Not too shabby for a guy we found on the scrap heap. Thank you Bartolo for your service. You did us proud.

Look, we lost tonight, I don't like losing...we lost.

Final Score: Rays 5 - Yankees 3

My only thought on the last few days is this; The Yankees may not need to win these games, but they should win them. I know they are playing games because they are on the schedule, but these are still regular season games and the goal is to win as many as you can, regardless of clinching an Eastern Division. Tomorrow, Ladies and Gentlemen I consider a must win, for tune up purposes, for momentum purposes... for rhythm. Here come the New York Yankees.

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WHY THE YANKS STILL NEED TO WIN

Admit it, it's a weird feeling... you sitting there watching the Yankee game but knowing it doesn't matter. Well, it matters to me, I want a win. Why? Because momentum is key when you enter the playoffs. I don't like this feeling of, "Well, it's OK that the Rays took the lead, we already won." Bullshit, Yes, we won the Division, but you want to go into the postseason cold? I don't.
You want to break stride, lose a few and then go full steam Friday and expect a win? (Photo: Getty)
What about CC Sabathia? CC is used to short rest,and he's been talking about it all September when the Yankees were bumbling around with a 6-man rotation. Do you think CC will be ready Friday after not pitching for several days? Sure he had a bullpen session Sunday, but it's a bullpen session... and it was Sunday. You see what I mean?

Look, I worry about this stuff, I'm a fan, I know what my guys are capable of.

Tonight was a perfect example of letting things go because "We already won the division." Girardi is playing to keep pitchers warm, and balance the rest. He's not playing to win. Is it the right thing to do in my opinion? I half agree with it. Because if momentum's not high going into a short series like the ALDS, it's bye bye early. You want to go in hard, without getting hurt and win.
Yes, you we all want the Red Sox to die at the end of this, but the Rays just changed the momentum in tonight's game with that Matt Joyce home run and to me, that says a lot. Listen to the crowd, look at the body language of the Yankees, there are alot of emotions going on.

Bottom line, I don't want the Red Sox in the playoffs, but I also don't want the Yankees walking into the playoffs either, I want to see them running in. Yes we are winners, but losses bring the negative emotionally. It doesn't matter if you clinched a division, it's a mental thing. All I'm saying is, as much as tonight doesn't matter, it does... for the state of our Yankees going into the playoffs, it does matter... that's all.

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