Yankees and Red Sox playoffs: The AL East in shambles

Catch-22

But the biggest share of blame has to go to Ronald Torreyes. And again, the cause is unexpected. Torreyes is a team, and fan, favorite because he plays with heart and hustle. He has overproduced all year and provided more than just adequate support as a role player.

Without Torreyes, the Yankees could not have won 91 games. But with him, and perhaps because of him, they could not win Game 2 of the ALDS.

The Yankees extra innings futility had its best chance of ending in the 11th when Todd Frazier led off by getting to second. Little Toe replaced him on the bag. But he tried to do too much—to take too big of a lead—and was promptly picked off.

That is inexcusable.

And so, because of early game errors and late-game mistakes sandwiched around Girardi’s blunder, the Yankees lost in extra innings, losing a game they once led by five. Once again, that is inexcusable.

We can’t forget how bad the starting pitching has been, as well. The bombers might have a split if one of their starters had thrown like a frontline pitcher.

All of it adds up to the Yankees perhaps coming home to stay. And the Red Sox are getting it even worse.