Yankees: Xander Bogaerts mocking NYY with celebration is bizarre

What’d we tell you? Every Red Sox fan (and player) whose forehead veins popped out while mocking the Yankees on Tuesday for celebrating like they’d “won the World Series in August” was definitely, absolutely, 100% going to act the exact same way if they beat the weakest link in the Yanks’ rotation, Andrew Heaney, in the series finale on Wednesday.

Guaranteed. Book it. Obvious.

This take was already vindicated by the end of the first inning, when Xander Bogaerts celebrated a 1-0 lead against one of the worst Yankee pitchers we’ve ever witnessed by mocking New York’s patented celebration.

Trolling an opponent way too early in a game/season? That’s what we typically call a “Modern Yankees Move,” assuming it comes back to haunt Bogey later.

After Bogaerts sent one into the right-field seats and before the team that’s just blown a nine-game lead in three weeks put their slugger in a laundry cart so he could have a fun little ride, the All-Star flexed and punched his biceps.

Again…why?

Xander Bogaerts mocked the Yankees a little bit early on Wednesday.

This is what the baseball world has cackled at the Yankees for doing time and again. Focusing on trolling rather than finishing the job on the field. Giggling at Aaron Judge breaking the boombox out because he seemed to think a tied ALDS was over after Game 2.

And the baseball world was right to cackle at those things. From chilly Houston to Mike Brosseau, the Yankees’ opponents always seem to get the last laugh in such scenarios. Pretty funny, if you’re not me.

But here’s the thing: if the Red Sox salvage the series finale after two horrible losses, that’s actually a pretty bad series. Losing a nine-game lead on a playoff spot in three weeks is also bad. Additionally, this will not be the last opportunity for either of these teams to get a “laugh” in this rivalry; there’s a series in September and quite possibly a one-game postseason showdown (terrifying!) on the horizon.

Bottom line, Carrabis will definitely tell you this Bogey move was awesome after telling you the Yankees were pathetic for inviting the same scorn a few weeks back in Houston. It’s kind of his thing, but still.

Also, it’s worth reiterating exactly how unimpressive it is to take Heaney deep. Everyone does it. Everyone will keep doing it until he’s removed from the rotation.

A month ago, Bogaerts taking the Yankees’ celebration from them would’ve felt like another in a long line of rivals getting the final word in the Bronx.

Now, after Boston’s collapsed early, letting the Bombers back into the playoff picture way before anyone anticipated? It just feels kind of sad, like a laundry cart with a bum wheel.

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