Benched

The Yankees May Blow It

Could the Yankees possibly blow their 5 game lead and suffer an embarrasment that is usually reserved for the Mets? Yes! Let us count the ways.

• The Yankees have a 5 game lead headed into their series with the Angels and Red Sox, two of the best teams in the AL.
• The Yankees pitching staff is reeling, with Burnett and Joba performing horribly and Andy Pettitte hurting.
• Boston is peaking at the right time, winning 9 of their last 10.

So even though the Yankees will clinch a playoff birth sometime this week, it is quite possible that they could go into the playoffs as the Wild Card team and have to play the Angels in the first round. That means starting on the road on the West Coast rather than in the Bronx. That means the Yankees could go from the favorite to represent the AL in the World Series to a first round loooooooooser. That means disaster. It’s possible.