The Yankees, owners of MLB’s second-highest payroll at a robust $203.3 million, will spend the remainder of 2021 as spectators after bowing out to the Red Sox in Tuesday night’s AL Wild Card Game. The loss to Boston marked a frustrating end to a rollercoaster year for the Bombers, who endured six losing streaks of at least four games but also enjoyed a run of 13 straight victories in August. Given their superb talent level and recent success against Boston (including a three-game sweep of the Red Sox at Fenway last month), many were surprised at how meekly New York exited the stage Tuesday night, never posing any true threat.
As you’d expect, ESPN personality and lifelong Yankees fan Stephen A. Smith had plenty to say when the subject was raised on First Take, annihilating his hometown team—and starting pitcher Gerrit Cole, in particular—in a lengthy and, as always, entertaining monologue.
“Why are you rubbing it in? You didn’t have to say it with such glee,” said an exasperated Smith in response to ribbing from First Take moderator Molly Qerim. “This is not funny. I mean it’s been a while. It’s been over 12 years since the Yankees been to the damn World Series. You got a one-game playoff! One game! One!”
While most of his venom was reserved for Cole, Smith took similar umbrage with Giancarlo Stanton admiring what he thought was a solo home run off Red Sox ace Nathan Eovaldi in the first inning. Instead, the ball only made it halfway up the Green Monster with Stanton settling for a long single.
“You got a pitcher on the mound—nine years, $324 million—and this brother can’t get out of the third inning! Gave up a two-run shot to [Xander] Bogaerts in the first. Gave up a BOMB to [Kyle] Schwarber in the third,” said Stephen A, gaining steam. “And oh, by the way, we got Giancarlo Stanton and he thinks he hit a home run over the Green Monster. And he’s sitting there, posing like he’s about to be on GQ Magazine! And it ends up going for nothing more than a single.”
Not only did the Yankees let their fanbase down, limping to the finish line with a tepid showing against their biggest rival, but they almost made Stephen A’s heart explode on live television.
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