Steinbrenner gives up, Yankees shelled in Toronto

August 21, 10:21 PMNew York Yankees ExaminerPete Sabatini

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Sidney Ponson started out badly and the bullpen got worse en route to losing a critical series to the Blue Jays with a 14-3 loss Thursday night. 

The Yankees entered the night 5.5 games back of Boston in the wildcard race and a whopping 10 behind division leading Tampa Bay.  Those gaps only widened by the end of the evening while the Red Sox and Rays were idle. 

The formerly resurgent Ponson couldn’t get an out in the third inning before giving up a total of five runs on the night and handing the ball over to the pen for a rescue that never arrived.

 The relief corps of Robertson and Traber went on to hand over eight more runs (two credited back to Ponson) sending the Yankee offense into a dazed paralysis, save for a three run bomb from Hideki Matsui when it was too late.

The night couldn’t end fast enough for the Yankees or for the fans who tuned in.  Judging from the quotes, it sounds like Hank Steinbrenner has packed it in for the season as well. 

In a relaunch issue of the Sporting News, Hank points to injuries as a reason for the Yankees’ failure to excel this season.  Fair enough, but his reason for raising the injury issue is because “most of the national media is full of Yankee haters."

No, the reason for raising the issue is because it’s true and because the rest of the team isn’t picking up the slack.  The roster has indeed been decimated and the guys that have been called on to play at or above their abilities haven’t done it.  So be it.

Not only that "but next year, in a new stadium, we'll be much better."  What?  What does doing better next year have to do with a new stadium?  And it’s August 21st.  What are you doing talking about how much better things are going to be next year? 

We are smart fans.  When the math and poor performance continue to stack up into September, we know that things aren’t going to happen for this season.  But under no circumstances should a team official, let along THE team official, let us all know that they’re packing it in for the year.

This is a bad message to the fans and a bad message to the players.  The Yankee way is not to give up while the improbable is still possible.

Score: 14-3 Blue Jays, (Box Score)

Next Game: @Orioles Fri 7:05PM on MY9, Mussina (16-7) v. Liz (4-3)

Current Record: 67-60, 10.5GB Division, 6GB Wildcard