The Yankees put their season on the rocks with their Game 2 loss to the Royals

The New York Yankees’ nightmare scenario hasn’t happened yet. But you can see it on the horizon.

New York’s 15-year quest for a return to the World Series is not dead, but signs of life are on the decline with a 4-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals in Game 2 of the American League Division Series.

The best-of-five ALDS are tied one game apiece and head to Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium, where the locals will play their first playoff games since 2015.

The Royals’ Game 2 win secured two home playoff dates in Missouri – and raised the possibility that the Bronx Bombers wouldn’t return to Yankee Stadium until the spring.

Oh, it couldn’t be that bad. There’s no sure-fire ace waiting for the Yankees in Games 3 and 4, although veteran Seth Lugo will likely finish at the top of the AL Cy Young Award balloting and a second day off in three days will only recharge a strong Royals bullpen.

But after two games against the 86-win Royals – and the Yankees were lucky enough to win Game 1 6-5 – a more stark truth becomes apparent.

These $310 million Yankees just aren’t that good.

You saw it in Game 1, where Gerrit Cole was the reigning Cy Young Award winner in name only, going five four-run innings rather than dominating them.

That was evident in Game 2, when $162 million left-hander Carlos Rodon delivered a performance that encapsulated the highs and lows of his career. He went three innings on just 39 pitches and struck out five, only to sweat and struggle and not escape a nightmarish fourth inning in which he gave up a game-winning home run to Salvador Perez and run-scoring hits to the likes of Maikel Garcia, Tommy Pham and Garrett Hampson.

Hey, as the saying goes, they get paid to play too.

Speaking of paydays, you’ll probably hear a lot of noise about $360 million man Aaron Judge and his playoff failures. It’s legitimate criticism. Judge was penalized with a harmless infield single in Game 2 and is now 1-for-7 in that series and 7-for-51 (.137) in his last 12 playoff games stretching into 2021.

But these things tend to be cyclical, a series of small samples after another that can change quickly. Let’s not forget that Judge hit eight homers in his first three postseasons and posted a .910 OPS in 121 plate appearances.

And the 2017-19 Yankees didn’t win a pennant either.

These Yankees? Well, let’s just remember that in Game 2, Jazz Chisholm and Jon Berti were the starting infielders. Chisholm is a great player and Berti a valued player – but both are completely out of place and far removed from the platonic ideals of the production in these places.

Consider that the last time the Yankees won the World Series, those spots were filled with Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira, nearly half a billion dollars of MVP-caliber production, surrounded by All-Stars in their lineup.

Even after importing Juan Soto, these Yankees can be attacked, oppressed and treated.

Are you saying that “the judge isn’t stepping up?” That’s fine and will make for some juicy chyron at your morning shout-fest or YouTube podcast. But No. 5 hitter Austin Wells struck out twice in Game 1, and the Yankees were 1 for 6 overall with runners in scoring position.

And the royals refuse to be intimidated – and are preparing another nightmare scenario.

It was hard to miss the promos with just two people – Judge and Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers-Yankees have been Fox Sports’ two-coated white whale since acquiring the rights to Major League Baseball – and the league could use the boost, too. LA and New York haven’t faced off in the Fall Classic since 1981, a period that pretty much marked the peak of television sports ratings.

Now, in this stratified, cluttered entertainment landscape, the Yankees and Dodgers are in danger of going home before the AL and NL championship series: Both are tied at 1-1 in Division Series play, heads out and mostly behind eight balls.

Meanwhile, the AL Central hasn’t sent a team past the Division Series round since 2016, when Cleveland won the pennant and was just a rain delay or two away from winning the World Series. This year? They are guaranteed a spot in the ALCS while Detroit-Cleveland battles in the other ALDS.

And it could very well be an all-central ALCS that gives the overlooked division a pennant winner. Retain News Corp. executives in your thoughts and prayers.

Back on the field, a two-game split at Kauffman Stadium would send this series back to the Bronx for Game 5. Cole would face Kansas City star Cole Ragans, who was inefficient but lasted four innings with just one score.

The Yankees had just seven hits, none from extra base until Chisholm’s solo home run in the ninth, but Royals closer Lucas Erceg shrugged it off and recorded the final three outs. Kansas City will take its devil-may-care mentality home, supported by a thirsty home crowd that might not stop shutting down once “Monday Night Football” ends and Game 3 begins.

Not the best environment for the Yankees to find themselves. Or maybe they’ve already done it, and come October they’re once again no better than a one-off.

The Yankees put their season on the rocks with their Game 2 loss to the Royals

ByJasper

By Jasper

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