This morning, I logged on to the New York Post’s website to see the latest round of media coverage of the Republican National Convention. As I glanced at the day’s top stories, I saw a graphic of the Post’s Sports Page, with a headline that read, “WORST LOSS EVER!” When I investigated further – I learned that last night, the Cleveland Indians defeated the New York Yankees – by a score of twenty-two to nothing.

Are you kidding me?

In front of 51,777 people, the Yankees got only five hits – but allowed the Indians to score nine runs by the third inning – and another seven by the end of the sixth inning. Of the twelve hitters Starting Pitcher Javier Vasquez faced in the one-and-a-half innings he pitched – eight reached base. And as each pitcher was sent back to the bench – the next one only furthered the disaster. Pitcher C.J. Nitkowski allowed the Indian’s Designated Hitter Travis Hafner’s single down the first-base line to roll fair in the fifth inning – declining to grab it while it was in foul territory. He also issued a bases-loaded walk to Infielder Casey Blake after having him set up for a strike out 0-and-2. It got so bad by the end of the game – which tied the record for the worst shutout in major-league history since 1900 – that the fans in Yankee Stadium were actually cheering for the Indians.

Not only was last night’s game the worst loss in the one hundred and one year history of the Yankees, but it was the most runs the Yankees have ever allowed to get past them since 1928. Couple that with the fact that on August 15th, the Yankees had a ten-and-a-half game lead over their arch-rival Boston Red Sox and now have reduced that lead to a mere three-and-a-half games – and I would say that there is a very serious problem in, “The House That Ruth Built.”

At the end of the 2000 baseball season when the Yankees beat the New York Mets in the historic Subway Series to win their 26th World Series Championship, which was their third consecutive title by the way – The Bronx Bombers seemed unstoppable. Then, during the next three seasons – their playing seemed to be getting progressively worse. In 2001, the Yankees lost the World Series to the Arizona Diamondbacks in what I consider to be the one World Series that New York really needed to win – considering the fact that it took place just two months after the events of September 11th. In 2002, they lost the American League Division Series to the Anaheim Angels, marking the Yankees’ earliest postseason exit since 1980. And in 2003, the Yankees lost the World Series to the Florida Marlins in Game Six – marking the first time since 1981 that the Yankees have been eliminated from the postseason at Yankee Stadium.

And now, with only thirty games to go until the end of the 2004 baseball season, I am concerned that this disturbing and horrible pattern may continue – unless Joe Torre and the twenty-five members of the Yankees’ active roster can remember how they used to play and go back to being, “The Greatest Team In Baseball.” If not, I am sure Doug – who is probably as furious as I am at the Yankees right now – would be more than happy to be their “Angel In The Outfield.”

Needless to say, when I travel to Ohio in fifteen days – I will not be packing my Yankees jersey.