Hard Times in New York Town

Writes Mike Lupica in this morning's New York Daily News: "So it has come to this for the Yankees, after the Texas Rangers threw them down another flight of stairs, trying to throw them all the way out to 161st St., all the way into next season. It has come to CC Sabathia trying to keep them away from next season this afternoon. It was 10-3 for the Rangers in Game 4, after 8-0 in Game 3, after 7-2 in Game 2. That makes it 25-5 over the last three games, Yankees down 1-3 now, trying to somehow find the character to begin the greatest comeback in the history of the team Wednesday. Big guy pitching Wednesday. Go big or go home. 'Just win a game,' Joe Girardi said when it was over."

Wonders Ken Davidoff of Newsday: "Why was A.J. still in?"

Moans George King III in the New York Post: "Measure the toes, initial the tags and clear space in the morgue. The Yankees are nine innings away from self-inflicted baseball death."

And, muses Ben Shpigel of The New York Times: "This is what exasperation looks like: A.J. Burnett standing toward the front of the pitcher's mound, hands atop his head, blank stare on his face. This is what frustration sounds like: boos, loud and throaty, pouring forth from fans filing out of Yankee Stadium. This is what joy feels like: the Texas Rangers mobbing each other inside the dugout, an improbable trip to the World Series just one victory away. For the Yankees, these images from their 10-3 loss in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday night will linger through a long and dreary winter unless they win the next three games."

Adds Pat Borzi, also of The Times: "The game-changer belonged to Bengie Molina, the pudgy veteran catcher acquired by the Texas Rangers from San Francisco in July. It was a three-run drive deep down the left field line in the sixth inning, fair by just enough in a game where a few inches made a difference. Coming off A.J. Burnett, it put the Rangers ahead for good in their 10-3 victory at Yankee Stadium. 'It's not bad for a fat kid that everyone makes fun of when he runs,' Molina said."

Wraps up Matthew Futterman of The Wall Street Journal: "Before games, [Joe] Girardi hangs on the backstop during batting practice as if he's going to be quizzed later on what happened there. Ron Washington of the Rangers, meantime, wanders on the grass with an old bat and glove on his shoulder, chatting up reporters and sprinkling his speech with colorful epithets. 'Every player in the game knows the history of the New York Yankees,' he said. 'But once you step between those lines, it's about competing.'"

Now, please welcome to Cafe Wha? for the very first time, a young singer-songwriter from some place called Hibbing, Minnesota, Mr. Robert Zimmerman.