Okay, That Was Bad. Let's Move On

Last night's loss to Tampa was excruciating but you could see it coming. Chapman has had his problems with the Rays all year, and it was inevitable that at least one time the Yankees wouldn't bail him out.

But let's gain some perspective. If you'd told us in April, when players were dropping like flies and we'd never heard of Gio Urshela, that in the middle of July the Yankees would be five games ahead of the Rays and nine ahead of the Red Sox, we'd have signed up for that in a heartbeat. So let's not go crazy here. There's plenty of time for things to go wrong, but that's one game and not a month of games.

What is looming is the trade deadline. And even though the starting pitching has not been a problem of late, it's clear everyone's focus is on adding at least a starter, possibly a reliever and maybe Giancarlo Stanton, who it is rumored used to play for this team. More position players seem unlikely and probably unnecessary. Hang tight, fans; Jacoby Ellsubry and Greg Bird are playing Parcheesi somewhere and getting healthy. But for the time being Luke Voit and Brett Gardner will have to do.

Many names are being bandied about for a possible trade, including the almost impossible idea of trading for one of the Mets' starters. Marcus Stroman is a strong possibility but a lot of clubs are interested and it'll be a test of Mr. Cashman to get a quality arm without giving back the entire roster of the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Railriders.

I won't speculate on who might be a Yankee pitcher come August 1 because I'd most likely be wrong and you can't ever completely obliterate something published on the web. So I would look silly and I need no help doing that. But will one starter (and, as Cashman has hinted, possibly yet another relief pitcher) be enough?

Can DJ Le Mahieu actually remain this good for another three months? Is the league catching up to Voit? Is Gary Sanchez regressing again? Will Gardner suffer yet another second-half swoon? Anybody remember the last time Aaron Judge pulled a home run?

There are things to be concerned about, but it's still first place by multiple games and it's still past the midway point. Relax, Yankee fans. Things are going to be all right.

Probably.