I have been flooded with e-mails, tweets, Facebook hits, and phone calls asking for my response and feedback on the Yankees struggles against the Boston Red Sox this season. Most notably, the consecutive series sweeps the Red Sox have handed the Yankees on their on field.

To some everything up about the last three games, I’ll let Mark Teixeira help me out:

“They just came and beat us. They swung the bats really well, scored a lot of runs and pitched pretty well, pitched when they needed to. Not much you can do about it. They just beat us.” - Mark Teixeira

Thing is, the Yankees had this game won. Curtis Granderson had homered off Josh Beckett (payback for Beckett hitting Derek Jeter one batter earlier) and CC Sabathia had drilled David Ortiz (payback for the Red Sox beaning six Yankees this series and Ortiz flipping his bat in the opener). The Yankees carried a 2-0 lead into the seventh, which had to be the most deflating inning of the season.

Not much else can be done about it now. I completely agree with what CC Sabathia had to say after the game:

“We lose the game and get swept. I take total blame for everything that happened in the seventh inning, and I’ll be back out there in five days.” - CC Sabathia

The Red Sox and Yankees don’t play one another again until the first weekend in August. Yankees skipper Joe Girardi knows there is a lot of baseball left.

This is pretty funny, apparently David Ortiz blamed the media for him being hit tonight and refused to answer any questions. Alrighty then Papi, whatever helps you sleep at night. Nevermind the fact that he had a huge series. I mean, one would think he would want to talk about that or maybe how well his team has played after a horrid start to the season. Nah, he would rather stomp his feet and blame the media for getting beaned. Come on man, you had to know it was coming.

Speaking of getting hit, here is a telling stat that stood out to me in this series:

Three Yankees were hit by a pitch last night, matching the most by an American League team this season. The last time the Yankees had three players hit by a pitch in one game was June 15, 2010 against the Phillies.

Huh, call me crazy but I think that speaks to a little more than control problems or “pitches that got away”.

I have never been someone who hides from the criticism or backlash that one is susceptible to after a team that I root for struggles. I take it on the chin and eagerly await the next time I am able to return the favor. It’s part of being a fan. It’s what fans do. We as fans – no matter who we are fans of – live and die with each moment in each game day in, day out and week in and week out.

I will always encourage my readers, listeners, friends, family, and colleagues to continue the good natured ribbing and trash talk. I love it and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Why?

Because I’m a fan and that’s what I live for.