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Yankees struggle toward clincher

By MIKE READLING

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 29, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Another day, another chance for the New York Yankees to watch the scoreboard for out-of-town scores and a fresh new opportunity for them to take one more step toward blowing their lead in the American League East.

At least that's the way it's turning out for the two-time defending World Champions.

New York came into Tropicana Field on Tuesday needing one victory in a three-game series with the previously hapless Devil Rays to clinch the Eastern Division title.

They left Tropicana Field still looking for that victory, having just put the finishing touches an 11-3 loss, completing a series in which the Rays outscored them 24-5.

New York did gain something Thursday night, as Toronto was eliminated from the playoff race thanks to a 23-1 loss to Baltimore. The Yankees have to win one of their next three games against Baltimore or hope Boston loses one of its remaining three. The Red Sox beat the White Sox Thursday to move to 31/2 games behind New York.

Then there's the possibility that New York could lose the rest of its games, including Monday's make-up game against Florida. That would mean a Boston sweep of the Rays this weekend would cause a tie and force a one-game playoff for the division title.

"We can't sit around and just wait for Boston to lose," Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter said. "To be honest, I don't care if they win or not. If we don't win, we don't go anywhere. We can't depend on someone else to do our jobs."

Lately the Yankees seem barely able to depend on themselves.

During September, the Yankees have endured a six-game losing streak, equaling their longest since 1997, and are riding a four-game losing binge. Three of those have come at the hands of the Devil Rays, all on nights New York had a chance to clinch the American League East title, and three of the four have been blowouts.

Wednesday's 11-1 loss to Tampa Bay marked the eighth time this year the Yankees lost by 10 or more runs, extending a franchise record.

"It's been a tough last 10 days trying to get a win there," outfielder Jose Canseco said. "Nothing's going right for us right now, that's for sure."

That's not exactly the kind of production manager Joe Torre is looking for as his team prepares to back into a division title.

"We're not doing a very good job right now," Torre said. "From the manager down to the players, we need to clean it up a little bit."

Tampa Bay, out of the playoff race long ago and well below .500 against American League East opponents, traveled to Toronto over the weekend and all but spoiled the Blue Jays' hopes of making a run at New York by winning three of four at SkyDome. The Yankees came to town with a chance to party at Tropicana Field, but the Devil Rays put those plans on hold, beating Orlando Hernandez 2-1 Tuesday.

New York followed that up with big losses the last two nights, and suddenly Torre found his playoff planning on hold.

"Everybody's ready to pop the champagne, but we've talked about what we have to do first," Torre said. "The last couple weeks have been very tough. The six-game losing streak, this (four-game) losing streak and it's been like boom, boom, boom.

"When you get your a-- kicked like Monday and last night it takes the starch out of you. It's harsh. Humbling."

New York has already set a club record for double-digit losses at home with six, it lost six of its final nine games at Yankee Stadium to finish eight games over .500 at home and Thursday equaled the longest road losing streak since 1996.

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