fatigue

The Yankees couldn't really help what happened to them this week, losing the American League playoffs to the upstart Texas Rangers in six games. I think the Yankees were just tired.
At least they looked tired, looked their age.
Maybe the most embarrassing moment came when a Yankee pitcher, seeking to give the Rangers an intentional walk. threw the ball over the catcher's head, allowing a base runner to advance from second to third.
The team from the Bronx has been one of my two or three favorites since the days of Lou Gehrig, Dizzy Dean and Ted Williams. But this year I got tired myself, watching them struggle to try to be what they used to be.
On Friday -- playoff elimination day for New York -- Yankee golden boy Derek Jeter led off the game by bouncing out. Shortstop Jeter batted .231 for the six-game series.
For the Rangers, shortstop Elvis Andrus led off the game with a double to left-center and scored a run. He batted .333 for the series.
Andrus is 22 years old and is making a beginning-level salary of $418,000. Jeter is 36 years old and is making $22.6 million.
Team rosters peg the Yanks' average age at 30.2 and the Rangers' at 28.6, which isn't far apart. But for the basic core of New York's championship contenders, individual age numbers are Jeter 36, Andy Pettitte, 38, Mariano Rivera, 40, Jorge Posada, 39, Lance Berkman, 34, Alex Rodriguez, 35, Mark Teixeira, 30, A.J. Burnett, 33.
At least 10 Yankees are paid more than $10 million. Only one Ranger gets more than $10 million, outfielder Michael Young at $13,1, and he is also one of the oldest, at 33.
Ranger catcher Bengie Molina is 36 and designated hitter Vladimir Guerrerro is 35, but the Texas team is loaded with youngsters between 20 and 30.
Of 11 Ranger pitchers, one is 40, two are thirtyish and eight are in their twenties.
So far as I can see, New York has one future star, second baseman Robinson Cano, and no team spark.
The Yankees' days aren't just numbered. They've run out.