I’ll admit, my baseball fandom is largely driven by jealousy and hatred. That’s just how it goes when you live in Kansas City. But it’s pretty easy to hate the sense of entitlement associated with the Yankees, and you rarely have to resort to straw men.

Today, Bob Klapisch of Fox Sports has what is termed a “Fox Exclusive” story on the Yankees entitled, “Bronx Bombers Not Giving Up Hope.” It details Alex Rodriguez’s struggles, and terms the middle of the lineup with A-Rod and Texeira “a black hole of automatic outs.” They are 10th in the A.L. in ERA, 11th for their starters. They are 26th in hitting singles with runners in scoring position. Gasp. They should start insisting any home runs or doubles are just converted to singles to get that ranking up.

From the tone of the piece, you would think these Yankees were in a dreadful place, just hoping to turn things around. A lineup with a “black hole” and a bad pitching staff should be near the bottom of the league.

The Yankees are 23-21. They are a half game behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the final wildcard spot this year. They are 4.5 games back of a team that many doubt whether they can sustain the pace for a full year, the Baltimore Orioles.

I must say I admire the resolve of these Yankees in not giving up hope in the face of being a half game out of a playoff spot, with a front office that potentially may make no blockbuster trade, and in having to rely on a lineup that is paid more than any in baseball. That is a sign of true character.

[photo via US Presswire]