Schadenfreude 143 (A Continuing Series)

Anthony Mccarron, Daily News:

The Yankees botched multiple scoring opportunities in a 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays Saturday afternoon and also missed a chance to put themselves in position to clinch at least a playoff spot.

A victory and an Angels loss later Saturday would've guaranteed the Yanks entry into the postseason. Instead, the Yanks really only have themselves to blame for losing to the hapless Jays ...

But if the Yanks continue to play the way they did Saturday, their foray into serious October baseball likely will be brief. ...

George A. King III, Post:

The roller coaster ride that has been September took a significant drop Saturday. How costly it was remains to be seen but it was severe and self-inflicted. ...

Through five innings they were 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight.

Late in the game and down a run they watched Ichiro Suzuki get caught attempting to steal second in the seventh and pinch-runner Brett Gardner in the eighth.

Joel Sherman, Post:

The best teams lose 60-70 games, so defining any one loss as unacceptable is usually for the irrational ranting of talk radio.

But I will say this about the Yankees' 3-2 loss yesterday to the Blue Jays:

It was unacceptable.

Mark Feinsand, Daily News:

These past few days were supposed to be the Yankees' chance to separate themselves from the Orioles, or at least knock a few more days off the calendar without losing ground. Instead they lost a game and a half over the last three days. ...

[T]he blame for Saturday's setback didn't fall on Pettitte's 40-year-old left arm. Instead, it was the lack of clutch hitting — again — that doomed the Yankees to another one-run loss.

Runner at second, nobody out in the second? Chris Stewart popup, Derek Jeter strikeout, Ichiro Suzuki popup.

Bases loaded, nobody out in the third? Curtis Granderson popup, Andruw Jones strikeout, Eduardo Nunez lineout.

How about first and second, nobody out in the fifth? Granderson fielder’s choice followed by a 3-6-3 double play by Raul Ibanez.

Sensing a trend? ...

"Tomorrow is going to be a must-win," Nick Swisher said.