Schadenfreude 169 (A Continuing Series)

Mark Feinsand, Daily News:

On second thought, do the Yankees even want a wild card spot?

If the Yankees find a way to capture one of the two wild-card berths during the next two weeks, then win the one-game playoff, their reward likely will be a first-round matchup with the Red Sox. ...

The Red Sox outscored the Yankees 22-7 during the series, finishing the year with 13 wins in 19 meetings, their highest total since beating the Yankees 14 times in 1973. It's also the most wins by any team in a single season against the Yankees since 1976.

John Harper, Daily News:

The wild-card leaders refuse to put the Yankees out of their misery, but it's hardly a race at the moment. More like a crawl, as Joe Girardi's ballclub limps out of town here hoping that being outclassed by the Red Sox this weekend doesn't mean they've simply hit the skids.

As Alex Rodriguez put it after the 9-2 loss on Sunday night: "They've basically whipped our ass."

Joel Sherman, Post:

All the Yankee misery this season would be more tolerable — even without a playoff appearance — if positives for next year were derived from the despair.

But do you see many? Any? ...

Consider that the Yanks have deployed a team-record 56 players without offering one high-end prospect. Zero-for-56. ...

So if you are discouraged by the Yanks' 2013, what are you seeing that makes you feel more optimistic about next year?