ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Well, this was inevitable.
And look: It probably would have happened no matter whom the Yankees drew in the playoffs this year (with the exception of their big-spending mirror images up in Boston). The whole notion that the Yankees had shed their image as the Darth Vader of sports for fans outside their fan base was always a temporary thing — if it were ever really a thing at all.
But that’s no longer an issue.
The Athletics clinched the other American League wild-card berth when the Yankees beat the Rays Monday night, a result that went final in the first inning of Oakland’s game with the Seattle Mariners, one the A’s celebrated with champagne and good cheer following their run-through-the-tape victory over Seattle a few hours later.