Invent any explanation imaginable for the Yankees losing to the Royals on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium and there is no wrong choice.
The fog from the clubhouse smoke machine used to celebrate Wednesday night’s victory over the Red Sox damaged their corneas. The pulsating music destroyed their equilibrium. They wrongly believed simply showing up was enough to handle the worst team in the AL Central despite already losing series to the Orioles, Tigers and White Sox at home.