The Yankees could have been flying home on Thursday, bringing the World Series back to the Bronx for the first time in eight years. Joe Girardi would have been standing just to the right of home plate before Game 3 on Friday, shaking hands with Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, their teams lined up on the baselines, a giant flag stretched across the Yankee Stadium outfield.
With one more victory over the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series, that would have been reality.
Instead, Girardi is gone. He cleaned out his office on Wednesday after being informed that the Yankees would not renew his contract.