Although Paine's famous observation described events infinitely more important than a baseball team, the phrase nonetheless conveys the current mood of the Yankees Universe.

A combination of bad fortune and substandard play doomed the Yankees during yesterday's FOX broadcast. To add insult to injury, Joe Buck and Tim McCarver were rolling with their own curious (read: painful) mix of conventional wisdom and self-love. That is, McCarver supplies the conventional wisdom and Buck embodies self-love.

The bad news: The Yankees lost yet another starting pitcher as a hot shot broke a finger on Rasner's pitching hand in the 1st. He's done for three months, if the media reports are correct.

More bad news: The bullpen trio of Myers, Vizcaino and Villone surrendered 8 runs in the next 5 innings and the Yankees were in a 6 run hole, 8-2. In a tragically comic moment in the 3rd, a long fly by David Wright bounced off of the inside of Damon's glove and over the wall for a 2 run HR.

A tiny grain of good news: The Yankees did not fold. With the score 8-3 in the top 8th, Alex and Jorge each hit solo jacks. Phelps then doubled in Abreu and it was suddenly a game, 8-6.

So close and yet so far: The ageless Julio Franco gave the Mets two insurance runs with a single in the bottom 8th (off of Farnsworth) for an insurmountable 10-6 lead.

The Yankees scored a meaningless run in the top 9th after a strange decision by Mets closer Wagner, who tried to throw Alex out at home rather than taking the safe out at 1st with a 4 run lead. 10-7, and that's how it ended.

What to say? I believe that the Yankees need to win their next 4 games.

Tyler Clippard makes his debut tonight on ESPN...I'm not sure I can stomach Morgan/Miller on the heels of Buck/McCarver.

As Dan Rather once said: Courage.