Yankees' Latest Playoff Failure Shouldn't Surprise Anyone

The New York Yankees were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in the Division Series in absolutely embarrassing fashion, as they scored five runs the entire series and watched as the Rays celebrated at Yankee Stadium.

Much like the Toronto Blue Jays did in the Bronx last October.

Two AL East squads that were once doormats for New York have beaten the Yankees in back-to-back campaigns, adding to the misery that has befallen the fanbase since the team last won a World Series in 2009.

And you what the worst part is? The loss shouldn't surprise anyone.

Not because Aaron Judge was sidelined, and not because the only two at-bats Giancarlo Stanton had received since April both came in this series. But because postseason letdowns have become the Yankees M.O.

As I said earlier in the week, New York's playoff mystique is no longer a thing.

Heck, we saw a perfect example of it on Wednesday night, when Anthony Volpe hit a ball deep to left field with a runner on ... only to have a fan reach over the fence and corral it, making it an RBI double for Volpe rather than what would have been a game-tying two-run home run.

The ball probably wouldn't have made it over the fence anyway, but it was a cruel irony in remembrance of what happened back in October 1996, when Derek Jeter hit a ball to right field in the ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles, and Jeffrey Maier reached out over the fence to pull it in. The result? A critical homer for Jeter rather than fan interference.

The Yankees had magic back then. Just about everything went their way in the late '90s and very early 2000s. But this team? This current iteration of the Bronx Bombers? Yeah, anything but the sort.

That old Yankees dynasty was a perfect collection of players that meshed and knew how to win big games. This squad has a lot of big names, but they constantly come up short.

Heck, Judge himself dropped a routine fly ball in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers two years ago. If Judge makes that catch in Game 5, who knows what happens?

We've seen this story too many times with the Yankees in recent years, like their three-error bonanza in Game 2 of the series versus the Rays earlier in the week.

The problem is there really isn't a whole lot Brian Cashman can do this offseason other than blow up the team, which isn't going to happen.

Yes, Cashman can make some tweaks here and there, but a drastic overhaul isn't happening. And there really aren't any star players that make a ton of sense.

The Yankees just watched a team with a sub-$100 million payroll embarrass them on a national stage. Unfortunately, that might become the norm.

This team is good on paper, and they're good for 90-plus wins and a playoff berth every year. What will will the Yankees do when they actually get to October? Lose, like usual.

It sounds crazy to even say that about a franchise that has won 27 championships, but that has become the case for New York. And sadly, the fans are becoming accustomed to it.

But at least the Yankees won a game against the Blue Jays last year. This time, they were shut out by the Rays.

Just imagine what George Steinbrenner would think.

The Rays?! Are you kidding me?! THE RAYS?!?!?!

A sweep at the hands of Tampa Bay in the George era would be enough to get everyone fired. He probably wouldn't even stop at his own son.

But times are different now in the Bronx. Good and not great has become acceptable, and the fanbase has become conditioned for it.