As of today, with 34 games left to play the pathetic Yankees are 6 games out of the wildcard and 10 1/2 behind the first place Famous Original Rays. Yes, I know there’s lots to talk about, being on the cusp of football season and all (Hey, Brett’s a Jet!), but what we’re witnessing in New York right now is rare, unfamiliar territory.

The Yankees are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the first time in 14 seasons. The last time they didn’t make the playoffs was 1994 during the riveting strike when no one made the playoffs. To put this in perspective, that was also when Expos youngster Pedro Martinez had a jerri curl mullet, Mike Gallego was the starting shortstop for the Yanks, and I was likely enjoying a breathtaking sip from a juice box.

Well a little over a month ago they went into the All-Star break in clear contention for not only the wildcard, but the division too. Since? Joba grabbed his shoulder in Texas (with a 5-2 lead) and the wheels have come off in varying ugly ways that included a walk-off grand slam (the game Joba left). Solid stuff.

That coupled with having lost Wang (insert 9,000 Wang jokes here) for basically the rest of the year, on top of the fact that soon-to-be-very-rich free agent CC Sabathia has been a monster for the Brewers with five complete games in nine starts, it’s safe to say Hank and company are already salivating and have set aside a stack of signature Ted DiBiase briefcases filled with cash (Imig nods).

And that injury to Joba, a rather large piece to their future, has only further cemented the fact that they need an ace with a proven track record, someone whose shown time and again they can log the necessary innings expected of a premier starter.

Take all that and let it roast on top of how tremendously stupid they must feel for not getting Johan Santana in the rumored trade scenario that included some combination of Melky Cabrera (minors), Phil Hughes (rehab starts, minors) and Ian Kennedy (crappy, minors), and it’s pretty obvious where their mind must be.

It’s doubtful they’ll let a top of the rotation guy get away for the second consecutive offseason. Sorry, Milwaukee.