I did not watch last night’s game, and I don’t mind

Five straight losses is tough to handle, especially when you run a Yankees site and have to do a recap afterward. I took to all sorts of activities — MLB 09 The Show, sports trivia — to get over the emotional torment of the losses before writing them up. After yet another heartbreaking loss on Thursday night, I knew I needed a night off. Thankfully, I had dinner plans with a few friends (mussels, beer, pom fritte). We set out to the restaurant right before the first pitch, and didn’t return until the bottom of the ninth.

Some friends felt sympathy for me not having seen the game. “Oh, man, you had to deal with those losses and didn’t even get to see the redemption?” No, I didn’t. But I didn’t mind. After five straight losses, all in particularly gruesome fashion, missing an excellent win didn’t bother me one little bit. I didn’t sit around for the highs and lows, didn’t see any poor at bats, any failings to score with RISP…anything negative at all. It was mostly a baseball-free night (well, except when I started checking my BlackBerry in the 7th inning).

So I missed CC’s big game. Big whoop. I still have MLB.tv and can relive the glory this afternoon while waiting for the night game. While A-Rod’s homer was probably tantalizing to see live, I saw it enough on replay, and understand the implications well enough, that I’m only marginally worse off as a baseball fan for not having seen it. While missing the good parts I also missed the bad parts, and that’s a good thing.

It’s almost like when you have a week where you sleep three or four hours a night. Friday you’re in this zombie-like state, wanting nothing other than the end of the work day to come. Go to bed early, sleep until noon, and it feels like the batteries are recharged. By going out during the game and sharing good times with friends (and also incredibly good food and beer), I was able to forget about the lows of the past week. That we got home for the bottom of the ninth was even sweeter. This was a group of six Yankees fans, two of whom had been to all four Rays/Sox losses (and with whom I saw Saturday’s loss). We all could have used the break.

Last night’s victory was sweet — so sweet that I’m going to watch it on replay. Many Yanks fans watched the game with joy, but I’m fine having missed it. There are plenty more to see, all hopefully less painful than those we saw over the past week.