Mixed Emotions

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The New York Yankees just won the American League East Division for the 19th time.

The Bombers closed out the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Orange County of California of the West Coast of the United States, 9-1 a short time ago.

It's their first division title in seven years, and they remain the gold standard of doing so.

Still, there's a prevailing feeling of disgust mixed in with the taste of champagne tonight.

The Yankees stand to be without starting pitcher Domingo German for some time.

A team that has been decimated by injuries all year has lost a pitcher with 18 wins because (apparently) he slapped his girlfriend.

I’m told the incident involving Domingo German and his girlfriend occurred late Monday night/Tuesday morning in a public setting - he allegedly slapped her during an argument. According to an MLB source, the incident was witnessed by an official from the Commissioner’s office.

— Bob Klapisch (@BobKlap) September 19, 2019

What a prince.

We do still live in a land where people are innocent until proven guilty, but the stench of such a thing in our world of social media means the court of public opinion is open for business and German has been found guilty.

It really should take little effort or common sense to say that there's no place for that behavior.

In baseball or anywhere else.

And so I found myself a bit annoyed as I prepared to watch the Yankees take the first step towards a possible 28th championship.

Admittedly, I finally got into the game and put the German stuff aside, and certainly felt a smile as they wrapped it up.

In the end love of sports -- always meant to be a distraction from "real" life -- won out.

But as a man -- a father, who has tried to bring his son up to be respectful -- I found myself also feeling a little sick after the game.

This is not a Yankees thing, of course. It's a people thing, but it still clouded the evening just a hair.

I had other feelings of anxiety and such through the night, but they're not necessary to discuss and, good grief, you have to be sick of hearing them by now.

So, is it right to feel good about the 2019 New York Yankees tonight?

I guess that's a personal thing.