Mean Yankees Have Shut Off Tenants’ Power

It was only one game, the first of a best-of-five series, but Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reacted as if the series was over after the New York Yankees defeated the Texas Rangers, 8-0, Tuesday night.

“This has become the same as a real-estate transaction. The Rangers rent space in baseball’s postseason, but it’s strictly a short-term lease. And then the landlord comes with an eviction notice. That, of course, would be the Yankees.

“The Yankees own this property. Worse yet, the Yankees own the Rangers. Call U-Haul. . . . The Rangers once again will be packing up and leaving October in a hurry.”

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More Rangers: Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News seemed to agree with Galloway, writing: “So the Rangers, at least in theory, can come back from a Game 1 loss in the playoffs.

“The problem is that the Rangers are asked to do it against the Yankees, against whom they do little more than take up space. At this time of year, in Yankee Stadium especially, they should be called the Texas Space Eaters.”

The Yankees won, 3-1, on Thursday so shouldn’t the Rangers just forfeit Game 3 tonight, because it’s all over?

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Trivia time: Who holds the Pacific 10 Conference record for touchdowns in a season?

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Phantom calls: The Detroit News reported that Lion offensive lineman Barrett Brooks suffered a triple loss in a recent game against Kansas City.

First, he didn’t play. Second, his name was announced to the crowd for a false start. Third, he was announced again for holding, all while he was on the sideline.

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Unbeaten and unimpressive: Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Examiner, on Sunday’s St. Louis Ram-49er game: “The Rams are 3-0 because their strength of schedule is an oxymoron. The terminally mediocre Baltimore Ravens . . . the stunningly ineffectual Atlanta Falcons . . . the inexcusably awful Cincinnati Bengals . . . that’s the three in 3-0.

“And though every coach from Amos Alonzo Stagg to Rich Kotite has said that no one should overlook an opponent, this may be one of those golden opportunities to prove the experts daft.”

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Losing environment: From Miami Dolphin punter Tommy Hutton, a former Eagle: “Just look at the facilities. It’s ridiculous. The facilities are nicer at my high school than Philadelphia.”

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Trivia answer: Skip Hicks of UCLA with 25 in 1997.

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And finally: Ron Rapoport in the Chicago Sun-Times: “My favorite injury of the NBA preseason: The Timberwolves’ Anthony Peeler needed six stitches in his leg after jamming it into the edge of a whirlpool when he tried to get out of the way of a guy wheeling in his room-service cart.”