Last night, the New York Yankees lost to the Houston Astros and thus ended a magical run to the 2017 World Series. The loss left me sad, hurt and little emotional. And it was also a reminder of what really hurts the most: expectation. When we expect something, and it doesn’t happen, we are disappointed. When we don’t expect anything, and something great happens, we are overjoyed by it. 

We were not expecting the Yankees to be playing this deep in October, at least not in 2017. We were supposed to be rebuilding and reconfiguring the team for the future. But a youthful burst of energy from the Baby Bombers reenergized veterans and some properly astute trades turned a year that was going to be a wash into an October surprise.

Until Game 6 of the ALCS, I had no expectations of a series win from these new Yankees. But their three-on-a-trot wins brought a sense of expectation. And with that a disappointment. And while this is sport, I have often been disappointed by things, people, ideas and companies when I have projected too many expectations on them. I have learned the hard way that you can only expect yourself to meet your expectations — because if you don’t, then you know you can try harder and get there.

I know I am being philosophical, but loss or disappointment can do that to you. I am sure we have a bright future with these new Yankees, but I will try to expect less and enjoy the moment — or in their case, the entire October 2017. Bring on 2018.

October 22, 2017, San Francisco.