So, here’s an existential question for you, Yankees fans: 

If the Rays beating the Yankees meant that, the day after the Rays splashed champagne, both parties in the coming baseball labor Armageddon declared: “That’s it! We’re settling! 2027, here we come!” — would you sign up for that? 

OK, I’ll stop the madness here. Of course you wouldn’t sign up for that. Of course you want the Yankees to beat the Rays in the division series, which began Saturday night at St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field. You’ll worry about 2027 in 2027. And maybe add this: If there’s no ’27 and we win it in 2026, that’ll be a two-year reign! Who says no to that? 

But it does bring up what, to me, is the fascinating case of the Rays, who, along with the Brewers, are seemingly on a mission to scotch the campaign that the baseball owners are fixing to mount within minutes of the final out of the World Series.