Let me start this off by saying that less than 48
hours prior to writing this, I actually predicted that the Texas Rangers would
beat the Baltimore Orioles in the one game Wild Card. Yet, as they have for 162 games this season,
the Baltimore Orioles continue to defy the odds. Ron Washington, post game, stated it
best: “To be honest with you, I never
thought anything like this would happen.”
The Baltimore Orioles. The team that only finished the season with a
+7 run differential (compared to the Yankees’ +136), yet managed to win 93
games this season. The critics, like
myself, all season long continue to bet against these Orioles. On paper, they shouldn’t be in the
playoffs. But, they’re in the playoffs…
and, they’ve gotten past the one game Wild Card, on the road. Is it time for this critic of the Orioles to
finally buy in, when they’re going against his Yankees? The same critic who said the Yankees would
lose in the ALDS to the Texas Rangers?
Nope. It’s time to change my
tone. If this were poker, it’s not a
tournament, but a cash game… and I’m buying back in, and feeling lucky. The two teams may have split their 18
meetings this year, but now it’s the playoffs, and I say… Let’s Go Yankees!
Hitting: The Baltimore Orioles haven’t gotten where
they are this season by out-scoring their opponents (as I will address later on
when pitching comes around). That’s not
to say they don’t have potent bats in their lineup, like Adam “gobble gobble I
think I’m Pacman but I’m not” Jones, Mark “I was the Adam Dunn of the American
League until Adam Dunn came back to the American League, now I’m just Mark”
Reynolds and Manny “I’m going to party like I’m 1996 Andruw Jones”
Machado. However, there isn’t Nick
Markakis, who is a big reason the Orioles are where they are, when the O’s
switched him to leadoff, but before he got hurt.
The Yankees counter with a team defined by the home
run (with 10 players on the roster with
at least 10 HR on the season), rejuvenated Derek Jeter, who managed to lead the
league this season in hits (216) and a perhaps rejuvenated Ichiro Suzuki, who
hit .322 with a .340 OBP since being acquired by the Yankees. If the Yankees are going to score runs,
they’re going to need to do it with the long ball, which means it’s up to Alex
“I’m not really gay, right? Right, I
don’t think I’m gay” Rodriguez, Mark “I really hope I’m not over the hill”
Teixeira, Robinson “I’m hotter than hot right now” Cano and Nick “look at these
amazing side burns, they’re the best side burns since Donnie baseball” Swisher.
Advantage: Yankees
Starting
Pitching: Matt
Lindstrom. That’s essentially who it
cost the Orioles on August 26 to acquire Joe Saunders, who nutted up and got
the Orioles past the Texas Rangers and into this American League Division
Series. Similar to their hitting, the
Orioles haven’t been defined this season by their starting pitching, as they
don’t have any names that jump off the paper and are going to scare you. “Rookie” sensations Wei-Yin Chen and Miguel
Gonzalez and Chris “trying not to be this teams next Brian Matusz”
Tillman. No Justin Verlanders in this
pitching staff. The Orioles get things
done by keeping things close, and letting their bullpen handle the rest.
The Yankees, on paper, blow the Orioles’ rotation
out of the water. No Pineda, but, no
Nova in this starting rotation either.
Instead, the Yankees will roll out with CC “you can’t fight me, I’m the
size of a bouncer” Sabathia, Andy “what’s my age again?” Pettitte, Hiroki
“thank god I’m no longer on the Dodgers” Kuroda and Phil “thank you for not
trading me to the Twins way back when for Johan” Hughes. The Yankees starters are there to pitch deep
into games before handing it over to their bullpen, and, the Yankees are going
to need their starters to do just that if they hope to end this Cinderella
story.
Advantage: Yankees
Relief
Pitching: This is
where the Orioles beat you. Their
bullpen is solid. There is just no other
way of saying it. Armed with four middle
relievers with sub 3.00 era’s, now reliever Brian “what did Chris Tillman just
say about me?!” Matusz, and 51 save star Jim “bring it” Johnson. No filler needed to make this any longer, the
Orioles have the best bullpen in the American League.
The Yankees have been defined by Mariano
Rivera. Clutch, professional, game
over. Yet, as anyone who is actually
reading this knows, the Yankees don’t have Mariano Rivera this time around,
thanks to his injury. The Yankees still,
however, have one of the better bullpens in the American League, led by Rafael
“what do you mean I’m no Rivera!?” Soriano, Dave “the South will riiiise
again!” Robertson, Boone “how ‘bout those Braves” Logan and Clay “my mom says
I’m cool” Rapada.
It’s not that Yankees fans shouldn’t feel confident
in this bullpen. However, Yankees fans
should hope that these games get decided before it is left to the
bullpens. Otherwise, Cinderella is going
to make her midnight appearance, and her carriage won’t be turning back into a
pumpkin in this story.
Advantage: Orioles
Yankees
in 5.
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