Sunday, October 7, 8:28 p.m.: Looks like
we're headed for an 8:40 first pitch...
8:31: I feel comfortable picking the Yankees to win this series,
but tonight's the game I'm most concerned about. C.C. Sabathia hasn't been an
elite pitcher this season -- he's been "good" but nothing more
-- and Jason Hammel is the only true threat to the Yankees' high-powered
offense.
Hammel was a
back-of-the-rotation starter for the Rockies in recent years, but he's really
found it in Baltimore. Maybe Buck Showalter opened his eyes to superior pitch
sequences. Hammel's looked like a second-tier ace, which is great considering
his career leading into this season.
8:37: This new Division Series format drives me nuts. Why are the
Orioles home for Game 1 when the Yankees won the division and had the best
record in the American League? Silly logic from the league's brain trust.
8:43: "Would you bunt Ichiro here?" my roommate
just asked. You can't because playing for one run early doesn't make sense the
way Sabathia has pitched. Plus, it's an American League playoff game with two
dangerous lineups -- you have to rally whenever possible.
8:46: ...And there's Ichiro right on cue. Nice job by Joe Girardi starting Jeter there. 1-0 Yanks. Welcome back to the postseason, O's.
Wow, terrible stolen base attempt by Ichiro there. What was that?
8:50: Ichiro got the momentum rolling in the Yankees favor
and then (almost) instantaneously gave it back. Terrible baserunning play that
could be critical to the outcome of the game. Reminds me of Josh Hamilton's
first-pitch double play in the first inning against Saunders the other day.
Generated an early momentum shift.
8:55: C.C. shook off Martin three times there before getting
the pitch he wanted...four-seam fastball up and in. Very well executed for an
out.
8:58: I know this is running baseball commentary, but Drew
Brees just connected with Devery Henderson on a beautiful, long touchdown in
the Sunday Night game. 7-7 in the first quarter.
9:08: Hammel isn't sharp early. Allowing leadoff runners to
reach base and not locating when ahead in the count. Three poor 0-2 pitches
there, but he escapes with the foul pop out from Martin.
9:25: Man, it's hard to stick to running MLB commentary when
you have Sunday Night Football, Words with Friends, Draw Something, NHL 2013
and three roommates in the living room. You know?
9:34: I was nervous when C.C. picked up that ball; luckily
Tex held the bag. Ugh, Nate McLouth lefty on lefty, two RBI single. Annoying.
9:36: 2-1 Baltimore after 3. Not a good sign for the Yankees
because Sabathia has looked sharper than Hammel in terms of location and
execution, and yet New York trails. We'll see how they respond...
9:41: Excellent at bat from A-Rod. Great approach and
discipline to draw the leadoff walk from Hammel.
9:44: Maybe it's just me, but I feel like Robinson Cano
swings at every pitch in the postseason. Another excellent play by Mark
Reynolds playing even with the bag at first.
9:51: More atrocious baserunning by the Yankees. Where is
Tex going with the ball in front of him like that? Should be first and third
one out. Changes everything.
10:02: Very uncharacteristic two out walk by Sabathia there.
Free swinger like Reynolds; you need to make him hack with two out and no one
on. Luckily it's Machado at the plate now; I don't view him as much of an
offensive threat in this series batting as high in the order as he is (6th,
expected him 8th).
10:11: Yankee hitters are consistently late on Hammel's
sinking fastball which appears to be "fat" from time to time. I'd
like to see them getting extended a tad earlier. As I say that, Ichiro is late
on a hittable fastball and goes down swinging.
10:54: Sabathia bites down and escapes after Jeter's
potentially-costly E6. Pretty awful at bat from "Crush" Davis there
in a pivotal position.
11:00: Horrible performance from Orioles reliever Troy Patton. I'm surprised that Buck trusted him in a game like this. Now it's Darren O'Day's mess to clean up; we expect Jeter to bunt them over to second and third here with no outs.
11:27: Helluva night for Sabathia; a true bulldog
performance. Let's see if the Yankee bats can man up like C.C. has.
11:34: I don't know what I just saw...one of the worst at
bats I've ever seen from Curtis Granderson. Takes a fastball right down the
middle; takes a hanging slider then chases a fastball up out of the strikezone.
Good morning, good afternoon and goodnight. Nice outing from Brian Matusz.
11:47: Somebody step up for C.C. -- let's go! How can the
Yankee bats not be inspired to support their battling ace?
12:15 a.m.: Thus concludes a classic performance from
Sabathia: 8 2/3 innings, 2 R, 120 pitches in a hitter's park, road
playoff game. Outstanding, and Robertson nails it down. Impressive late-game
victory for the Yanks in Baltimore.
12:18: Talk about a demoralizing loss for Showalter and the O's. Jim Johnson and his 51
saves couldn't get the job done tonight. Game 2 tomorrow evening...can't wait.
Congrats Yankees fans!
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