It was everything as expected for a guy who hasn’t felt the cold air of postseason baseball since he was ten. Everything except that bit of Orioles Magic of course. The atmosphere was electric in the large sea of orange as Game One was a memorable one, much like most of the Orioles games played this season. Sadly, I was taken back to my days as a ten year old as I sat and watched the Top of the 9th with my head in my hands and my fellow Orioles fans walking out of the stadium…shame on you by the way. However, this is not a post about my experience, rather a report card of how I thought our squad, player by player, performed in the first game of this best of five series. I will go by lineup and then by pitching, just so everyone can sort of follow.
1. Nate McLouth – Left Field Grade: B-
There wasn’t a ton of action out in left field last night for Nate, so there isn’t a ton I can say about his fielding. I didn’t feel like there was at any point where I was sort of dumbfounded about how he shifted for any hitter, or any play that he didn’t come up with out in the field. At the plate he was so-so. I thought his first at bat was terrible, didn’t really make CC really work at all and just kind of hurried through his at bat, but I guess you can chalk that up to nerves. His second at bat was obviously fantastic, driving in two runs off of a first pitch, what looked to be fastball, may have been a slider but it had some steam to it from the looks of things. Anyway, great second at bat with men in scoring position driving them in and being one of the lone Orioles to take advantage of that opportunity. A tough third at bat, worked the count to 3-2 and then swung at garbage, sitting him down in the fifth. His final at bat a weak sort of liner on a one bounce to Cano, ending McLouth’s night.
2. JJ Hardy – Shortstop Grade: C+
Typically, I would give JJ a worse grade, however he is our shortstop and he controls the infield. That being said I thought the infield was poised and ready the majority of the game. There were a lot of situational type moments, which happens frequently in the postseason, and I thought the infield handled them well. JJ lead the pack and played another solid game at SS, no errors made some nice plays and stood in there and almost made one of the most impressive double plays of the season. Unfortunately, it took a while for JJ’s bat to wake up. Again, another first at bat that you can probably chalk up to nerves, a three pitch popup to Jeter. His second at bat only got worse as he ended the Orioles third inning with a double play. Finally in the fifth it looked like JJ had started to figure out CC, with a 2-1 count he hit into a fielder’s choice. Low and behold he did figure CC out because in the 8th inning he led the inning off with a gorgeous double, taking a hard low and away fastball and punching it down the right field line, it was the perfect display of hitting. But still a 1-4 night, not sure that gets it done in the postseason.
3. Adam Jones – Center Field Grade: F
Other than the first inning when Ichiro drove in Jeter and Jones had to run the ball down, there was minimal action sent AJ’s way, so I can’t really grade his fielding on next to nothing. Hitting wise I thought Adam Jones was god awful. This is something that I hardly ever say or do is criticize our best player, but when guys don’t perform they need to be questioned, and this is one of those times. Adam Jones didn’t have one productive at bat the entire night. He swung at shitty pitches and he had a hard time working counts. Not to mention the biggest error of all, is not bunting in the 8th inning. I listened to sports talk on 105.7 the entire way home. I heard both sides of the argument. I even understand both sides of the argument, but when you have CC up on the mound in the 8th inning just cruising on a small pitch count, pretty much controlling the game and you know that you are an effective bunting hitter, you need to put your ego aside and move JJ Hardy to third. The postseason is entirely about how you can manufacture runs. You didn’t see fucking Derek Jeter putting his ego up there, he didn’t go up hacking, not only did he attempt to lay down bunts in two at bats, he bunted with two strikes and that is exactly why Derek Jeter is Derek Jeter and Adam Jones is still Adam Jones. It was an absolute critical point in the game, it would have changed CC’s pitch selection to Wieters, and Wieters would have had a complete different approach to his at bat. Not to mention it gives you a way better chance at a 3-2 lead heading into the ninth, regardless of how it ended up turning out. This isn’t the regular season anymore, striking out when you 82-65 and it costs you a game is a little different than striking out Game One of the ALDS which puts you in a spot to have to win 2 of 3 up in New York.
4. Matt Wieters – Catcher Grade: B+
I thought about this grade a lot. It is super frustrating to watch Matt Wieters hit, especially as our number four hitter, he just isn’t a four hitter, at least not yet. However, how he controls a game behind that plate will never show up in a stat sheet but it completely changes games. His hitting has to be somewhat taking into account, he or Jones not even getting Hardy over is a disgrace, but his grade is so high due to what he did behind that plate last night. Let me start by saying….Ichiro is a moron. Girardi didn’t make the call to send him, Ichiro has a green light to make the call himself. On the other side of that what a brilliant throw by Wieters getting Ichiro at third, it could have completely changed that game if he doesn’t nail him. The first inning could have been quite ugly. On top of that, the play he made off of the Andino, what looked to be 5 year old tee ball throw, was one of the best plays I have ever seen from a catcher. To pick the ball coming in like that, have the presence of mind to keep himself in front of the plate, find where Martin was coming home and make the tag, it was unbelievable. Up to that point in the game, it was the play of the game, Jeter bunting with two strikes a close second. Along with all of this, like he does, Wieters called a great game. Even though Hammel threw a ton of pitches, hitters were having a somewhat tough time with him and the bullpen pitched fantastic up until Jim Johnson…we’ll get to that whole mess.
5. Mark Reynolds – First Base Grade: C-
I’m not sure where the hell it came from, but Mark Reynolds is becoming one of the best defensive first basemen in the league, how I don’t know, but he just works over there. Again last night he made a fantastic play that almost turned a great double play, but guys stopped trying to hit the ball down the line from that point forward. Since there were so few plays, the thing that kills me is he gets to hit fifth and he blows it. His stat line is a little deceiving, 1-3 with a walk, the one hit was with 2 outs, as was the walk. Getting to hit fifth, the big spot he finally got put in, in the game and he grounded to shortstop. Reynolds has been hitting sixth or seventh the better part of the last two months. Buck finally rewards him and he doesn’t capitalize. How can Buck not put him back down after that? It was just super frustrating to be at the game and say yea ok two out walk, two out single, oh hey Mark runner in scoring position, two outs here is your chance to thank Buck for moving you up, saving your career, ok bounce out to shortstop…frustrating.
6. Manny Machado – Third Base Grade: D
Manny fever is big in Baltimore, but it was definitely quieted last night. This kid is going to be a stud no doubt, but last night proved that I don’t think he is one of those phenoms who comes up in the postseason and goes nuts, like an Andruw Jones type. I’m sure a lot of people will disagree, but I just don’t think he is quite ready for that yet, he will be an All-Star for years to come, but it may just be a year before his time. Granted it is only one game, so I could be completely off with my call. But back to his game, he went 0-4 with a K and although he made a very nice play over at third, with his bazooka that God tied to his right arm, but from where I was sitting it looked like he rushed it a little. I’m excited to be there tonight to see if the kid can change my view and put up a big Game Two.
7. Chris Davis – Right Field Grade: B
One of the hottest hitters on the team and he gets bumped down to seventh….I understand lefty on lefty and I’m sure his numbers against lefties, and mainly CC were subpar, but sometimes you have to throw numbers out the window. He got moved down to seventh and ended up with two hits and scored a run. Why did we move him down? Why not leave him at third where he had been hot, I just didn’t understand. Not only did he have two hits, he played an awesome right field, making a tough, tough catch near the gate and throwing a runner out at second base. He has been moved back up to third in Game Two and he deserves it, hope he produces big tonight.
8. Lew Ford – DH Grade: A
Lew Ford best grade on the team? You’re damn right. Since he was the DH all you can go off is the hitting and he had two hits off of CC. Lew Ford with two hits off of Sabathia! Not only did he get two hits, but he was part of that third inning where we scored our only runs. The guy will probably get very limited play from here on out, at least in this series since we are behind the eight ball now, but if this is his only game…he over performed.
9. Robert Andino – Second Base Grade: A-
Andino had a very nice game. He had a hit that moved Davis to third in the fifth inning, which shocker we didn’t capitalize on and he laid down a very nice sacrifice in the third, in which Nate McLouth brought in two runs. To go along with his solid day at the plate, I thought Andino was consistent at second base, which has been a major issue for the Orioles.
10. Ryan Flaherty – Pinch Hit
This pinch hit was so meaningless and unforgettable that it isn’t even worth talking about nor grading.
Pitching Staff
1. Jason Hammel – Starting Pitcher Grade: B-
For a first start off of the “DL” Hammel did a really nice job. The biggest thing that killed him throughout the night was pitch count. He threw a ton of pitches, 112 pitches through 5 2/3 innings is a ton. Not to mention he walked four guys. However, he was right in the game, matching CC Sabathia the entire way, until he was pulled of course. Being at the game it even felt that the Orioles were putting more pressure on CC than the Yankees on Hammel. Personally, I thought that the Orioles could have taken a lead several times and really just gave the game away, it didn’t feel like there was constant pressure on Hammel even though the pitch count probably makes it feel differently.
2. Troy Patton, Darren O’Day, Brian Matusz – Relief Pitching Grade: B+
It’s sort of hard to give each of these guys an individual grade so I will sort of lump all of them as one. Patton came in and did a really nice job getting out of that sixth inning. However, he came back out in the seventh and walked two straight. O’Day came in and pitched his ass off in the seventh and got some help from the field with an unbelievable play by Wieters at home. Matusz then came in on the eight and pitched close to a perfect inning, his lone blip was a walk to Tex where he threw four balls, and you could tell it was on purpose because the next batter, Granderson, he pumped a strike right to where Wieters was set up. This portion of the bullpen was pretty amazing, like it has been all year.
3. Jim Johnson – Closer Grade: F
Oh Jim, it just clearly wasn’t your night. From the first pitch he just looked kind of off. After getting behind 2-0 JJ left a sinker, that didn’t sink, up in the zone and Russell Martin of all people hit a no-doubt-abouter. Adding insult to injury, things just got worse and the entire night was a wreck for Jim Johnson only lasting 1/3 of an inning and giving up four earned runs. Let me say this, Jim Johnson has been unreal all season, 51 saves and has dominated the majority of appearances he has been in. This was one bad night and I think he will be just fine for the remainder of the series.
Manager – Buck Showalter Grade: D
Much like Adam Jones, there hasn’t been many times where I have disagreed or shook my head when Buck makes a call this year. In fact, I think I counted 4 times in 162 that I truly disagreed with Buck. Unfortunately, in the past two games (WC game at Texas and Game 1 ALDS) I have no disagreed with Buck twice. Not like the rambling idiot writing the blog article has any right to talk about managing a major league ball club. Anyway, on Friday down in Texas someone will have to pay me a substantial amount of money to agree with them that leaving Thome in, in the ninth inning instead of bringing in a pinch runner was the right move. It wound up ok, but two batters later, Robert Andino hit a double, which could have scored a pinch runner, and it may have been the only run we got, instead Thome wound up at third. In last night’s game, there were a couple of things I disagreed with. One, simply, was lineup. I said it earlier and I will say it again, I just completely do not understand taking one of your hottest hitters in Chris Davis and drop him to seventh in the lineup. He ended up with two hits and they may have helped a little more further up the lineup. The other thing I just didn’t agree with was not having Adam Jones bunt. I understand having a philosophy and Buck clearly believed in letting his best hitter hit, I just thought with the way the game was playing out, trying to steal Game One from their ace the right move there was trying to get that run in, in the eight inning and letting Jim Johnson come in with a one run lead.
Game Two grades will be posted whenever I get a chance to go to work, sleep and reflect on what I saw being at the game. Let’s go O’s!
