Around the Diamond – Yankees 5, O’s 2

Around the Diamond

Maybe we would have been better off if it had rained. The first game in the Yankees series ended in embarrassing fashion, with two incidents that are likely to be the talk of Birdland for some time.

First Base

Alright, let’s get this out of the way: Adam Jones was terrible tonight. He single-handedly lost the game. He hit into at least a zillion double plays, before dropping a fly ball, allowing the winning 3 runs to score. The ball was not exactly routine, but it was catchable – particularly for a Gold Glove center fielder. Jones did a great job getting to it, he just  failed to complete the play. It’s like an infielder making a terrific diving stop, only to throw the ball into the first-base side dugout.

Jones said all the right things, and to his credit, he didn’t come up the next inning trying to hit a 5-run home run. But all that is moot. Adam let the club down big time tonight.

Second Base

Did you hear that the Yankees turned a triple play tonight? Well, you’re going to hear it an awful lot. Seriously – every major sports media outlet is going to fall over themselves to make sure they play, replay, and overplay the inning. I know they’re rare, and should be celebrated, but it will get far more airtime because it was the pinstripers than if it had been turned in a Royals/Athletics game.

Dumb luck followed by terrible base running (Machado’s second base running blunder in as many nights). It was ugly. Get used to watching it.

Third Base

Miguel Gonzalez deserved way better than what he got in this game. For 6+ innings, he held the Yankees lineup to 2 runs. Were it not for a painful Adam Jones error, he would have escaped with a no-decision, an a very solid outing. Gonzalez was a little wild at times. I won’t make excuses, but the weather may have been a factor. Other than that, he showed why Buck Showalter wanted him to pitch at Yankee Stadium: he pitched fearlessly, and gave the Orioles a chance to win.

You could argue that Buck left him in too long (he came back in the 7th, with his pitch count already at 96), but at some point, you have to expect more from your starters. His leash was short… just not short enough.

Home Plate

I hated facing Kevin Youkilis, dangerous Red Sox hitter. I hated facing Kevin Youkilis, unwilling White Sox hitter. I REALLY hate facing Kevin Youkilis, money-grabbing whore. For a guy who is so identifiable with the Red Sox, it’s ludicrous that he would sign with the Yankees. I clearly don’t think much of either team, but that $12 million contract really accounts to 30 pieces of silver. I didn’t think it was possible, but he’s made it even easier to root against him.

Summary

At some point, I realized that writing this recap was going to suck as much as watching the game. This one hurts, but it’s only one game. The only silver lining is that Adam Jones and the Orioles get to come back tomorrow to try to redeem themselves. The Birds will send Hammel and Chen to the mound the remainder of the series, which will hopefully lead to more quality starts.