Usually right around now we’re settling in for Baltimore Orioles’ baseball. But no, not this week – the Birds of course will complete their series with New York in Prime Time, on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. The bright lights of national television come to Camden Yards.
I mentioned this briefly in my game recap of last night’s 8-3 loss. But the season series between the O’s and NYY is now tied at six wins each. Tonight settles that matter, win or lose.
It goes without saying that you want to win every game. And every series. But this is a game to which you could end up pointing back. New York may be in last place, but they’re in the playoff hunt.
In a world where nothing’s guaranteed and where everything seems to matter, you want to cross your T’s and dot your I’s. If the Birds drop the season series, how does it look if somehow they wind up the season tied with New York in some capacity? Be it for the division, or even flat out getting into the post season?
That would be a travesty on numerous fronts. And it would be fair to point at any of the other six losses to New York and say those played a role. Because they will have. But this game – at home, series finale, on Sunday Night Baseball…it has a cataclysmic feel to it. You get the point.
Now mind you, I’m not chalking this game up as a loss here this afternoon. I’m just saying that it would be a travesty to lose this game and somehow have it bite you later. On the flip side, a win would give the Orioles that tie breaker. So needless to say, tonight’s game is big. Before you factor in the bright lights of national television. Meaning that there’s only one option: WIN.
Birdland Crush 