It’s going to feel like Baltimore Orioles’ Opening Day this afternoon. The city will take on that carnival-like atmosphere for sure. Bars will be open early, and bunting will be on the B & O Warehouse. The entire city will be decked out in orange and black.
And in a way perhaps it is “opening day” – or AN opening day, at least. It’s opening day of the postseason. This afternoon the O’s will play game one of the American League Championship Series against Texas at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
We know the stakes and the situation. And we know what the Orioles have to do. One small question is will they be rusty after the nearly week-long hiatus? However in fairness, Texas hasn’t played since Wednesday themselves. Withstanding the all-star break, anything more than one day off is foreign to big league teams.
I wrote this yesterday, but the key for the O’s is to get into Texas’ bullpen. And again, you have to manage postseason games differently than regular season games. So if they can force Texas to go to the ‘pen early, they should be in decent shape.
Rock and Roll pop star Joan Jett will sing the National Anthem before today’s game. Former Oriole Adam Jones will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. A celebrity Oriole fan (who just happens to “love Rock ‘N Roll”), and a beloved former Oriole. Yes, Baltimore’s going all out to display itself on a national stage.
The ALDS begins this afternoon at Camden Yards. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Texas’ Andrew Heaney. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.
Birdland Crush 