Statistical Breakdown of the Yankees-Orioles ALDS
October 7, 2012 · Brandon Mauk · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The New York Yankees won the American League East with 95 victories, but it was not easy. The upstart Baltimore Orioles surprised everyone by making the postseason for the first time since 1997. The team was led by none other than Buck Showalter, who in 1995 led the Bronx Bombers to their first postseason since 1981 and set the stage for the current Yankee dynasty.
The Yankees barely held on to win the division title, forcing the Orioles to play a one-game wild-card playoff in Arlington, TX. Led by a solid effort by journeyman left-hander Joe Saunders and their outstanding bullpen, Baltimore knocked off the two-time AL Champion Rangers, who had just come off blowing a huge lead in their own division to Oakland, 5-1.
Now the Orioles get one more shot at the Yankees.
In the regular season, the teams split 9-9. The Yankees were 6-3 at Camden Yards, while the O’s were 6-3 in the Bronx, NY. The Yankees swept the first series in April at Baltimore by taking two extra-inning ballgames. In April/May, the Orioles went into Yankee Stadium and took two of three. They would split a two-game set in the middle of May in Oriole Park.
In July/August, the Orioles pounded a banged-up Yankee rotation and just missed out on sweeping at the New House. They took yet another series in the Bronx in the first week of September.
Then in the middle of the last month, the Yankees took a one-game lead into Baltimore for a huge four-game series. After falling behind in the first game, the Yanks came back to tie in the eighth, but the bullpen blew it in the bottom of the inning.
In the Saturday game, the O’s roughed up CC Sabathia, and the game ended on a controversial call at first base by Jerry Meals. The Yanks took the other two games with ease and barely escaped Charm City with a series and season split.
Now, none of that matters. This is the playoffs, and things are very much different. Anything can happen.
Let’s take a look at the numbers by each team.
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