Notes from TBS Exclusive Coverage of the American League Championship Series – Game 1
Friday, October 10, 2014
TBS’ exclusive presentation of the ALCS will continue today, Saturday, Oct. 11, at 3:30 p.m. ET with the MLB Postseason Pre-Game on TBS presented by The All-New Chrysler 200, followed by the Kansas City Royals @ Baltimore Orioles (Game 2) at 4 p.m. The night will conclude with The Postseason Show presented by Mobil 1.
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MLB Postseason Pre-Game on TBS presented by The All-New Chrysler 200
Casey Stern (host), Pedro Martinez and Gary Sheffield (analysts)
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Martinez on Kansas City’s outlook: “Last year, after the first half, I saw a team that was capable of doing it [winning], had a lot of energy, a lot of young players, hungry to win. I think Kansas City has all the tools and the momentum, the energy, and not only that, the talent to actually do it. They’re very pesky around the bases. They can cause a lot of trouble to any pitcher and they’re resilient.” Sheffield on first baseman Eric Hosmer: “He’s in the middle of everything. He’s been that leader that they all expected him to be. He’s hitting home runs, driving in big runs…and he’s playing a heck of a defense at first base.” |
| Sheffield on Buck Showalter: “You got the best manager in baseball, that’s what you call momentum.”
Sheffield on the Orioles carrying three left handers in the bullpen: “That’s a Jim Leyland move, that [Showalter] brought a third lefty in the bullpen to neutralize these big bats. When it gets late in the game, what’s going to happen is, he’s going to be able to waste one of these pitchers and have two waiting on you later to get them out of trouble. This is a big move.” Martinez on the Orioles re-signing shortstop J.J. Hardy and the message that sends to the team: “That’s typical GM Dan Duquette. That’s the kind of GM he is, very professional. He knows how to go about his business…for Nelson Cruz, this is a good sign to see the fact that Dan Duquette is willing to pull the trigger.” |
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Kansas City Royals (8) @ Baltimore Orioles (6) in 10 innings – The Royals lead the series 1-0
Ernie Johnson (play-by-play), Ron Darling and Cal Ripken (analysts) with Matt Winer (reporter)
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Ripken on Kansas City’s mistakes: “It’s all about the execution, and Kansas City has executed all the way around [the postseason] except tonight. Salvador Perez had him picked off… Moustakas throws the ball away over at first base, so they are prone to the error but their execution hasn’t been perfect like it’s been so far.” Ripken on shortstop Alcides Escobar and the complexities of playing every day: “Mentally it’s a real challenge going out there every day. And [Alcides] Escobar proved he can do that. Physically, you’re going to have bumps and bruises, and obviously he can play through those; it’s mentally how you keep a good frame of mind every day.” Darling on the Royals being a team of destiny: “It’s just amazing how resilient this team is, to not score in the top of the ninth after having the bases loaded on three walks, you just feel like destiny is falling out of your dugout.” |
| Darling on Showalter’s bullpen approach changing for the playoffs: “Buck Showalter said, ‘Hey, listen, everyone’s available, and we’ll try to eek out a win today. We’ll figure out tomorrow tomorrow; great way to think in the postseason.’”
Darling on outfielder Nick Markakis wanting to capitalize on his opportunity this series: “With his three hits, [Nick] Markakis is seeing the ball well tonight. He missed that postseason in 2012 with that broken hand. [He] wanted a shot, and made the most of it tonight.” |
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The Postseason Show presented by Mobil 1
Stern, Martinez, Sheffield
| Sheffield on Kansas City’s resiliency: “This team bends, but they don’t break. That’s what I’m seeing. We had these kids as underdogs, that they’re glad to be here, ok, [we assumed that] they’ll be out of the series soon. But now, we’re saying, ‘Who can beat these guys?’ I don’t see anyone beating these guys.”
Martinez on the outfield’s impressive defensive range: “In the outfield, it looks like they have State Troopers. They chase all over the place.” Sheffield on the Royals possessing two different styles of scoring runs: “Once they get to these smaller ballparks, they can reach the fences, and they can still play small ball. They put up crooked numbers.” |
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Sheffield on outfielder Adam Jones struggling in the playoffs: “You have to have a short memory. Hitting third is the toughest place to hit in the order because you can get the leadoff guy on, you can get the second guy on, but the pitcher is really still not in trouble if you’re [too] aggressive and swing at bad pitches. You have to shrink the strike zone, make them throw strikes when people are on base. Now you’re going to get your pitch to drive. Even if you just hit a long fly ball, you move the runner over to third base to give your cleanup guy a chance to drive him in.” |
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