Orioles players excited to bring playoff baseball back to Camden Yards

Several Orioles players and manager Buck Showalter said they hoped to bring a home playoff game to Camden Yards and tonight is the night. The Orioles host the Yankees in the first playoff game at Camden Yards since Oct. 15, 1997. "We feel like the fans came out to support us and it's big to get two games at home and hopefully more. We know we'll have Camden Yards rocking," catcher Matt Wieters said. "Baltimore is a great baseball town and we saw it this year. What great fans we have here. Playoff baseball is going to be even better. We're all very excited." Pitcher Brian Matusz was glad the O's will be back in front of their home fans tonight. "Can't wait for the game to see a packed Camden Yards," he said. "These fans have been waiting for this for a long time. It's exciting to bring playoff baseball back to Baltimore. Personally to be a part of it is an unbelievable, special feeling." J.J. Hardy remarked about the raucous crowds the O's played in front of late in the year and expects nothing less now. "I know it's going to be loud. The last couple series we had here, when it was selling out, was probably pretty close to what it's going to be like these next couple days," he said. Meanwhile, the Orioles continue to enjoy their underdog status. It seems the Rangers were favored to beat the Orioles in the wild card game and the same is true with the favored Yankees in this American League Division Series. "I think we like that," Hardy said. "It takes all the pressure off us and maybe adds pressure to them. I think it's great for us. If people make us the underdogs, we like it." But he said the players are convinced they can take down New York after the teams split 18 regular season meetings. "I think it's the fact we believe. We go out there and feel like we are on an even level with them and can win the games," Hardy said. A reporter asked Adam Jones yesterday what it felt like to have to get past the Yankees now to reach the American League Championship Series. "I don't care who we have to go through," Jone said. "It doesn't matter. If my Mom was on the other team, I have to go through her. At this point, I don't care who is in another jersey, I'm like a bull, I just see red at this point."