ALDS Game 1s were filled with classic Yankees fans' frustrations

Thought you'd be having fun as an objective viewer of the MLB playoffs for the first time since 2016, huh New York Yankees fans? There's no such thing when the field is filled with former Bombers ... especially ones fans mostly have had a disdain for.

Whether it was a triggering outcome of the same old behavior, a lucky outcome or an uncharacteristic showing, Saturday's ALDS Game 1 slate had it all.

And so far, all of it has come from Texas Rangers-Baltimore Orioles matchup in the early afternoon slot. Andrew Heaney was starting this game for Texas. Andrew. Heaney. Heandog Bumpday. This is our baseball reality.

The left-hander tossed 3.2 innings of one-run ball on the road in a hostile Camden Yards. He allowed just two hits and a walk before he was relieved by Dane Dunning. Yankees fans are in disbelief because they're constantly rewinding to Heaney's struggles with the Bombers during the second half of 2021 and wanting to get blasted into space.

Turns out, former Yankees pitchers in Texas will play. Heaney also pitched three innings of one-run ball for the Dodgers during last year's NLDS. Just didn't work out for New York ... because why would it?

ALDS Game 1s were filled with classic Yankees fans' frustrations

Guess who delivered the whole package, though? That would be Aroldis Chapman, who had Rangers fans immediately clenching their cheeks when he first stepped on the mound and then delivered an extremely difficult (yet successful) inning.

Chapman walked the first two batters of the inning when he was called upon in the eighth with the Rangers up 3-2. Then, he somehow induced a double-play ball after not being able to find the plate, and third baseman Josh Jung made a great play.

A few pitches later, out of nowhere, Chapman whipped out the 102 MPH heat for Ryan Mountcastle, who whiffed on a 2-2 count to end the inning. Danger created. Danger avoided. The best-case scenario Chapman outcome at this point in his career. Still infuriating to watch for Yankees fans.

And then there was Aaron Hicks, who went 0-for-2 with two walks and a strikeout. Doesn't sound too bad? His two outs were a foul out to first base and a strikeout in the bottom of the ninth (after Gunnar Henderson got caught stealing). Watching him fail just elicits too many bad memories and feelings.

The O's lost 3-2 and we're not far off from scathing AL East criticism, especially after the Blue Jays and Rays were swiftly booted.

Can the Twins save our day and complete the comeback against the Astros? Give us one reason to fist pump, baseball gods.