Beyond obvious intercity rivalries, we’re always looking for connections between teams and players-it’s only natural. So when the Orioles host the Rangers today in the first ALDS game, Buck Showalter should be offering his pregame analysis. The former Met’s manager was in this position in 2001 when the Diamondbacks defeated the Yankees in the World Series.

Not only did Buck manage both the Yankees and Arizona, he was the manager before Joe Torre led New York to a championship, but he was the Diamondbacks manager in 2000 the year before they won it all.

Johnny Oates managed both Texas and Baltimore as well and I expect the broadcast crew will bring this up during the series.