Tigers 4, Yankees 3
Tigers 6, Yankees 0
Funny little thing happened on the way to the Yankees winning the World Series, as they find themselves down 2-1 and sending Jaret Wright to the hill with their playoff lives at stake.
Over at ESPN, we had a bigger split, but the two teams most favored were the Yankees and the Twins. Whoops. I didn't catch most of game two, but I don't think any lineup in the planet was going to put more than six runs in against Kenny Rogers tonight. It's a five game series, and when you play a five game series, these things are bound to happen. Look at these series: Three of the four home teams are losing, and the team that's winning lost two of their best starters and was considered at best a 50/50 proposition against a hot Dodger team. What does that tell us? Nothing matters once you get in a five game series. The sooner MLB figures this out, the sooner we will have the best teams playing deeper into October.
A lot of people are going to point the blame at ARod again for his anemic showing in pinstripes, and you know, rightfully so I guess. But what gets lost up in all his crapulence is that two offseasons ago, the Yankees paid a pretty big price to acquire a stopper for their postseason teams. Randy Johnson has come in, been mediocre in both seasons, and has gotten bombed in two PIVOTAL game threes that have put his team against the wall in back-to-back ALDS'.
Cardinals 2, Padres 0
We have an eighty-three win team here that is one win from the NLCS. And you thought the NL playoffs would lack excitement. The Padres were shutout by Jeff Weaver, which is almost unfathomable. Bruce Bochy really needs to get it through his head that Mike Piazza needs to be starting every game when your team has scored one run in two games.
The deeper question here is: Why didn't anyone else see this coming? Obviously the Cardinals swooned and the Padres were hot, a key factor for people predicting the postseason (This is why the A's were so good in the postseason in 01-03...wait a minute). But, we were really ready to say that a team that starts Geoff Blum at shortstop and Russ Branyan at third base is going to the NLCS? Really? If I were a Cardinals batter I would just slap the ball to that side and hope for the best. It would work most of the time.
Also: Adventures in playoff Bullpen Management.
Scott Linebrink and Trevor Hoffman: one-third of an inning in two games. How does this guy have his job still? I understand it's San Diego and all the owners are too busy living it up in that beautiful city to give a shit, but Bochy has completely fallen asleep at the wheel and cost his team a chance to win at least Game 1 and arguably Game 2 as well.
Mets 4, Dodgers 1
Remember when I told you guys that I hoped Endy Chavez started? Well, that was everything I expected. Not only is he one of the few sparkplugs against left-handers for the Mets, but he actually has the speed and defense to play right-field. Instead of say, Mr. Shawn Green, who has checked out like Roberto Alomar did, minus the head first dives into first base on every play.
This game made me happy. Although we did have to deal with Steve Lyons and Thom Brennaman, who seem to get worse every season. The Mets can't hit lefties blah blah blah. Would it be that hard to give everyone else a chance? This isn't the 1970's anymore. Also, FOX's game presentation continues to be despicable in every imaginable way. Focusing on Chevy billboard ads, zoom ins on every goddamn face, finding every stupid fucking e-list celebrity who ever came to the game (WHOA THERES MATT DILLON! MARY JO HART GOES TO DODGERS GAMES!). I think despite the disparity between every baseball fan's situation, we can put all that aside so we can focus on the worst moment for all of baseball this season: When FOX kept the playoff rights for 7 more years.
A's 8, Twins 3
I'd like to congratulate Jon Raymond on his teams triumphant return to winning postseason series. Since I have nothing to add to this game besides my love of ex-Met Marco Scutaro, I'd like to take on something else here.
Tommy Lasorda commercials. I know it's an obvious (and failing) ploy to get fans of baseball to watch games that don't involve their teams, but I don't think it's doing it for me. Heres what they should've done: Everyone who is a real baseball fan gets sick of this commercial anyway, so instead of airing the commercial normally, have Tommy be featured in every other commercial, then switch the tapes to keep people wondering when they'd see Lasorda again.
Come on, like you wouldn't want to see the dialogue Tommy would have with the Ruby Tuesday's guys. Or John Cougar Mellencamp. Or that chick who gets pissy about them frying green beans. It would be clever, unexpected, and would make people want to watch commercials. Thats exactly why it will never happen.
Showing posts with label a's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label a's. Show all posts
Friday, October 06, 2006
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Postseason Recap: Joe Beimel: The most important person in America
At least according to ESPN.
Dodgers 5 @ Mets 6
It's very hard to express how exhilarating/terrifying it is to watch postseason baseball as a fan of a team to someone who hasn’t experienced it before. Basically, the only thing I could equate it to is asking a girl out for the first time in your life, except it lasts for three hours instead of three minutes. Everything you do is magnified both in your head and in your body movements. So in my case, it was kind of like asking a girl out for the first time in six years. I paced, my entire body was electric. I wasn’t up to talking to anyone who might harsh my buzz.
This game was won and lost by the managers, in my opinion. Willie Randolph, as much as I have bashed him in his tenure in Mets manager, was completely pro-active with his approach with John Maine on the mound. At the first sign of trouble after the first few innings, he went right to the bullpen, even though he ran everyone but Royce Ring out, he won the game. You don’t win postseason games with people who have regular season milestones, and in this case, I thought it was absolutely wonderful that Maine was pitching. I’m not sure if Willie would have been as proactive to the whole thing if Glavine or Pedro was on the mound, and I’d lean towards the answer being “no”. He did not have a perfect game; in my opinion he should have tried to step on the Dodgers’ throat in the sixth instead of letting Guillermo Mota bat, and then handed the last three innings over to Wagner and Heilman. Instead, Randolph let Mota get touched up a bit in the seventh (although he was hurt by the Valentin error), leading the game to be tied again.
On the other side, Grady Little absolutely bungled this game. Game one is the most important game of any five-game series; the Dodgers would have to win three of four games if they lost this game. He went to the seventh with a tie game, and instead of relying on the relievers who got him through the entire season; he brought in a pitcher who had been lit up the last few weeks of the season in Brad Penny, who was thought by many to be injured. Penny immediately coughed up the lead, and the final two runs that the Mets needed to win the game. This was a huge blunder that will be lost under the more ridiculous “two outs at home” double play, which I still can’t believe actually happened.
Other thoughts from this game:
-John Hirschbeck was horrendous in this game, for both sides. He cost the Mets dearly when he called Floyd out and when he wouldn’t call Betemit out, and he cost the Dodgers when Lugo struck out during their three run rally in the seventh. And he wasn’t even the worst umpire today, Kerwin Danley was up to the task, providing a maddeningly inconsistent strike zone.
-Shawn Green has NO RANGE at all. If Endy Chavez were out in right field in the ninth, Wagner arguably could have had a 1-2-3 inning. He’s just a terrible player in all facets of the game right now. I hope he proves me wrong and comes up with some good games the rest of the postseason, but right now I would much rather have Endy Chavez playing.
-Jose Reyes continued to be up and down. His first three plate appearances were just brutal, and then when he stopped hacking at everything, he was the key cog in the comeback, reaching base twice in a row and scoring a run.
-Carlos Delgado is scary when he uses the whole field. It made me wonder what kind of player he could have been if he didn’t have the same kind of power.
-The Dodgers are not really a team with the same kind of star power as the Mets have, where they succeed is by throwing above-average hitter after above-average hitter after you. There aren’t any holes in that lineup, with Betemit batting eighth. I was a little surprised that Ethier didn’t get to play, as Kenny Lofton looked pretty bad out there today.
-It’s bad enough that noted-Met hater Steve Phillips had to be there being a smug cunt about the whole issue, but I was very afraid when Joe Morgan was involved too. Thankfully, Morgan didn’t really commit any mortal sins in this game. He did create this stupid “the most important inning is the half-inning after the other team scores” bullshit, but that was mild in comparison to Phillips’ Met hatred. I don’t understand how he gets assigned to their games every time.
Oh right, there was another game.
A’s 5 @ Twins 2
Not really a lot of managerial blunders in this one. 2-2 game until the seventh, both teams had as close to optimal bullpen usage as can be expected when teams won’t use their closers until the seventh. The Torii Hunter play was brutal, but I feel good for Jon Raymond and his Athletics.
I'd do the Yankees game but since ITS GON RAIN, I'll save that for tommorow.
Dodgers 5 @ Mets 6
It's very hard to express how exhilarating/terrifying it is to watch postseason baseball as a fan of a team to someone who hasn’t experienced it before. Basically, the only thing I could equate it to is asking a girl out for the first time in your life, except it lasts for three hours instead of three minutes. Everything you do is magnified both in your head and in your body movements. So in my case, it was kind of like asking a girl out for the first time in six years. I paced, my entire body was electric. I wasn’t up to talking to anyone who might harsh my buzz.
This game was won and lost by the managers, in my opinion. Willie Randolph, as much as I have bashed him in his tenure in Mets manager, was completely pro-active with his approach with John Maine on the mound. At the first sign of trouble after the first few innings, he went right to the bullpen, even though he ran everyone but Royce Ring out, he won the game. You don’t win postseason games with people who have regular season milestones, and in this case, I thought it was absolutely wonderful that Maine was pitching. I’m not sure if Willie would have been as proactive to the whole thing if Glavine or Pedro was on the mound, and I’d lean towards the answer being “no”. He did not have a perfect game; in my opinion he should have tried to step on the Dodgers’ throat in the sixth instead of letting Guillermo Mota bat, and then handed the last three innings over to Wagner and Heilman. Instead, Randolph let Mota get touched up a bit in the seventh (although he was hurt by the Valentin error), leading the game to be tied again.
On the other side, Grady Little absolutely bungled this game. Game one is the most important game of any five-game series; the Dodgers would have to win three of four games if they lost this game. He went to the seventh with a tie game, and instead of relying on the relievers who got him through the entire season; he brought in a pitcher who had been lit up the last few weeks of the season in Brad Penny, who was thought by many to be injured. Penny immediately coughed up the lead, and the final two runs that the Mets needed to win the game. This was a huge blunder that will be lost under the more ridiculous “two outs at home” double play, which I still can’t believe actually happened.
Other thoughts from this game:
-John Hirschbeck was horrendous in this game, for both sides. He cost the Mets dearly when he called Floyd out and when he wouldn’t call Betemit out, and he cost the Dodgers when Lugo struck out during their three run rally in the seventh. And he wasn’t even the worst umpire today, Kerwin Danley was up to the task, providing a maddeningly inconsistent strike zone.
-Shawn Green has NO RANGE at all. If Endy Chavez were out in right field in the ninth, Wagner arguably could have had a 1-2-3 inning. He’s just a terrible player in all facets of the game right now. I hope he proves me wrong and comes up with some good games the rest of the postseason, but right now I would much rather have Endy Chavez playing.
-Jose Reyes continued to be up and down. His first three plate appearances were just brutal, and then when he stopped hacking at everything, he was the key cog in the comeback, reaching base twice in a row and scoring a run.
-Carlos Delgado is scary when he uses the whole field. It made me wonder what kind of player he could have been if he didn’t have the same kind of power.
-The Dodgers are not really a team with the same kind of star power as the Mets have, where they succeed is by throwing above-average hitter after above-average hitter after you. There aren’t any holes in that lineup, with Betemit batting eighth. I was a little surprised that Ethier didn’t get to play, as Kenny Lofton looked pretty bad out there today.
-It’s bad enough that noted-Met hater Steve Phillips had to be there being a smug cunt about the whole issue, but I was very afraid when Joe Morgan was involved too. Thankfully, Morgan didn’t really commit any mortal sins in this game. He did create this stupid “the most important inning is the half-inning after the other team scores” bullshit, but that was mild in comparison to Phillips’ Met hatred. I don’t understand how he gets assigned to their games every time.
Oh right, there was another game.
A’s 5 @ Twins 2
Not really a lot of managerial blunders in this one. 2-2 game until the seventh, both teams had as close to optimal bullpen usage as can be expected when teams won’t use their closers until the seventh. The Torii Hunter play was brutal, but I feel good for Jon Raymond and his Athletics.
I'd do the Yankees game but since ITS GON RAIN, I'll save that for tommorow.
Postseason Recap: Managers clueless as to when to pull their starters
Yesterday in the opening day of the postseason, we had not one, but two dreadful managing moves that arguably cost teams the chance to get back into games:
Cardinals 5 @ Padres 1
In the fifth inning, with it being a 4-0 game already, Padres manager Bruce Bochy intended to pinch-hit Ryan Klesko in for Jake Peavy, but instead the Padres went to the bench 1-2-3. Instead of double-switching in Todd Walker (who he left in after pinch-hitting in the next inning) anyway, he left Peavy out there to give up another run, which ran the game to 5-0, an almost insurmountable deficit. Had he gone to his bullpen after the fifth, remembering that he had a day off tommorow so there was no need to hold anyone back (not that this didn't work out for him, but I'm just saying), he probably could have gotten zeros or thereabouts for the game. If the game was only 4-1 instead of 5-1, he probably wouldn't have pinch-hit with Mark Bellhorn in the one opportunity they really had to get back into the game, as he would've only needed a single to take it to a one-run game instead of an extra-base hit. Once you get into that scenario, who knows what could happen?
Tigers 4 @ 8 Yankees
After scoring three to get back into this game in the top of the fifth, Tigers skipper Jim Leyland (inexplicably reminding me of war vet dad of Mike Cooper) decided to leave Nate Robertson out there for not one extra inning, but two. This after he had already been shelled for five runs in the third. I understand that the Yankees lineup is good enough to score on any pitcher, but giving them a third or fourth crack at Robertson after they had already solved him is inexcusable. Let Jason Grilli get his chance, let Rodney and Ledezma go a few if you have to. There was no reason to let Robertson give up those extra two runs that buried the Tigers under a huge lead again.
I was also pleased to learn that Chien-Ming Wang is a fan of pasta.
We'll be right back, here on the FOX Future Considerations baseball entertainment fun hour, now featuring actual baseball!
WHAT IF A COMEDIAN RAN FOR PRESIDENT?
What if he won?
WAH WAH WAH CAN I MAKE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN MY SECRETARY OF STATE HAHA JUST A TEEEENY JOKE THERE KIDS
WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?
Buck: Oops looks like we missed the actual first pitch of the at-bat and they threw over to first and the ball got away, haha. But at least you got to see that commercial where Chevy said that it was American because they helped haul wood to New Orleans after Katrina. Doesn't that make you want a nice heavy duty car regardless of the fact that it's mad overpriced and not as good as Japanese cars? Haha. It should! Also, buy Budweiser because people like to rub my neck.
McCarver: I KNOW I SURE DO JOE DO YOU WANT TO HELP ME PLAY LEGOS
Athletics 3 @ Twins 2
The game relegated to the noon slot so that FOX could continue it's ongoing YES mk. II transformation was the best of the day, with Johan Santana and Barry Zito (assist to free-swinging Twins) turned in an amazing pitcher's duel that was tense into the very last inning. A lot of people questioned Gardenhire's decision to bring in Crain instead of Nathan or Neshek, and had they done that, we might still be playing baseball right now with how deep the A's and Twins bullpens go. The bigger blunder (shockingly leading to me agree with Joe Morgan), was letting Castillo attempt to steal that bag in the first when Zito was having command problems.
Tune back in tommorow, when I will rant about how stupid people are to think that the Mets are done in the NL without Pedro. Or, alternately, where I rip into people on our team for not hitting Derek Lowe. Either way, it should be fun.
Cardinals 5 @ Padres 1
In the fifth inning, with it being a 4-0 game already, Padres manager Bruce Bochy intended to pinch-hit Ryan Klesko in for Jake Peavy, but instead the Padres went to the bench 1-2-3. Instead of double-switching in Todd Walker (who he left in after pinch-hitting in the next inning) anyway, he left Peavy out there to give up another run, which ran the game to 5-0, an almost insurmountable deficit. Had he gone to his bullpen after the fifth, remembering that he had a day off tommorow so there was no need to hold anyone back (not that this didn't work out for him, but I'm just saying), he probably could have gotten zeros or thereabouts for the game. If the game was only 4-1 instead of 5-1, he probably wouldn't have pinch-hit with Mark Bellhorn in the one opportunity they really had to get back into the game, as he would've only needed a single to take it to a one-run game instead of an extra-base hit. Once you get into that scenario, who knows what could happen?
Tigers 4 @ 8 Yankees
After scoring three to get back into this game in the top of the fifth, Tigers skipper Jim Leyland (inexplicably reminding me of war vet dad of Mike Cooper) decided to leave Nate Robertson out there for not one extra inning, but two. This after he had already been shelled for five runs in the third. I understand that the Yankees lineup is good enough to score on any pitcher, but giving them a third or fourth crack at Robertson after they had already solved him is inexcusable. Let Jason Grilli get his chance, let Rodney and Ledezma go a few if you have to. There was no reason to let Robertson give up those extra two runs that buried the Tigers under a huge lead again.
I was also pleased to learn that Chien-Ming Wang is a fan of pasta.
We'll be right back, here on the FOX Future Considerations baseball entertainment fun hour, now featuring actual baseball!
WHAT IF A COMEDIAN RAN FOR PRESIDENT?
What if he won?
WAH WAH WAH CAN I MAKE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN MY SECRETARY OF STATE HAHA JUST A TEEEENY JOKE THERE KIDS
WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?
Buck: Oops looks like we missed the actual first pitch of the at-bat and they threw over to first and the ball got away, haha. But at least you got to see that commercial where Chevy said that it was American because they helped haul wood to New Orleans after Katrina. Doesn't that make you want a nice heavy duty car regardless of the fact that it's mad overpriced and not as good as Japanese cars? Haha. It should! Also, buy Budweiser because people like to rub my neck.
McCarver: I KNOW I SURE DO JOE DO YOU WANT TO HELP ME PLAY LEGOS
Athletics 3 @ Twins 2
The game relegated to the noon slot so that FOX could continue it's ongoing YES mk. II transformation was the best of the day, with Johan Santana and Barry Zito (assist to free-swinging Twins) turned in an amazing pitcher's duel that was tense into the very last inning. A lot of people questioned Gardenhire's decision to bring in Crain instead of Nathan or Neshek, and had they done that, we might still be playing baseball right now with how deep the A's and Twins bullpens go. The bigger blunder (shockingly leading to me agree with Joe Morgan), was letting Castillo attempt to steal that bag in the first when Zito was having command problems.
Tune back in tommorow, when I will rant about how stupid people are to think that the Mets are done in the NL without Pedro. Or, alternately, where I rip into people on our team for not hitting Derek Lowe. Either way, it should be fun.
Monday, October 02, 2006
The Minnesota Twins can suck my dick
No not really. I'm only kidding about that. I've really got no beef with the Twins. Francisco Liriano and Johan Santana will be a fun duo to watch for years. But, as it unfortunately turns out, the Tigers are a load of big lame meanie chokers, and that leaves my A's stuck against this formidable squad we call the Minnesota Twins. Now, go take a look around the baseball internet world for a few minutes. Come back to me.
Find anybody who thinks the A's have a snowball's chance?
Go around. Look some more.
Didn't think so. So I'm here to present to you why exactly I think we DO have a chance:
A) Billy Beane's $#!@ has to work in the playoffs eventually. One of these stupid philosophies has to bear some fruit. If the slow, powerful OBP Moneyball guys couldn't ever get it done, then these swing away, run swiftly and play good defense A's have to be able to buck the trend a little bit. Right? Riiiiight?
B) They've got Johan, but we've got Barry, and Dan, and Esteban, and Rich. That's nice that Johan will, at the very least, get two starts, all but assuring the Twins at least two wins. But after that they've got a host of mediocrities (Boof notwithstanding. He's a fine pitcher, but he's a rookie. I'm allowed to count that against him in a clearly biased pro-A's article. Cut me some slack), whereas we can boast a solid pitcher in every matchup. More importantly, if he's healthy, and he's on, Rich Harden is every bit as dominating as Johan Santana is. Now it's debateable that he will be, in fact likely that he won't be, but when you've got him as a weapon in your arsenal, and you've got three solid pitchers in Loaiza (second half Loaiza. Dude was all sorts out of wack in the first half, but he really is a solid pitcher), Zito, and Haren who can give you a reasonable shot to win in every game, you're in a good position. Afraid as I am of Boofie and Brad Radke and Carlos Silva and Matt Garza, I'm simply not going to roll over and concede this series because of one Johan Santana.
C) Frank Thomas. Thomas is the single most feared hitter in this series. (Yes, yes, Justin Morneau. I know, I know. But go look at the numbers. Where it matters, they had nearly identical seasons, and given that, who are you going to be more afraid of, the absolutely gigantic black man who's a future hall of famer, or the white-as-snow Canadian Morneau? That's what I thought. Now get off my back.) Frank Thomas, moreso than any other hitter in the series (Morneau still included. If the A's are to win anything, mystique and aura have to count for something, and Frank Thomas most certainly beats you in mystique and aura, Mr. Morneau) has the potential to change the entire outcome of the game with one swing. As good as Santana is, I'll give Big Frank a chance against him every time, and if we happen to luck into a position where Frank can get a couple at bats with guys on, we've got as good a shot at scoring off Santana as you can hope.
D) Our bullpen. I trust our bullpen. It may not necessarily be better than the Twins' (I mean really they have a pretty kickass bullpen, just look at some of those numbers when you get the chance) but if we can build a lead behind Zito or any of the other guys in these games we've got a solid, two inning shut down reliever in Justin Duchscherer, a reliable guy who can pick up after a short start or go extra innings in Chad Gaudin, a solid lefty who's been getting big outs in big situations this year in Joe Kennedy, an electric arm in Kiko Calero, and a pretty solid closer in Huston Street who has all the nice intangibles you want out of a playoff closer. Again, all we need is, for three times out of five, a solid start for 6 innings whereupon we can hand it to a really fungible, really reliable bullpen. That's doable.
E) $*@!#%& inevitability. From 2000-2003, we were a pretty reasonable bet to win our division series, at times even the favorite. All four times we lost in five games, at times under ridiculously bad luck scenarios. So now, in 2006, a huge underdog, what reason have I to think that being the favorite is all that meaningful?
F) Finally, our awesome grit and intangible bullshit that depending on who you listen to MUST be what the 2000-2003 A's lacked. Barry Zito is a playoff tested vet. Eric Chavez has been there before too. Frank Thomas is a future hall of famer who's been there before and won a ring last year. Nick Swisher is a vibrant, loose character, the kind of personality that excels when the attention is at its peak. Jason Kendall is the definition of "smart, gritty veteran" who can provide all the leadership nonsense. Ditto Mark Kotsay. Mark Ellis and Marco Scutaro are "professionals." Dan Haren is a "battler." The bullpen has "poise." Huston Street has "ice in his veins." To me, all of this is nonsense. But you know what, the mainstream media creams its collective pants over all of it and maybe now that we have it we'll get past the first round. It of course won't be why we get past the first round, but it'll make for a nice Bruce Jenkins column or something.
And, before I forget, MOST importantly:
G) The playoffs are a damn crapshoot. Plain and simple. Unless you're the Mets in this year's National League, there's no particularly fantastic reason to think you're a shoe in to get anywhere. Most notably, the 2001 and 2002 A's burned a hole through my heart, so the notion that a powerhouse team is a given in any playoff situation is meaningless to me. We've got just as good a chance at beating the Twins as the Twins do at beating us. Stranger things have happened, I've seen them happen, and I'm all but certain that "shit happens" was popularized by a group of people following playoff baseball. Shit most certainly happens. And this is is our year where the shit that happens finally goes our way.
Find anybody who thinks the A's have a snowball's chance?
Go around. Look some more.
Didn't think so. So I'm here to present to you why exactly I think we DO have a chance:
A) Billy Beane's $#!@ has to work in the playoffs eventually. One of these stupid philosophies has to bear some fruit. If the slow, powerful OBP Moneyball guys couldn't ever get it done, then these swing away, run swiftly and play good defense A's have to be able to buck the trend a little bit. Right? Riiiiight?
B) They've got Johan, but we've got Barry, and Dan, and Esteban, and Rich. That's nice that Johan will, at the very least, get two starts, all but assuring the Twins at least two wins. But after that they've got a host of mediocrities (Boof notwithstanding. He's a fine pitcher, but he's a rookie. I'm allowed to count that against him in a clearly biased pro-A's article. Cut me some slack), whereas we can boast a solid pitcher in every matchup. More importantly, if he's healthy, and he's on, Rich Harden is every bit as dominating as Johan Santana is. Now it's debateable that he will be, in fact likely that he won't be, but when you've got him as a weapon in your arsenal, and you've got three solid pitchers in Loaiza (second half Loaiza. Dude was all sorts out of wack in the first half, but he really is a solid pitcher), Zito, and Haren who can give you a reasonable shot to win in every game, you're in a good position. Afraid as I am of Boofie and Brad Radke and Carlos Silva and Matt Garza, I'm simply not going to roll over and concede this series because of one Johan Santana.
C) Frank Thomas. Thomas is the single most feared hitter in this series. (Yes, yes, Justin Morneau. I know, I know. But go look at the numbers. Where it matters, they had nearly identical seasons, and given that, who are you going to be more afraid of, the absolutely gigantic black man who's a future hall of famer, or the white-as-snow Canadian Morneau? That's what I thought. Now get off my back.) Frank Thomas, moreso than any other hitter in the series (Morneau still included. If the A's are to win anything, mystique and aura have to count for something, and Frank Thomas most certainly beats you in mystique and aura, Mr. Morneau) has the potential to change the entire outcome of the game with one swing. As good as Santana is, I'll give Big Frank a chance against him every time, and if we happen to luck into a position where Frank can get a couple at bats with guys on, we've got as good a shot at scoring off Santana as you can hope.
D) Our bullpen. I trust our bullpen. It may not necessarily be better than the Twins' (I mean really they have a pretty kickass bullpen, just look at some of those numbers when you get the chance) but if we can build a lead behind Zito or any of the other guys in these games we've got a solid, two inning shut down reliever in Justin Duchscherer, a reliable guy who can pick up after a short start or go extra innings in Chad Gaudin, a solid lefty who's been getting big outs in big situations this year in Joe Kennedy, an electric arm in Kiko Calero, and a pretty solid closer in Huston Street who has all the nice intangibles you want out of a playoff closer. Again, all we need is, for three times out of five, a solid start for 6 innings whereupon we can hand it to a really fungible, really reliable bullpen. That's doable.
E) $*@!#%& inevitability. From 2000-2003, we were a pretty reasonable bet to win our division series, at times even the favorite. All four times we lost in five games, at times under ridiculously bad luck scenarios. So now, in 2006, a huge underdog, what reason have I to think that being the favorite is all that meaningful?
F) Finally, our awesome grit and intangible bullshit that depending on who you listen to MUST be what the 2000-2003 A's lacked. Barry Zito is a playoff tested vet. Eric Chavez has been there before too. Frank Thomas is a future hall of famer who's been there before and won a ring last year. Nick Swisher is a vibrant, loose character, the kind of personality that excels when the attention is at its peak. Jason Kendall is the definition of "smart, gritty veteran" who can provide all the leadership nonsense. Ditto Mark Kotsay. Mark Ellis and Marco Scutaro are "professionals." Dan Haren is a "battler." The bullpen has "poise." Huston Street has "ice in his veins." To me, all of this is nonsense. But you know what, the mainstream media creams its collective pants over all of it and maybe now that we have it we'll get past the first round. It of course won't be why we get past the first round, but it'll make for a nice Bruce Jenkins column or something.
And, before I forget, MOST importantly:
G) The playoffs are a damn crapshoot. Plain and simple. Unless you're the Mets in this year's National League, there's no particularly fantastic reason to think you're a shoe in to get anywhere. Most notably, the 2001 and 2002 A's burned a hole through my heart, so the notion that a powerhouse team is a given in any playoff situation is meaningless to me. We've got just as good a chance at beating the Twins as the Twins do at beating us. Stranger things have happened, I've seen them happen, and I'm all but certain that "shit happens" was popularized by a group of people following playoff baseball. Shit most certainly happens. And this is is our year where the shit that happens finally goes our way.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Playoff Odds: Wacky ways the A's will lose in the playoffs this time
2006. The A's are once again, after a two year hiatus, in the playoffs. Which begs just one question: What fucked up way will they find to break my heart this year? Who will make us forget what a jackass Eric Byrnes is for pushing Jason Varitek but not bothering to touch home plate in 2003? Who could possibly look dumber than Miguel Tejada did standing in the middle between third and home in 2003? Is there any humanly possible way for someone to wrench my heart the way Jeremy Giambi did while not sliding in 2001? Probably, hopefully, please God, no. But I'll give you the odds anyway:
576,322:1- A's actually win series. I cry tears of joy at being able to finally care about an ALCS.
576,321:1- Upon getting there, Barry Zito decides to get a jumpstart on next year by signing with the Yankees and pitching against us.
150:1- Eric Chavez's infamous injured forearms fall off, forcing D'Angelo Jimenez and Antonio Perez into a platoon at third base. Think that over for a moment. A D'Angelo Jimenez and Antonio Perez platoon.
image courtesy of rebus of athleticsnation.com
125:1- Bobby Kielty decides it's a good idea to recreate this:
73:1- Esteban Loaiza, still drinking after AL West title celebration two weeks later, drives car into San Francisco Bay. As a result Kirk Saarloos makes a losing start.
44:1- Nick Swisher dissapears with this girl.
25:1- Ken Macha mispells Justin Duchscherer's last name on the playoff roster, leaving us with soccer player Aldo Duscher in the bullpen.
Throws a mean eephus.
10:1- Rich Harden throws pitch, dies.
7:1- Dan Haren, blazed out of his mind, falls asleep mid pitch, resulting in a hanging curveball that Magglio Ordonez takes deep for a walk off Game 5 win.
High as a muthafucka.
3:2- AgeGate 2006: Turns out Huston Street is actually 12 years old, and can no longer participate in Major League Baseball.
Definitely could pass for 15.
2:1- Frank Thomas and his broken body are recalled, A's score total of 2 unearned runs in 3 games.
Even- After a year of holding it all in, Milton Bradley snaps, murders Detroit Tigers. Accordingly, A's are disqualified from postseason.
lol miltonz in trouble.
Place your bets, kids.
576,322:1- A's actually win series. I cry tears of joy at being able to finally care about an ALCS.
576,321:1- Upon getting there, Barry Zito decides to get a jumpstart on next year by signing with the Yankees and pitching against us.
150:1- Eric Chavez's infamous injured forearms fall off, forcing D'Angelo Jimenez and Antonio Perez into a platoon at third base. Think that over for a moment. A D'Angelo Jimenez and Antonio Perez platoon.
image courtesy of rebus of athleticsnation.com125:1- Bobby Kielty decides it's a good idea to recreate this:
73:1- Esteban Loaiza, still drinking after AL West title celebration two weeks later, drives car into San Francisco Bay. As a result Kirk Saarloos makes a losing start.
44:1- Nick Swisher dissapears with this girl.
25:1- Ken Macha mispells Justin Duchscherer's last name on the playoff roster, leaving us with soccer player Aldo Duscher in the bullpen.
Throws a mean eephus.
10:1- Rich Harden throws pitch, dies.
7:1- Dan Haren, blazed out of his mind, falls asleep mid pitch, resulting in a hanging curveball that Magglio Ordonez takes deep for a walk off Game 5 win.
High as a muthafucka.
3:2- AgeGate 2006: Turns out Huston Street is actually 12 years old, and can no longer participate in Major League Baseball.
Definitely could pass for 15.
2:1- Frank Thomas and his broken body are recalled, A's score total of 2 unearned runs in 3 games.
Even- After a year of holding it all in, Milton Bradley snaps, murders Detroit Tigers. Accordingly, A's are disqualified from postseason.
lol miltonz in trouble.
Place your bets, kids.
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