MLB: 2014 Oakland A's
- Thread starter The_Architect
- Start date
Dunn will give you a bunch of strikeouts, zero clutch hitting and home runs when they matter least. I hated when the White Sox signed him and am glad to see him go.
So, in other words, if that's the worst he's got, nothing will change from the past three weeks.
Ol' Billy boy isn't going to look like that heroic GM that he once was at the end of this season.
The skid continues: the A's are 8-17 since August 11th and in danger of falling out of the Wild Card's top two spots altogether. Seattle is closing in on them and Detroit is right there. It would be a complete shame if Oakland missed out on the playoffs entirely after the brilliant season they had up to August.
We are staring down the barrel of one of the most epic collapses from the mid season break in quite a while. Man, this team is just brutal now.
A good opinion piece from an SFGate (Chronicle) writer about the Cespedes trade and its aftermath.
http://www.sfgate.com/sports/jenkin...-has-backfired-5744915.php?cmpid=hp-hc-sports
http://www.sfgate.com/sports/jenkin...-has-backfired-5744915.php?cmpid=hp-hc-sports
The A's start a series tonight in Seattle. The Mariners are only 1.5 games behind Oakland for the top wild card spot (and just a half game behind the Tigers for the 2nd spot). If Oakland doesn't take this series and falls out of the playoff picture this weekend, I don't see them waking up in time to help themselves maintain a spot.
The A's let another one slip away last night. The Shark pitched a fantastic game, the Doolittle comes in for the 9th and the wheels don't just come off, they exploded into a million little pieces, continued to burn, and finally blew away in the wind. A 1-0 lead turned into a 6-1 loss.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_09_17_texmlb_oakmlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=oak
(from the link
The A's sat alone atop the American League West for 119 days, leading it by as many as 5 1/2 games in June and, more recently, four on Aug. 10. They're 11-24 since, which is tied with Arizona for the worst record in the Majors in that span, and if Wednesday's loss wasn't already demoralizing enough, it was compounded by the fact it allowed the Angels to clinch the division -- by 11 1/2 games.
That's a 15 1/2-game drop in the standings, an epic downfall by any measure. Perhaps even more remarkable, though, is that the A's still have a share of the top AL Wild Card spot with 11 games to play.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_09_17_texmlb_oakmlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=oak
(from the link
The A's sat alone atop the American League West for 119 days, leading it by as many as 5 1/2 games in June and, more recently, four on Aug. 10. They're 11-24 since, which is tied with Arizona for the worst record in the Majors in that span, and if Wednesday's loss wasn't already demoralizing enough, it was compounded by the fact it allowed the Angels to clinch the division -- by 11 1/2 games.That's a 15 1/2-game drop in the standings, an epic downfall by any measure. Perhaps even more remarkable, though, is that the A's still have a share of the top AL Wild Card spot with 11 games to play.
The A's let another one slip away last night. The Shark pitched a fantastic game, the Doolittle comes in for the 9th and the wheels don't just come off, they exploded into a million little pieces, continued to burn, and finally blew away in the wind. A 1-0 lead turned into a 6-1 loss.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_09_17_texmlb_oakmlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=oak
(from the link
That's a 15 1/2-game drop in the standings, an epic downfall by any measure. Perhaps even more remarkable, though, is that the A's still have a share of the top AL Wild Card spot with 11 games to play.
Yeah that's terrible for Doolitle to blow the game like that but IMO what's even more embarrassing is only putting up 1 freaking run against the Rangers.
It's going to be a tough haul for Oakland in the playoffs...they only have a winning series record against one other AL team that's clinched or is in the running (Baltimore).
On the bright side, if they have to face Detroit, it won't be until the ALCS. It might help that they don't feel that monkey on their back.
Sidenote: I can't believe the Yankees haven't been mathematically eliminated yet. Joe Girardi deserves some votes for Manager of the Year for being able to keep that team above .500 for most of the season with all the injuries on their roster (and I hate the Yankees, for the record).
On the bright side, if they have to face Detroit, it won't be until the ALCS. It might help that they don't feel that monkey on their back.
Sidenote: I can't believe the Yankees haven't been mathematically eliminated yet. Joe Girardi deserves some votes for Manager of the Year for being able to keep that team above .500 for most of the season with all the injuries on their roster (and I hate the Yankees, for the record).
Well, it looks like if the A's are going to host a WC game, it will be on Tuesday the 30th, which I can attend in person. However, I think I will hold off on getting a ticket until I see if they're even going to be in a position to play after the 28th, let alone host. Would love to go to it, but I'm not holding my breath.
Losing now, 4-2 to the mighty Rangers in the 4th inning. Stick a fork in 'em.
This is a good article the describes just how epic of a collapse we are witnessing:
http://espn.go.com/blog/jayson-stark/post/_/id/927/how-far-the-mighty-as-red-sox-have-fallen
This is a good article the describes just how epic of a collapse we are witnessing:
http://espn.go.com/blog/jayson-stark/post/_/id/927/how-far-the-mighty-as-red-sox-have-fallen
Now down 7-2 in the 6th. I'd say it's safe to officially pronounce them "done" for the season. If they had any fight left in them, it disappeared many games ago. And that sucks.
And, yes, this is absolutely what should be labeled an "epic collapse." No way to argue around it, imo.
And, yes, this is absolutely what should be labeled an "epic collapse." No way to argue around it, imo.
Now down 7-2 in the 6th. I'd say it's safe to officially pronounce them "done" for the season. If they had any fight left in them, it disappeared many games ago. And that sucks.
And, yes, this is absolutely what should be labeled an "epic collapse." No way to argue around it, imo.
I still think they'll eke in. Kansas City and Seattle haven't been playing lights-out baseball either, and they both have more difficult remaining schedules than Oakland. All they have to do is get in, win one game, and then they'll have a fresh new start against the Angels (who they're 8-8 against on the year). That might light a spark!
They managed to take the series from the Phillies and are still up a half game for the top WC spot. They host the Angels for three games starting tonight, then head to Arlington for the final (four-game) series of the season.
Can't believe the season is almost over already. Booooo...
Can't believe the season is almost over already. Booooo...
Well, Buster and The Architect, back in June when the A's were the best team in baseball, did anyone think that their playoff hopes would be decided on the final day of the season?
Oakland clinches with a win or a Mariners loss. A's play at Texas at 3 EST, while Seattle hosts LA Angels at 4.
Oakland clinches with a win or a Mariners loss. A's play at Texas at 3 EST, while Seattle hosts LA Angels at 4.
