The Oakland Athletics” run ended as abruptly and inexplicably as it began.
The team that stormed its way to an American League West crown by erasing a five-game deficit with nine to play fell to the Detroit Tigers in five games in the division series last Thursday.
The absurd two-three format pigeonholed the A”s, who had “homefield advantage” in the series – the team with the better record shouldn”t have to play its first two games of the playoffs on the road.
And while the partisan crowd helped spur the Tigers to an ultimately insurmountable 2-0 series lead, the A”s really did more to hurt themselves in Detroit.
The Oakland offense managed only a single run off reigning AL MVP Justin Verlander in Game 1 – a leadoff home run by center fielder Coco Crisp. The key play in the 3-1 loss was a run-scoring error by A”s starting pitcher Jarrod Parker.
Miscues were the story in Game 2 as well (fitting for a team ranked in the bottom third of the majors in fielding during the regular season).
Crisp made a mind-boggling decision to attempt a basket catch with two outs in the seventh inning, only to juggle the ball before it dropped and allowed two Tigers to score. The A”s regained the lead in the eighth inning, but All-Star reliever Ryan Cook blew it in the bottom half and closer Grant Balfour gagged the game away in the ninth.
Game 3 was the Brett Anderson show, as the oft-injured lefty threw six brilliant shutout innings to help the A”s win 2-0 at home.
The outlook was bleak toward the end of Game 4, with the A”s trailing by two runs entering the ninth. But Detroit closer Jose Valverde imploded and watched Oakland celebrate a walkoff victory (really, couldn”t have happened to a nicer guy, one who prances around the mound celebrating his mediocre talent when he does get outs).
Oakland was riding high, appearing on track for a three-game sweep at home and again shocking the baseball world by making the ALCS.
Unfortunately, Verlander took the mound in Game 5 and completely shut down the A”s, giving up just four hits and one walk while striking out 11 during a complete game shutout.
The Tigers won 6-0, but everybody watching Verlander”s masterpiece unfold knew the series was clinched with Detroit”s two third-inning runs.
And with that, Oakland faded listlessly back into baseball irrelevance.
Instead of rejoicing over an ALCS appearance easily within their grasp, the 2012 A”s joined four other Oakland squads in the Billy Beane era in returning home for the offseason after losing the ALDS in five games.
Of course, the A”s must be proud of what they accomplished this year.
Using a roster filled with rookies, unheralded veterans and guys getting their first real chance in the majors, Oakland overcame a slow start, rash of injuries, drug suspension and nation of critics to post the second-best record in the AL.
But the guys coming back next season need to realize they lost a golden opportunity this time around. Postseason glory was right in front of them and they shied away, unable to get it done when it mattered most.
That said, America should still marvel at Oakland”s incredible season. The roller coaster was exhilarating; the ride just ended too soon.
And the modern, sequel-crazed Hollywood would be foolish to ignore the potential. Somebody needs start penning “Moneyball 2” right now.
The A”s gave movie-going audiences everything they could want: exciting games, amazing individual stories, pies in the face and continuous drama on and off the field.
Screenwriters could have a field day with the real-life elation, intrigue and heartbreak of Oakland”s run (14 regular-season walkoffs, starting pitcher Bartolo Colon”s positive drug test, starter Brandon McCarthy taking a life-threatening line drive off the head and the death of reliever Pat Neshek”s newborn son, just to name a few).
Brad Pitt might want to free up his schedule.
