First, my body hates me for staying up to watch that game until the end.

 

Second, how did the A's not have their corner infielders shading towards the line in the 12th with the winning run on second? I don't get that decision to have the third baseman so far off the line there.

First, my body hates me for staying up to watch that game until the end.

 

Second, how did the A's not have their corner infielders shading towards the line in the 12th with the winning run on second? I don't get that decision to have the third baseman so far off the line there.

You want to play off the line in that situation. With a runner already on 2nd there is no need to try and take away the extra base hit. It's the routine single that you're trying to prevent in that situation.

First, my body hates me for staying up to watch that game until the end.

 

Second, how did the A's not have their corner infielders shading towards the line in the 12th with the winning run on second? I don't get that decision to have the third baseman so far off the line there.

 

I'm with you on the 1st one

Really cool to wake up to this. My brother played against Finnegan and Gore this year. Ask anyone who played against Gore--he can't hit the broad side of a barn, but my goodness he is so FAST.

 

I wanted the A's to win, but congratulations to KC on an exhilerating win!

You want to play off the line in that situation. With a runner already on 2nd there is no need to try and take away the extra base hit. It's the routine single that you're trying to prevent in that situation.

 

I play a little closer to the line there. My reasoning: A hit in the 5/6 hole still has your LFer there and a potential play at the plate (albeit the runner was fast). A hit down the line, ball game, every time.

Perez still took a horrible swing on a horrible pitch. This time it worked out.

 

 

Perez is the guy whose hit struck Chapman in the head in spring training.

Outstanding game to watch. I don't think I have ever seen so many sacrifice bunts in a game. Yost was lucky they won. He over managed IMO with Shields and Ventura. Why do things different in the playoffs? Go with your best long reliever and ride what got you there. When you get to the 11th or 12th innings and your bullpen is burned, then you use the starters in the one and done scenario.

A great game to watch! Even though I didn't have a dog in the fight, was rooting for the Royals. Thought they had blown too many chances there late, to get the W. And, wow, what a crowd.

I play a little closer to the line there. My reasoning: A hit in the 5/6 hole still has your LFer there and a potential play at the plate (albeit the runner was fast). A hit down the line, ball game, every time.

 

True, but on base hit on the ground it is ballgame anyway with a fast runner. With 2 outs the outfielders don't move in close enough to cut down the runner at home on anything but a liner right to them. You have to ask yourself: What's more likely on an outside pitch? A grounder in the hole or one down the line? I can't fault the 3rd baseman there.

.....

 

The A's bullpen imploded several times down the stretch giving up leads....and then did it again with the world watching.

 

You called the bullpen being the Achilles' heel awhile back.

Should have brought in Dunn.

 

Dunn had a long career and gets a single playoff game in his name. With Oakland. I posted an ESPN article on him awhile back. It was from Grantland or Five Thirty-Eight, IIRC. Anyway, love him or hate him, I thought it was a good read about what a unique career he had.

As an A's fan, this one hurts. Bad. I drove to work this morning kind of like..., "that... just... happened".

 

Of course in a year that Oakland traded to get pitching and set a playoff lineup, it'd come down to a slugfest. Of, freaking, course.

 

I thought they were breaking out of the slump. This was the year they went "all in" on. Now the process starts again. As a lifelong A's fan, I will say that next year could well be the kind of year that separates hardcore A's fans from the pack. Tons of people loving them when they're winning and the cool underdog, but not as many in years where they aren't getting it done.

 

Oakland looked like they'd finally snapped out of it. Moss homers twice to break his slump. They chase Herrera early. It looked like they'd be carrying momentum into a series with the Angels tomorrow. Instead, the process looks like it's going to start over. People who only casually follow probably have might not realize how bad things could wind up being.

 

Lester is gone. No two ways about that. Smardzija could be traded. Scott Kazmir is a free agent at the end of next season. Donaldson is on a good deal for the A's, but this year kind of shows that there's no guarantees and you can never really say never when it comes to their making a move. Not really a huge time in the market for tons of offense, so maybe the A's wheel and deal him.

 

Lowrie is probably going to get plucked away by someone in free agency. I'm not sure about Coco Crisp's deal.

 

Dunn will retire. Gregerson and Callaspo are free agents. Derek Norris isn't looking like he's the answer at Catcher when it comes to defense, and Soto is also a free agent.

I really don't get the blame for Lester on many levels. He gave up 4 runs, and did so at a time when his catcher was letting runners have their way with them on the base paths.

 

Lester had a dazzling ERA in his time on the Bay in the regular season, he just didn't get run support. He left the game last night in a situation where it was more than winnable, and did so after 7 and 1/3, so it's not like they needed to go too deep in the bullpen with a 3 run lead.

I really don't get the blame for Lester on many levels. He gave up 4 runs, and did so at a time when his catcher was letting runners have their way with them on the base paths.

 

Lester had a dazzling ERA in his time on the Bay in the regular season, he just didn't get run support. He left the game last night in a situation where it was more than winnable, and did so after 7 and 1/3, so it's not like they needed to go too deep in the bullpen with a 3 run lead.

 

A} I don't blame Lester, I blame the front office. Trading for him debilitated this team. They never recovered.

B} Lester was spotted a 2-0. Time for a stud to go deal, not give the lead back. Again, I don't blame him, but with what the A's gave up to get him he needed to be Shillingest in this game.

C} Back up catcher allowed guys to run wild. Lester did allow them to reach base first. You can't steal first base.

D} Great game to watch. I've never seen so many sacs and stolen bases in a MLB game. The Royals manufacture runs like some high school teams I've seen.

Perez still took a horrible swing on a horrible pitch. This time it worked out.

 

As stated many times, the process used by the A's is great for 162 games but mean nothing in 1 game or a short series.

 

A's went outside their box this year, so the bolded isn't quite correct. Results were the same, but they did build starting pitching for the postseason