the difference between mediocrity and playoff contention
The difference between 74-76 and 84-66 is....the difference between mediocrity and playoff contention. 10 games out of 150. 10 times this year the A's lost when in past years they would have won. Once every 2 weeks this year the A's lost a game they should have won. Where is that magic ingredient? Who is the one guy who could have turned it all around? Frank Thomas? A healthy Chavvy? I don't think so.
the difference between playoff contention and mediocrity is.....Justin Duchscherer. From 04-06 Duke pitched in more than 50 games per year, and won or saved 30 of them. 10 per year. I believed he helped the A's win a lot more thanthat. It sure seems like the A's have lost a lot of games in the 6th through 8th innings this year. I'd bet more than 10. A healthy Duke wouldn't have been perfect, but he'd have been good. I miss him a lot and I hope he can come back healthy next year.