"Aaaoutside Corner, Ring Him Up, Strike Three Called!"

by Nico on Sep 11, 2010 9:01 PM PDT

Sweeter words were never spoken. David Ortiz pinch-hitting, Andrew Bailey on the mound, 4-3 A's, tying run at 2B, two out, and Ortiz spoiling off cutter after cutter. The two teams may only be in pennant races thanks to the wonders of math, but it was a playoff atmosphere in Oakland when Bailey finally won the battle, freezing Ortiz and painting the outside corner by less than the space between Big Papi's front teeth.

How did we get there? Brett Anderson tossed 7 solid innings yet trailed 2-0 when he threw his last pitch as the A's flailed helplessly for 6 innings against nemesis John Lackey. Without warning, the A's erupted for 3 in the 7th to take the lead and eventually return Anderson the winning pitcher. Daric Barton opened with a double, Jack Cust had a key single through the grand canyon sized SS hole, and Rajai Davis tripled just past the rather magnificent over-the-shoulder diving effort of CFer Ryan Kalish, sprawling on the warning track.

There was more drama in the bottom of the 8th when Cust's bases loaded single brought home Crisp, followed closely behind by Barton, who was called out on a bang-bang play at the plate. That missing run loomed large when Boston scored one in the top of the 9th, put the tying run at 2B, and sent Ortiz up representing the go-ahead run.

You know how it ended. Excitement in Oakland, in front of a lively crowd, a playoff atmosphere with the green and gold coming out on top. How ironic that Marco Scutaro and Adrian Beltre chose the Red Sox over the A's because they wanted to win now. For at least one night -- no, make it at least two nights -- they chose the wrong team.

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Yangers game on

I can’t believe I am rooting for the Yankees… I feel unclean

"I wanted to see how much my computer programming skills had improved since the last time I was arrested." - octopus virus

by Zonis on Sep 11, 2010 9:02 PM PDT reply actions

Remember, you're not rooting for the Yankees to win.

You’re rooting for the Rangers to ~~all get 50 game PED suspensions~~ lose.

www.zekeishungry.com

by thejd44 on Sep 11, 2010 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Why would you use a strikethrough there?

I’m absolutely rooting for that.

"I wasn't able to extend so I had a serious lack of extension."--Dallas Braden

by StJosephBurningTheOakTreesToTheGround on Sep 11, 2010 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions

You make an excellent point

Though, honestly, if there was some huge scandal where 10 Rangers missed the last 3 weeks and the A’s won the division, it wouldn’t feel quite right.

www.zekeishungry.com

by thejd44 on Sep 11, 2010 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions

It would feel absolutely right.

They’re a bullshit team and I would be fine with them losing in a bullshit way.

"I wasn't able to extend so I had a serious lack of extension."--Dallas Braden

by StJosephBurningTheOakTreesToTheGround on Sep 11, 2010 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions

It would be hilarious.

but i would love it.

Needs moar dingerz.

by Blicks on Sep 12, 2010 8:41 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm rooting against the Rangers

Somehow, that makes it feel better.

Now there's nothing left to say, so let's go drink beer.

by doctorK on Sep 11, 2010 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Posada should have taken that for the team

"I wanted to see how much my computer programming skills had improved since the last time I was arrested." - octopus virus

by Zonis on Sep 11, 2010 9:04 PM PDT reply actions

Why PH for Gardner there?

"I wasn't able to extend so I had a serious lack of extension."--Dallas Braden

by StJosephBurningTheOakTreesToTheGround on Sep 11, 2010 9:05 PM PDT reply actions

Oops, read my CBS GameTracker wrong.

"I wasn't able to extend so I had a serious lack of extension."--Dallas Braden

by StJosephBurningTheOakTreesToTheGround on Sep 11, 2010 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Posada is really, really easy to hate.

www.zekeishungry.com

by thejd44 on Sep 11, 2010 9:06 PM PDT reply actions

unless you're a rodent

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Sep 11, 2010 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Gah - I HATE JORGE POSADA

Now there's nothing left to say, so let's go drink beer.

by doctorK on Sep 11, 2010 9:06 PM PDT reply actions

Ditto

Failure

by Trainman on Sep 11, 2010 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Dear Yankees

Please beat the Rangers, you can suck after that.

"I wanted to see how much my computer programming skills had improved since the last time I was arrested." - octopus virus

by Zonis on Sep 11, 2010 9:16 PM PDT reply actions

boooo Rangers

If Pennington manages 17 HRs, I’ll vow to consume an article of clothing to achieve a humorous effect --Joey C.

by cityplANner on Sep 11, 2010 9:22 PM PDT reply actions

The Yankees destroy the A's, and then can't beat the Rangers...

Yup, making it even easier and easier to hate the Evil Empire…if that was even possible.

"If you can accept losing, you can't win." ~Vince Lombardi
Tweet Tweet.

by ZeroIndulgence on Sep 11, 2010 9:32 PM PDT reply actions

It also underscores the cavernous gap

between the A’s and the Rangers. If it wasn’t apparent already, the way the two teams have looked against NYY makes it pretty clear.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 11, 2010 9:34 PM PDT up reply actions

For sure...

We really have no business winning the West this season…but still gotta cheer for it!

"If you can accept losing, you can't win." ~Vince Lombardi
Tweet Tweet.

by ZeroIndulgence on Sep 11, 2010 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions

The A's got creamed in Yankee stadium

and beat Texas in Texas. I think you have to call what happened at the Stadium an anomaly, maybe. It’s not that the A’s are so much worse than the Yankees, it’s that the A’s are so much worse in Yankee Stadium. And the Yankees aren’t as good outside the Stadium in places like Texas.

by richwol1 on Sep 11, 2010 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions

The Yanks pretty much made mincemeat of us in Oakland too, though.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 11, 2010 9:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Some teams also have other teams' number

The A’s have held their own against Tampa Bay, Boston, Minnesota and Texas this year. Though not the Yankees or Toronto.

by richwol1 on Sep 11, 2010 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Not sure I'd say we've held our own against Minnesota, but yeah.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 11, 2010 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions

It wasn't a series of blowouts at least

But I realized after I typed Minnesota that I wasn’t sure about that. But the A’s have done fine against Texas, the Red Sox, Tampa Bay ….

The key, I think, is that A’s pitchers do well against teams without hard-core home run hitters.

by richwol1 on Sep 11, 2010 10:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah

http://www.athleticsnation.com/2010/9/11/1683456/ct-thread-9-11

Last of the Ninth - Photography

by Flashfire on Sep 11, 2010 9:33 PM PDT reply actions

YES!!

yankees take the lead 6-5!

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Sep 11, 2010 9:42 PM PDT reply actions

Roid man comes through

Now the Yankees just need to get the game to Rivera (or score more runs).

by bear88 on Sep 11, 2010 9:43 PM PDT reply actions

Could you narrow it down a little?

"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury

by OldhamA on Sep 11, 2010 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL Washington with the "Geren" (moronic non-move)

Leaves the lefty to face A Rod.

Thanks Wash.

by Trainman on Sep 11, 2010 9:45 PM PDT reply actions

yeah clearly geren doesn't know how to manage pitching changes if the a's are 128-1 with an 8th inning lead in the last two years

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Sep 11, 2010 9:50 PM PDT up reply actions

You mean he doesn't know how to put in a closer?

by sc00by on Sep 11, 2010 9:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Clearly I was being humerous

in describing a mistake that Washington made (leaving the lefty to face A Rod) which cost his team the lead.

Geren is not a good manager overall and has made quite a few stupid moves which cost the A’s BEFORE the 8th inning. Pitching Ziegler against LHB’s comes to mind. In fairness to him, he did finally see the light and corrected this.

by Trainman on Sep 11, 2010 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions

missed the game, and this recap was awesome!

What a great job-thanks, nice to come back and read!

"Oh who am I kidding? The A's and Giants could stage a pillow fight, and I'd still care who wins." -67Marquez

by baseballgirl on Sep 11, 2010 9:50 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

Thanks -- you know I didn't start writing it early!

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 11, 2010 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Forgot about that

Rivera almost certainly isn’t available because he pitched two innings last night.

by bear88 on Sep 11, 2010 9:54 PM PDT reply actions

Joba!

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 11, 2010 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions

screw that, they should pitch him anyway

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Sep 11, 2010 9:57 PM PDT up reply actions

That's the spirit!

by bear88 on Sep 11, 2010 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions

rivera is in!

i’m glad girardi shares my total disregard for the long term success of the yankees organization beyond this series

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Sep 11, 2010 10:10 PM PDT up reply actions