The A's and Twins have a colorful history. A man of my vintage grew up in a period when the A's and Twins fought each other, tooth and nail, for the American League West Title. Consider this: From 1987 to 1992 the A's or Twins won the AL West in every season. During that time frame, the A's or Twins won the AL Crown five of six seasons. The Twins hoisted two giant trophies. The A's, but one.
That was a rivalry made of games that dripped with tension. Games like the Eric Fox game winning "Yahtzee!" in 1992. More recently, there was the Moneyball season playoff series. When Mark Ellis hit that bomb off Everyday Eddie, I just knew the A's were gonna finally come through. And they did! Just a few seasons later. What does this have to do with today's game?
Nothing. And that's the problem.
The A's lost 4-2, the final of three straight losses to the Minnesota Twins, and it feels like the A's season has pivoted from "we are in it," towards "the plan is working, just wait."
I don't know if I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or what, but I just felt like the A's started the game with a 3 run deficit. Even at the points in the game where there may have been reason for excitement, it was more like the dread of a foregone conclusion.
It was hard to be upset when Jim Thome hit his home run. It was the antithesis of the Eric Fox bomb of 1992. I mentally check out each time the broadcast switches to the Rangers or Angels.
On the bright side, Vin Mazzaro was pretty good today. If the current starting rotation can all keep their arms attached and in working order this is going to be one heck of a pitching staff to watch. It has the potential to be deeper than even the Hudson, Mulder, Zito, Lidle Years.
And we will get to test this theory of rotation depth immediately thanks to the Toronto Blue Jays Traveling Slugfest, which is rolling in to Oaktown for a limited, 3 days only, engagement starting tomorrow night at 7:05. Bring your coats and blankets, the bats are cold.
