Nobody saw the actual game on Saturday, right?

We all knew that Zito was coming into the game growing like a geriatric lefty. What we didn't know is that the years has taught him how to get major-leaguers out with a speed limit fastball. Zito unexpectedly turned a 50 pitch limit into 4-plus innings of three-run ball, consistently getting ahead with his bread and butter first pitch change and setting Gnats down with vintage curveballs that started above the shoulders and dropped through the zone at the knees. Everyone stood and our concrete mausoleum rang with the Cy Young cheers of yesteryear, Barry walked onto the mound for the last time to start the fifth, the sounds of his demo tape coming out of the Coliseum speakers. Zito walked off the same mound to the cheers of everyone who loves blue hair, teddy bears and mind bending breaking balls.

We all knew that Hudson was coming back to where it all started, and coming back in fine form. He was sporting a sub-1 ERA in his last few games. Mr. Splitty would be darting and bats would flail. NewBob preaches a School of Grind and scoring off Huddy is a scratch and claw affair. Hudson would go seven strong, giving up one unearned.

The game was taught, crisp, it had the charm of nostalgia, and the crisp tension of a playoff clincher. Young kids that didn't know how to play just a few short months ago and injury replacements on both sides rose to the moment, feeding off the crowd. Hudson, like so many of the games we've seen: "C'mon guys, just give me a run," would be stuck with a no-decision, when he SF bullpen gave up two on a Canna double in the very inning Tim walked off the mound to raucous cheers.

In a brilliant turn between innings, Tim Hudson walked to home plate and shook Barry Zito's hand because the crowd just wouldn't sit down after their curtain call.

After the game Hudson said: "I would have liked the win, but I pitched well in front of all these fans and the team that drafted me, that gave me my big league opportunity, the GM that also gave me a chance to pitch for my home team in Atlanta, and to pitch for the Bay Area one more time. I couldn't have asked for a better curtain call."

They sat together on the field for the post-game interview, Hudson still wondering: "I don't know how our teams didn't win the World Series. We had the The Big Three pitching, Giambi and Tejada winning MVP awards, Chavez's Gold Glove and Silver slugger awards."

Zito: "Mark Ellis should have had a Gold Glove at the keystone. Swisher, Street and Crosby were all good looking young Rookies coming up to refill the pipe. Keith Foulke or Jason Isringhausen closing. All-Star Ramon Hernandez calling it from behind the dish."

Hudson: "Walk-off bunt!"

Zito: "In the Playoffs! In Extras! After you went toe to toe with Pedro Martinez."

Hudson: "Olmedo Sáenz coming up with big hits. Jonny Damon skateboarding to the ballpark."

Zito: "Matt Stairs hitting jacks."

Hudson: "The Velarde triple play."

Zito: "Good times."

Hudson: "You know, I feel it was really those injuries that kept us out. Jermaine Dye's leg, Ellis with the shoulder. Me and Mulder with the hip."

Zito: "Losing key pieces in short playoff series. Tough enough to win as it is. And to take in the psychological blow, all I can say is that we battled.

2015. It wasn't the best of years, and this wasn’t the best of teams, but these A's were ours, and that's all that mattered. After everything we've experienced in our careers, I can think of no better way to end it than pitching against you."

And props to Klay Thompson for sharing some Golden State Mojo, throwing a ceremonial first pitch strike to start a fresh new Green and Gold era.