MLB, Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers
In what is one of the most incredible stories of the 2012 baseball season, the Oakland Athletics have completed their improbable comeback to claim sole possession of first place in the AL West.The Rangers led the division for 178 days, but managed to choke it away in the final weeks of the season and let the Athletics move into the Divisional Round without a 1-game playoff.
The A's won today's clincher 12-5, thanks to hits from 8 different players, and 6+ innings of scoreless relief after starter AJ Griffin got roughed up for 5 runs in 2.2 innings.
Josh Hamilton made a key error in the 4th inning, losing a routine fly ball that could have ended the inning, but instead allowed the go-ahead runs to score. The A's never looked back, and they'll move on to play the winner of a 1-game Wild Card playoff between the Rangers and either the Yankees or Orioles.
Congrats to the A's, who have the lowest payroll and weren't considered legitimate playoff contenders by anyone at the beginning of the season.
Could we see a sequal to Moneyball? It wouldn't be surprising, because this year's team might be an even better story.
Their roster is made up of outcasts from other teams, including 4 former Red Sox players. The Red Sox probably could have used those guys, since they were mathematically eliminated a long time ago.
10/4/12 | brandon_p187
http://www.facebook.com/Totallyunbiasedsportsreview
10/4/12 | ML31 | 3550 respect
Moneyball won the Division Series in 2006. But the playoffs are random. The success of the system lies in how the team has fared in the regular season over the years. Which has been good and bad over the last 10 plus years. The Rays success has only been recent.
10/4/12 | MortonsLaw | 130 respect
Until Moneyball wins a playoff series--I'm sick of it. How about the Rays and their low payroll? They've had far more success. Where's their movie?
10/3/12 |
Dan_B
|
802 respect
PS: As a Giants supporter I am pulling very hard for the A's because I want the opportunity for payback for 1989.
Minus the earthquake (says me, the guy who lives in San Francisco...)
10/3/12 | ML31 | 3550 respect
I say the A's right now have got to be the favorites heading into this. They are the hottest team right now. The only team that may be hotter is whoever wins that play in game.
PS: As a Giants supporter I am pulling very hard for the A's because I want the opportunity for payback for 1989.