Re: The A\'s are terrible
That is pure horses%$&. "The Billy Beane style" has nothing to do with it. That style can succeed just fine in the postseason. The bottom line is that the players simply didn't execute when they needed to. There were so many, and I mean so many, instances in this series where one measly little thing could have changed the outcome dramatically.
In game 3, the now infamous obstruction error gave Boston their only run until Trot Nixon ended the game with his 2 run walkoff job. Had Ramon Hernandez just thrown the damn ball to Chavez when he signaled for it, the game never would went to extra innings.
Also, game 3 : Eric Byrnes touches home plate, there is also the game, and no extra innings.
Game 4 : Eric Byrnes hits a ball right down the right field line that just missed hugging the inside of the foul pole in the corner by maybe a foot. It goes the other way, and we don't see a game 5 tonight.
Of course, all the what if's in the world don't mean a thing. Baseball is a game of inches just like they say, and the A's got some bad bounces. It is hard to say this or that, because maybe that Hernandez bunt in game 1 could have not bounced off of home plate, and Boston would have won later. You just never know.
Point is, the "Beane style" had nothing to do with the A's losing this series. Anyone who thinks so doesn't really know baseball very well.
Fundamentals, or as SportsmanTO says, "foundamentals", played a pretty big role. As was the case last year, it was the stupid mental mistakes that put the A's in some bad spots.
Considering the financial flexibilty Beane has, or the lack thereof, he really has no choice but to assemble a team the way he does. That is pretty much the only way the A's are going to compete every year.
In case nobody else noticed, the A's actually DID play a lot more small ball this postseason compared to the last 3 playoff years. I saw them sacrifice, attempt some steals, a couple hit and runs, and of course Ramon Hernandez's bunt in game 1 for the win. That is vastly different from what they have done in the recent past.
I am still pretty pissed off about the outcome of the series, but the more I think about it, I realize that the A's played a much better overall series this year than any of the other 3 they lost. Their pitching (starting and relief) for the most part was excellent. This team was their least talented of the playoff teams the last few years, with the possible exception of 2000, imo. I honestly kept thinking that they were going to barely miss making the playoffs this year, until the Mariners waved their annual white flag down the stretch. Losing Mulder was a big blow, but then Lilly stepped up and was lights out.
Their big problem all year was the lack of punch in the lineup. It came back to haunt them in this playoff series, as they hit just one home run. Now, it looks to get even worse with Tejada almost surely leaving this offseason. Beane had better make a trade or go find another diamond in the rough.
Congrats, Boston fans. You guys deserved to win. Now please go kick the Yankees' *** in 4.
That is pure horses%$&. "The Billy Beane style" has nothing to do with it. That style can succeed just fine in the postseason. The bottom line is that the players simply didn't execute when they needed to. There were so many, and I mean so many, instances in this series where one measly little thing could have changed the outcome dramatically.
In game 3, the now infamous obstruction error gave Boston their only run until Trot Nixon ended the game with his 2 run walkoff job. Had Ramon Hernandez just thrown the damn ball to Chavez when he signaled for it, the game never would went to extra innings.
Also, game 3 : Eric Byrnes touches home plate, there is also the game, and no extra innings.
Game 4 : Eric Byrnes hits a ball right down the right field line that just missed hugging the inside of the foul pole in the corner by maybe a foot. It goes the other way, and we don't see a game 5 tonight.
Of course, all the what if's in the world don't mean a thing. Baseball is a game of inches just like they say, and the A's got some bad bounces. It is hard to say this or that, because maybe that Hernandez bunt in game 1 could have not bounced off of home plate, and Boston would have won later. You just never know.
Point is, the "Beane style" had nothing to do with the A's losing this series. Anyone who thinks so doesn't really know baseball very well.
Fundamentals, or as SportsmanTO says, "foundamentals", played a pretty big role. As was the case last year, it was the stupid mental mistakes that put the A's in some bad spots.
Considering the financial flexibilty Beane has, or the lack thereof, he really has no choice but to assemble a team the way he does. That is pretty much the only way the A's are going to compete every year.
In case nobody else noticed, the A's actually DID play a lot more small ball this postseason compared to the last 3 playoff years. I saw them sacrifice, attempt some steals, a couple hit and runs, and of course Ramon Hernandez's bunt in game 1 for the win. That is vastly different from what they have done in the recent past.
I am still pretty pissed off about the outcome of the series, but the more I think about it, I realize that the A's played a much better overall series this year than any of the other 3 they lost. Their pitching (starting and relief) for the most part was excellent. This team was their least talented of the playoff teams the last few years, with the possible exception of 2000, imo. I honestly kept thinking that they were going to barely miss making the playoffs this year, until the Mariners waved their annual white flag down the stretch. Losing Mulder was a big blow, but then Lilly stepped up and was lights out.
Their big problem all year was the lack of punch in the lineup. It came back to haunt them in this playoff series, as they hit just one home run. Now, it looks to get even worse with Tejada almost surely leaving this offseason. Beane had better make a trade or go find another diamond in the rough.
Congrats, Boston fans. You guys deserved to win. Now please go kick the Yankees' *** in 4.
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