CHARLES REX ARBOGAST/AP
Let me tell you what really pissed me off about yesterday’s A’s loss.
I kept writing in my head how I would recap it here. I kept thinking I knew the positive story line. The back to back homers. The good start by Sonny Gray. The Fuld bunt RBI.
And what am I stuck with? Another loss. Another walk off loss. 2 homer by Tyler F—ing Flowers?
There are all sorts of ways people rooting for the A’s can mollify themselves over this slump.
The last 5 losses have been by 1 run. It isn’t like they are being blown out of the water. Had the A’s put up a 1-2-3 9th on Sunday and Monday, the narrative would be “The A’s are back! They are on a roll!”
Because of 2 innings, the narrative is “The A’s are terrible! What a disaster!”
What a difference 2 innings makes.
Since the beginning of August, the A’s have gone 14-23.
Of those 23 losses, 13 have been by 2 runs or fewer. The law of averages have caught up with the A’s. Those thrilling walk off wins are now teeth grinding losses.
It isn’t all Cespedes’ loss. It isn’t Billy Beane being outsmarted. It is a bounce here and there.
But let’s get down to brass tacks. The A’s have to start winning. Like now. Like tonight! They have 19 games left. The games against the Astros and the White Sox were supposed to be the easy ones. So far they have lost 3 out of those 4.
Be like the Giants, who looked like a dead from the neck up team when they dropped their first (one run) game to the Rockies and won 9 of their next 12 games to secure a playoff spot.
Win 9-0, or 9-8. Win 1-0. Win on a homer. Win on a balk. It doesn’t matter.
90 wins will PROBABLY secure a playoff spot. That would mean going 10-9 the rest of the way.
Get going! I’m tired of grinding my teeth!
I guess I should update the Dodged Bullet/Teeth Grinder tally.
An explanation of what this is all about can be found HERE.
GIANTS DODGED BULLET – TEETH GRINDER Tally
53 Dodged Bullets 48 Teeth Grinders
TOTAL: +5
A’S DODGED BULLET – TEETH GRINDER Tally
The A’s game back with back to back homers and a bunt RBI to take a 9th inning lead in Chicago. But Tyler Flowers hit a game tying homer in the 9th and a walk off shot in the 12th to win it for the White Sox, 5-4. TEETH GRINDER
50 Dodged Bullets 50 Teeth Grinders
TOTAL: EVEN
RED SOX DODGED BULLET – TEETH GRINDER Tally
Dodged Bullets 61 Teeth Grinders 73
TOTAL: -12
The A’s tally is at Even right now. This is incomprehensible.
Sully Baseball 
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