It is the Doolittle and Donaldson show in Oakland!

(Scott Strazzante/SF Chronicle)

David Lynch and Rod Serling would call this A’s win strange.

The Phillies did everything short of announcing where the pitch was going to to help Oakland win. The A’s got on base by the walk, hit batsmen and boneheaded plays.

The Phillies threw the ball around, forgot runners couldn’t go to first on a strikeout if first base is occupied and let Adam Dunn tag up and lumber from third on a medium fly ball. It seemed like there were runners in scoring position with less than 2 outs all night. And yet the game remained scoreless into an agonizing 10th inning, tied 6-6.

Freaking Freddy Galvis came through again and Scott Kazmir couldn’t do the job (keep that in mind next time Jon Lester throws a masterpiece.)

So who came to the rescue? Sean Doolittle and Josh Donaldson. Friend of the Podcast Doolittle pitched a scoreless 9th and 10th, putting the debacle against Texas in the rear view mirror.

And the best way to cure the loss of Cespedes? Have Donaldson hit! He came up short against Houston and Chicago.

Today? He got on base 4 times, scored 3 and hit the walk off homer in the 10th. Cap that with Seattle losing to Houston and they chip 2 off of the magic number to clinch a playoff spot.

A strange day? Sure. But at this point all that matters are wins.

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

56 Dodged Bullets 50 Teeth Grinders

TOTAL: +6

 

A’S DODGED BULLET – TEETH GRINDER Tally

A wild back and forth game went into the 10th where Josh Donaldson walked off with a 2 run shot as the A’s beat the Phillies, 8-6. DODGED BULLET

54 Dodged Bullets 57 Teeth Grinders

TOTAL: -3

 

 

RED SOX DODGED BULLET – TEETH GRINDER Tally

Mookie Betts and David Ross homered and Joe Kelly kept Baltimore at bay as the Red Sox hung on for a 3-2 win. DODGED BULLET

Dodged Bullets 64 Teeth Grinders 76

TOTAL: -12

 

Giants and Dodgers tomorrow. Last gasp for any Division hopes for the Giants!

Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – September 22, 2014

Matt Freed/Post-Gazette

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a scary team heading into the post season. Not because of momentum (which is meaningless, especially with a one game playoff) but because of which players are healthy, strong and playing at a high level.

It is a raise the Jolly Roger episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast

Baseball can adapt not only to the digital age but learn the lessons that the movie industry eventually learned about home video.

Josh Donaldson, Corey Kluber, Matt Kemp, Vance Worley, Michael Saunders, Marlon Byrd, Wily Peralta and yes Sean Doolittle all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball?