This is getting a bit ridiculous, A’s

Louis DeLuca – Dallas Morning News Staff Photographer

ANOTHER one run loss? ANOTHER pitching performance flushed down the toilet?

MORE runners  left on base?

Coco Crisp got on base 5 times. FIVE TIMES! And scored zero runs. I didn’t think that was even possible.

So despite the fact that the Seattle Mariners have done a complete and utter nose dive in the last week or so, they remain mathematically in the race. So let’s make this simple, shall we?

Angels beat the Mariners ONCE.

A’s beat the Rangers ONCE.

Those two things happen and the A’s have Jon Lester pitching the Wild Card Game. And for everyone’s sake, do it tonight!

Meanwhile the Giants clinch in an empty stadium in Cincinnati with a Brewers loss… and found a way to have a wild weird game at AT&T.

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

The playoff bound Giants blew an early 6-0 lead to the limp Padres bats. But Pablo Sandoval and company came back to win, 9-8. DODGED BULLET

58 Dodged Bullets 52 Teeth Grinders

TOTAL: +6

 

A’S DODGED BULLET – TEETH GRINDER Tally

Coco Crisp gets on base 5 times and never scores. The A’s lose a walk off 2-1 heart breaker to Texas. TEETH GRINDER

55 Dodged Bullets 60 Teeth Grinders

TOTAL: -5

 

 

RED SOX DODGED BULLET – TEETH GRINDER Tally

 

Dodged Bullets 64 Teeth Grinders 77

TOTAL: -13

 

I do NOT want to see a Mariners A’s play in game for the play in game!

 

Heaven forbid the A’s just LOSE

EZRA SHAW/GETTY IMAGES

The A’s fell behind 5-0 and wasted opportunities like a runner on third with nobody out.

I thought “I’ve heard this game before.”

There is no pressure or agita when a team loses decisively. But when the team goes on a massive comeback?

When they score 4 to make it a 1 run game and make every single pitch a possible game tying moment?

Then STILL lose?

Folks, that is annoying. This final third of the season has just been annoying. Just clinch the Wild Card, both Bay Area teams, and let’s get on with it.

 

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

Giants took an early 1-0 lead but let Kershaw off the ropes. Clayton tied the game himself with a 2 out 5th inning triple and Yasiel Puig untied it in the 6th. After that, the game got out of hand and the Dodgers clinched the West with a 9-1 game that was closer than the final indicated. TEETH GRINDER

57 Dodged Bullets 52 Teeth Grinders

TOTAL: +5

 

A’S DODGED BULLET – TEETH GRINDER Tally

An out of nowhere rally made a 5-0 game 5-4, but in the end the Angels held on to top the A’s and win the series. TEETH GRINDER

55 Dodged Bullets 59 Teeth Grinders

TOTAL: -4

 

 

RED SOX DODGED BULLET – TEETH GRINDER Tally

 

Dodged Bullets 64 Teeth Grinders 77

TOTAL: -13

 

Both Bay Area teams can clinch a playoff spot tonight and make all of this moot.

 

Three Wasted Pitching Performances

Elise Amendola, Ben Margot and Jae C. Hong- AP

 

Clay Buchholz took a 1-0 lead into the 8th inning, continuing his strong finish to the season.

Sonny Gray allowed only 3 hits and 1 earned run while striking out 12 in 7 innings against the Angels.

Madison Bumgarner pitched into the 8th inning, slugging a 2 run homer of his own in LA.

What do these three pitching performances all have in common?

THEY ALL LOST!

Ben Zobrist hit a 2 run double in the 8th that gave Tampa Bay the lead and opened the flood gates to a 5 run rally.

The A’s left the bases loaded AGAIN and wasted an amazing Gray perfomrnace.

Justin Turner homered twice and Matt Kemp homered accounting for all of LA’s offense and was enough to keep the Giants from clinching a playoff spot.

So much goodness could have happened tonight. Instead all we are left with is wasted pitching performances.

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

Madison Bumgarner let up 2 homers in the first to put the Giants in a 3-0 hole. He cut it to 3-2 with a homer of his own but the Giants bid to clinch a Wild Card spot fell short as the Dodgers won 4-2. TEETH GRINDER

57 Dodged Bullets 51 Teeth Grinders

TOTAL: +6

 

A’S DODGED BULLET – TEETH GRINDER Tally

Sonny Gray’s brilliant pitching performance was wasted as the Angels kept the A’s from scoring. Oakland loaded the bases in the 8th but Stephen Vogt flew out and the Halos hung on, 2-0. TEETH GRINDER

55 Dodged Bullets 58 Teeth Grinders

TOTAL: -3

 

 

RED SOX DODGED BULLET – TEETH GRINDER Tally

Clay Buchholz was fantastic through 7 but ran out of gas in the 8th. Ben Zobrist and David DeJesus got RBI hits against Buchholz and the Rays came back to beat the Red Sox 6-2. TEETH GRINDER

Dodged Bullets 64 Teeth Grinders 77

TOTAL: -13

 

Giants can make everything moot with a win tomorrow. The A’s can inch closer to a Wild Card spot as well. Red Sox? They will always have 2013.