Wild Card IGT -- Rays @ Athletics, 10/2/19

[LWFS]

Somehow-- damn the schedule-- the Flushingers still ain't got no game on tap. But I suspect that this Battle of the Bays is a strong candidate to yield everyone's postseason one-we're-with. The Rays are still fascinatingly cobbled-together-- Wendle! Pham! d'Arnaud!-- and all about multiple bullpen days, and this time, there's no Joe Maddon to spoil anyone's appetite for 'em. And never mind their fun, excellent crew (all-world all-around third baseman Matt Chapman and breakthrough local boy shortstop Marcus Semien, for two)... take one look at the Oakland greens and socks (which they're modeling tonight), and tell me that Oaktown ain't a pretty team to look at.



https://www.whatproswear.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Matthew-Chapman-Glove-Khris-Davis-Bat-Cleats-34.jpg>



Nastiest-curver-of-balls-this-side-of-Lugo Charlie Morton squares off with nasty-post-surgical-stuffmeister Sean Manaea.

[Frayed Knot]

Travis d'Arnaud: Clean-up hitter for a post-season baseball team

[LWFS]

Two true outcomes for Sean Manaea through two frames-- 5 Ks, 2 HRs allowed.

[LWFS]

Make that 3 HRs, as Yandy Diaz smacks his second of the night.

[G-Fafif]

Td'A knows how to win, communicates that ability to his teammates.

[Frayed Knot]

=LWFS post_id=23568 time=1570064433 user_id=84]
Make that 3 HRs, as Yandy Diaz smacks his second of the night.

[LWFS]

Rays playing "REALLY Really, No Doubles" against slugger Matt Olson, with the four-deep OF array. They do this quite a bit, apparently.

[LWFS]

4 innings in, and the Athletics have stranded 6 runners.

[LWFS]

Them Rays. They're hitting these balls hard and far tonight.

[Fman99]

I'm trying to care and coming up short. A-Rod isn't helping. I tried the ESPN2 alternate broadcast which is supposed to be more 'stat cast' focused. Those guys are dull fuckers as well.

[LWFS]

This Luzardo kid. Hoooo boy.

[Frayed Knot]

So if this score doesn't change, what does that make Oakland in win-or-go-home games ... Like oh for their last 30?

This will be three straight WC game losses (2014 & 2018) plus losses in every ultimate post-season series (save 1989) since their the 'three-peat' WS teams of the early '70s - most of those to the Yanx.









oe: and just as I type this the network flashes a note on the screen that the Oakland record in a 'Winner Takes All' game is eight straight losses.

But in games where it's just the A's needing to win or go home the streak is even longer than that.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Agree on the sweet unis, but would prefer home teams wear the team name on the chest, and their city on the road.



Tampa is now my favorite remaining team and I got nothing for the park or the home state. City of Tampa is kinda nice in spots but it's still pretty much Florida.



Feel good for d'Arnaud. He was destined to wind up in either Tampa or Oakland, sorta like Doodoo.

[LWFS]

Tampa will do.



I REALLY was hoping for Oakland, though; they took 4 out of 6 against the MFYs, with the two losses being 1-run affairs.

[Frayed Knot]

My only problem in rooting for Tampa is that I don't trust anyone to beat the Yanx except for Houston (and I'm wavering on that one too).

I mean, if you assured me in advance that THIS was the year the Twins will finally break through then, sure, why not.