Quote Originally Posted by beshcooper:
The A's may be able to salvage a game here but I would not be surprised if they just crash and burn.
I find it largely improbable that a team as resilient as the Athletics have been this year that they will suddenly collapse and get swept in this spot. The A's have surmounted the loss of Brandon McCarthy, Brett Anderson(for most of the season), Bartolo Colon, and Dallas Braden.
This team pitches well, takes pitches and gets the count up quickly, and hit when they need to.
This formula, equipped with a rowdy raucous Coliseum crowd that plays largely to the A's advantage(-foul territory, weird ballpark dimensions). While these ballpark intangibles can work against the A's offense, home field advantage could be huge here.
Thats not all you say? The one bonafide ace of the Athletics consistently stellar, yet interchangeable, pitching staff returns to pitch the biggest game of his career. This is absolutely a statement game for Brett Anderson to showcase his stuff to the rest of the baseball public who may be unfamiliar with this pitcher's talent. I imagine an Anderson stat line to look something along the lines of 6 ip, 2 runs, 4 hits, 6 k's, 3 bb's at which case Manager Bob Melvin turns it over to his extremely effective bullpen. Ryan Cook and Grant Balfour at the back end of the pen will not falter consecutive games facing elimination.
Which means it comes down to the A's offense needing to score more than 3 runs or so, at home where they are comfortable and thrive. This team has had the best record in baseball since July 1st, and trailed Texas by 5 games with 9 to play. Not only did they hold off the Angels, but they sweep the last 2 consecutive series of the season(Texas in games 160,61,62) to capture the division crown. Sure, it will be close to impossible to overcome a 2-0 series deficit to with Justin Verlander looming in game 5. But this team has demonstrated time and time again that they play best with nothing to lose and its back against the wall. Consequently, the Athletics prolong their season and extend this series to a 4th game.
Hopefully some of you find this analysis to prove useful. Then again, it is a baseball game, what do I know.
Nonetheless, the play seems to be a prime play on the:
ATHLETICS(-128)
GLTA