Let's be real here: Even a free-spirited, we're-too-young-to-know-any-better club like the A's have probably understood what they've worked so hard for since just before the All-Star break. And that wasn't to hoist a 2012 American League Western Championship flag. The Texas Rangers, even with their division lead shaved and clipped and trimmed to just a handful of games and the reality of having those three in Oakland next week that could have decided the division, have been in command of the West and could be messing up the clubhouse with champagne and beer spillage sometime this weekend.
What does that mean for the A's? Thursday's 9-7 loss at Texas in their final regular-season road game simplified their goals the rest of the season. When the A's slammed the Rangers on Wednesday to get back within three games of first, the thought was another victory in the series finale would have Oakland within sniffing distance of overtaking the two-time defending AL champs' stranglehold on the Western Division. Now that a potential two-game margin is back at four with six games left, Oakland's priority is holding off the surging Angels and completing an improbable run to a wild-card playoff date.
At this point, the A's should be just fine if the Rangers' championship celebration comes sooner rather than later. And with a magic number of three Texas can just go ahead and reach that figure on its own by sweeping the Angels this weekend in Arlington. Of course the A's need to not stumble against Seattle, but if you're an A's fan the Angels should terrify you right now. Oakland's lead over the Angels dropped to 1 1/2 games pending the fighting C.J. Wilsons' game with the Mariners in the shadows of the Matterhorn Thursday.
While it would keep the Athletics' AL West title hopes afloat if the Rangers stumble over the next three games, the last thing the A's want is to have the Angels still chasing a playoff spot and that potential three-game finale with Texas in must-win mode for the Rangers as well as Oakland. These A's don't want two desperate teams along with themselves jockeying for a pair of postseason spots -Tampa Bay is hovering too but running out of time- and one being left behind.
So as much as the A's would rather have an ALDS berth locked up and division championship hopes to dream about, it's time to root like heck for Texas to beat up the visiting Angels. Oh, and first and foremost take care of business against the Mariners at the Coliseum. So goal No. 1 is wrap up a playoff spot by Sunday, relegate that three-game series with the Rangers to it doesn't matter that much status and let Bob Melvin, Curt Young and Billy Beane decide which of your now five -FIVE!- rookie starting pitchers is best suited to get the ball for an expected wild-card game matchup with Baltimore.
But the playoffs are far from a lock for the A's. And did anyone really expect this group to have it easy entering the final homestand even while this glorious second-half surge was unfolding? Enjoy the theater and taut chills of a playoff race while it's out there. We haven't seen such drama on THAT side of the Bay in a while now.
What does that mean for the A's? Thursday's 9-7 loss at Texas in their final regular-season road game simplified their goals the rest of the season. When the A's slammed the Rangers on Wednesday to get back within three games of first, the thought was another victory in the series finale would have Oakland within sniffing distance of overtaking the two-time defending AL champs' stranglehold on the Western Division. Now that a potential two-game margin is back at four with six games left, Oakland's priority is holding off the surging Angels and completing an improbable run to a wild-card playoff date.
At this point, the A's should be just fine if the Rangers' championship celebration comes sooner rather than later. And with a magic number of three Texas can just go ahead and reach that figure on its own by sweeping the Angels this weekend in Arlington. Of course the A's need to not stumble against Seattle, but if you're an A's fan the Angels should terrify you right now. Oakland's lead over the Angels dropped to 1 1/2 games pending the fighting C.J. Wilsons' game with the Mariners in the shadows of the Matterhorn Thursday.
While it would keep the Athletics' AL West title hopes afloat if the Rangers stumble over the next three games, the last thing the A's want is to have the Angels still chasing a playoff spot and that potential three-game finale with Texas in must-win mode for the Rangers as well as Oakland. These A's don't want two desperate teams along with themselves jockeying for a pair of postseason spots -Tampa Bay is hovering too but running out of time- and one being left behind.
So as much as the A's would rather have an ALDS berth locked up and division championship hopes to dream about, it's time to root like heck for Texas to beat up the visiting Angels. Oh, and first and foremost take care of business against the Mariners at the Coliseum. So goal No. 1 is wrap up a playoff spot by Sunday, relegate that three-game series with the Rangers to it doesn't matter that much status and let Bob Melvin, Curt Young and Billy Beane decide which of your now five -FIVE!- rookie starting pitchers is best suited to get the ball for an expected wild-card game matchup with Baltimore.
But the playoffs are far from a lock for the A's. And did anyone really expect this group to have it easy entering the final homestand even while this glorious second-half surge was unfolding? Enjoy the theater and taut chills of a playoff race while it's out there. We haven't seen such drama on THAT side of the Bay in a while now.
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