FINALLY! ALCS!
They didn’t lose the 10th clinching game in a row!
The A’s go to the ALCS for the first time since 1992, and win a postseason series for the first time since 1990.
The A’s never trailed in this 3 game sweep, against one of the top favorites to win the whole thing. Oakland scratched out hits, fielded very well, pitched masterfully, and had enough power and patience to take down the Twins mighty pitching staff.
The A’s showed a lot of good things today, from Chavez finally hitting, to Marco’s continued clutch hits, to Haren’s splitter diving, to the bullpen shutting things down. I feel really confident in Justin Duchscherer and Kiko Calero right now.
I’d like to say this, though. Brad Radke, while he didn’t pitch as well as he has before, earned a lot of respect from me today. It’s a sad end to a career marked by loyalty and humility. Radke deserved to go out on a high note, but he ran into the A’s.
I’m looking forward to next Tuesday, when the A’s will take on the Tigers or Yankees in Game One of the 2006 ALCS. I like their chances in a seven game series. Two starts from Zito, Loaiza and Haren bode well over 7 games.
As always… [knock on wood]