Bay Area Buzz 10/1: A’s Season Ends, Giants’ Postseason Begins
Bay Area Topics
A’s season ends
"Last night’s game was one of the most thrilling back-and-forth playoff contests that I’ve ever seen. Both managers made questionable calls (Ned Yost pulling James Shields for a rookie, Adam Dunn not seeing the field), but for all of the imperfections that were displayed, the simple perfection that is baseball prevailed.The Oakland Athletics, and their fans, were dealt another heart-wrenching elimination on Tuesday. Simply, it sucked. Yet, I still find myself looking forward to next year, cheering on the same team, and renewing my season tickets. Maybe I just love to be hurt by those that I love.Next season, the A’s could have a whole new look. They have some trade chips that could help the team rebuild for the future, when talented prospects, Daniel Robertson, Matt Olsen, Renato Nunez and Seth Steich arrive in Oakland in two or three years. But that is discussion for another date.Right now, all of us are left to ponder: what’s next? The A’s have enough returning to conceivably contend again next season. The returns of Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin will bolster the rotation throughout the season. Ideally, Craig Gentry and John Jaso will be healthy, and hopefully there will be an addition of some defense to a club that desperately needs it."
Giants’ postseason begins
"The San Francisco Giants face a daunting task in Pittsburgh, Wednesday evening, so they must utilize all of their available tools if they are to persevere. Included in those tools are the keys to the game so let me drag the key box over and select three. I’d take the whole box but then I might risk losing credibility.So here we go with Key Number One: Calm the savage beast, otherwise known as the home crowd, and keep it quiet. The most effective method to accomplish this is to score in the first inning, in any way, shape or form they can, and then score again, often. The other day in San Diego, the Giants scored in each of the first five innings. I think that would suffice, as far as dulling the roar.Another way to turn down the volume is for Madison Bumgarner to strike batters out. He has 219 K’s on the season so it is not unreasonable to assume that he will strike out his fair share on Wednesday night. He’s not required to strike them out,NOTHING TAKES THE WIND OUT OF THE SAILS OF AN OPPONENT QUICKER THAN A BIG SWING AND A MISS. WHOOSH!but nothing takes the wind out of the sails of an opponent quicker than a big swing and a miss. Whoosh"