How to win at baseball

Yes, I've been under the radar due to: research on Time Machine (today), Deadliest Catch (last night), and exhaustion (Monday).  Rest assured, I have been reading, if the comments have been sparse.  But here's one I just have to share.

Those of you who care to know, know that my first loyalty in baseball is to the A's of Oakland.  Most of the free world know that the A's purged the pitching staff this off-season, meaning that we have to find some imaginative ways to win.  And today went twelve innings to prove the point.

The Royals had taken a 4-3 lead in the top of the 12th, and brought in former Dodger closer Jonathon Broxton.   Broxton got off to a good start, striking out Daric Barton looking at a 3-2 pitch.  Pinch-hitter Seth Smith came up next, and he reached when SS Alcides Escobar couldn't get the throw on his grounder to first for an E-6.  Jemile Weeks then walked on four pitches, and Eric Sogard walked to load the bases on a 3-2 pitch.  Coco Crisp grounded out to second, scoring Smith to tie the game with 2 outs.

And then, the A's won the game on the next 2 pitches.  The first pitch hit rookie OF Yoenis Cespedes.  The second hit former Red Jhonny Gomes.  That's right, two pitches, two hit by pitches, and the A's win 5-4.

23 pitches for Broxton, and his line reads 2/3 of an inning, no hits, 2 unearned runs, 2 walks, a strikeout, and 2 HBPs.  Blown save #1, loss, 0-1 record.  In 2 months, the Royals will send him to the A's for a player to be named- wait and see.

"YEAH!!! I can't believe we found someone who loses dumber than we do!!!"