The good news for the A’s is that they still have another game to play. The past few years, that has not been the case.
The bad news is, well, everything else.
The A’s were mowed down in Game 1 of their wild card series against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, losing 4-1. And while losing a game is something that happens all the time, it was how the A’s lost Tuesday is what’s most concerning.
Not only did the prospect of a victory feel unlikely from the first pitch onwards, but once the A’s fell behind to Chicago, they also showed little scrap, fight, or — dare I say it? — heart.
The A’s rolled over Tuesday, and that does not bode well for Wednesday’s elimination game. The A’s listless performance tells us one of two things: either Chicago is significantly better than Oakland or the A’s don’t have what it takes between the ears to win this series.
I don’t believe the first option. Chicago is unquestionably a bad matchup for Oakland, but it is not a juggernaut — there’s a reason they fell to the No. 7 seed. The A’s are much better than they showed Tuesday.
The second option? Well, the jury is still out, and things aren’t looking good.
For everyone who thought this year would be different, the start to the 2020 playoffs looked an awful lot like the past two years: Oakland fell behind early after a starting pitching decision that was guessed well before first pitch backfired, while the offense barely made a dent.
All due credit to White Sox starter Lucas Giolito, who was perfect through six innings and splendid overall in his first-ever playoff start (seven innings, two hits and one earned run allowed, eight strikeouts,). But what happened to the never-say-die A’s who posted so many memorable come-from-behind wins in this shortened regular season? Conceding that Giolito had the A’s number, one hit against three innings of Chicago’s so-so bullpen was underwhelming, to say the least.
And while defeatism has never won anything, the A’s appeared to have it in spades Tuesday.
Of course, to many observers and commentators, the White Sox’ Game 1 win was fait accompli when the A’s picked 22-year-old lefty Jesus Luzardo to start. Chicago is now 15-0 in games where they faced a left-handed starter this season, and they jumped on Luzardo’s handedness and poor fastball location early, posting six hits, three runs, and two homers before registering their 11th out of the game.
It’s easy to second-guess the decision to go with the A’s young ace — to echo White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson and say that the A’s “didn’t do their homework” — but the truth remains that he was going to have to start at some point in this series, lest the A’s start Mike Fiers.
Might Game 2 starter, righty Chris Bassitt, have been the better option for Game 1? Perhaps, but then you’d be throwing the young lefty or Fiers in Game 2 — Frankie Montas pitched Sunday and will not be available to the A’s until a possible Game 3 on Thursday.
Luzardo against the White Sox was inevitable, and it’s silly to delay the inevitable.
And while external expectations become reality and Luzardo didn’t put Oakland in a position to win the game, he also didn’t lose the contest for the A’s either. The A’s bats, however, did.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Joakim Soria (48) wipes his forehead after giving up a solo home run to Chicago White Sox's Yasmani Grandal (24) in the eighth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox's Adam Engel (15) heads to home plate to score on his solo home run in front of Oakland Athletics' Sean Murphy (12) in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Robbie Grossman (8) makes a catch for an out on a hit by Chicago White Sox's Luis Robert (88) in the fourth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox's Adam Engel (15) celebrates his solo home run with Chicago White Sox's Leury Garcia (28) against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Marcus Semien (10) makes a catch for an out on a hit by Chicago White Sox's Nick Madrigal (1) in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) fields a ball hit by Chicago White Sox's Yoan Moncada (10) in the third inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Moncada was out at first. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) heads to the dugout after the final out of the top of the third inning during their game against the Chicago White Sox for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) fields a ball hit by Chicago White Sox's Yoan Moncada (10) in the third inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Moncada was out at first. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) reacts to the last out of the top of the first inning against the Chicago White Sox during Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) traps a ball hit by Chicago White Sox's Yasmani Grandal (24) in the third inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Grandal was out at first. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
(Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) throws against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) is welcomed to the dugout by Oakland Athletics' Mark Kotsay (3) during their game against the Chicago White Sox in the fourth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) heads to the dugout after being pulled from the game against the Chicago White Sox in the fourth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' J.B. Wendelken (57) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the fourth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) throws against the Oakland Athletics in the seventh inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox's Yasmani Grandal (24) heads to third base in front of Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Diekman (35) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the ninth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) hits a single against the Chicago White Sox in the eighth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox's Adam Engel (15) high-fives teammates after their 4-1 win over the Oakland Athletics for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Ramon Laureano (22) yells at the home plate umpire after he struck out looking against the Chicago White Sox in the sixth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Matt Olson (28) heads to the dugout after striking out to end the game in a 4-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Tommy La Stella (3) fist-bumps Oakland Athletics first base coach Mike Aldrete (17) after hitting a single against the Chicago White Sox in the seventh inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
(Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) walks on the infield after giving up a solo home run to Chicago White Sox's Adam Engel (15) in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
The A’s mustered three singles Tuesday. The White Sox belted three homers. You can see where it went wrong.
The 3-0 deficit Luzardo left his team was hardly insurmountable, but the A’s negative body language and often weak hacks at the plate gave the impression that they were going up against the Avengers of baseball. Not once — even in the eighth inning when the A’s had the tying run at the plate — did the game truly feel competitive.
Blame the lack of a crowd or a Giolito hangover, but that negative energy was telling, and if you can bet that the White Sox fed off it.
The A’s tried to play off the loss in their postgame press conferences. Luzardo said there was “no pessimism” in the Oakland clubhouse after the loss.
“Bassitt is going to dominate tomorrow and our hitters are going to hit. We’ll go to Game 3 and see what happens,” he said.
The media isn’t allowed into the clubhouse anymore, but my guess that that’s Luzardo speaking from a place of confidence that only youth can provide. In fact, to his credit, he seemed to be the only one capable of fighting on Tuesday. No, his first playoff start was not good, but don’t let that take away from his potential, which is still limitless.
Whether the A’s are energized or beaten down, they have no choice but to win Wednesday. And they couldn’t have a better pitcher on the mound, either. Bassitt was the best pitcher in the American League in September (he has a plaque for it and everything) and Chicago’s offense was merely strong against right-handers — not otherworldly, like it is against lefties.
But Game 2 will also be Bassitt’s first playoff appearance, and while there won’t be a crowd, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Oakland. Meanwhile, Chicago will trot out former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel, who has 11 career postseason starts (4-2, 3.47 ERA) and posted a 1.99 ERA this season.
The A’s had the 22nd ranked offense in baseball against lefties. But, that said, because they were scrappy, they finished with an 11-3 record in games started by southpaws. So something has to give — there’s a lot of contradictions here.
Either Bassitt is great or jittery, the A’s bats either opportunistic or overpowered. But more than anything else the A’s have to give some fight back to a loose Chicago squad that should only feel more confident going into Wednesday’s game.
Without some grit, some spark, and some heart, this A’s team is toast. And this best-of-three series — already short — and all of Oakland’s big hopes for this season will go by in a flash.
The A’s are better than this. They better show it in Game 2.
