As game five of the ALDS approached, a careful optimism swept through the A’s clubhouse. The A’s had a chance to advance to the ALCS for the first time in three years, without the mystique of the Yankee machine in their way and the supposedly unseasoned Minnesota Twins as their opponent–right?

Well, wrong. Once again, the A’s fall apart when it counts and find ways to expand their winter longer than they would like. You can’t blame the Yankee mystique for this one folks, or the dominant closer Mariono Rivera. For the third consecutive season the Oakland Athletics experince the green October for only 6 days.

As you compare each year, there is a different sour taste of defeat.

In 2000, there was a dissapointment, but optimism. After all, the A’s were new to this playoff thing, and they discovered some potent new pitching aces. Even though they lost game five to the Yankees, you knew that the A’s would contend each year with the team’s great new nucleus.

In 2001, there was absolute shock. The A’s suprisingly take two from the Yankees in New York, yet cannot simply win one of the next three. After Eric Brynes made the last out against closer Mariono Rivera in the ALDS, you couldn’t believe what just happened.

And now, in 2002, there is simply disgust. No more excuse of facing the Yankee mystique; or failing to set up their pitching rotation the way they wanted; or having pitcher Cory Lidle pitch game four. The A’s simply could not close the deal, and A’s fans have to endure yet another painful off season.

As game five went on, it seemed like the A’s were the inexperienced and the pressure was effecting them. The Twins had nothing to lose, while the A’s had to face the demons of game five defeats the last two years. The A’s not only had to deal with the pressure of winning a series they were suppose to, but conquer their poor but accurate reputation of the first round blues.

Unfortunately, the players that were not the horses that got them there played more of a role than you wanted. Ted Lilly, who has dealt with injuries all year, pitched twice in the series, in which he made a close game into a blowout by his ineffectiveness. By pitching his straight fastballs and hanging curveballs, the Devil Rays would have lick their chops to face him. Cory Lidle only pitched once.

Adam Piatt would bat in two crucial situations in the series, only to fail each time, while John Mabry batted only once.

Art Howe needed to go with the players that got him to the playoffs to begin with.

This painful disgust has been prompting some fans to want Art Howe to manage in the regular season, yet rent Joe Torre when the post season starts. I doubt the Yankees would allow that.

So much was made of the ineffectiveness of Billy Koch in the ninth inning of game five, but do you really think the A’s would have comeback in the ninth? I doubt it. Remember, there was not much pressure in a 5-1 game compared to a 5-4 one, and we saw what happened after Ellis put the three run homer.

Art Howe could continue to use humorous responses to a disgusting post season run, but someone has to be accountable for the A’s failing once again. A’s players can say all they want about the better team lost again, but that statement has no credibility in baseball.

While we wait for another spring training 3 long months away, A’s fans are beginning to develop a bitter taste each year. The pressure will intensify even more next year.

Dale