Oakland Tries to Stay Alive in the ALDS

( Dave Reginek/Getty Images)

By Devin Pangaro | @devinpangaro

The Oakland Athletics are in a hole. A deep, dark cavernous abyss to be sure, but not entirely bottomless as they attempt to dig themselves out of the 0-2 disadvantage they currently find themselves in. They can really only blame themselves. While one can attempt to rationalize a 3-1 loss to Justin Verlander as nothing to be bent out of shape over, Sunday's loss was excruciatingly painful to watch unfold.

Solid relief pitching and sound defense, the two constants of this Oakland team suddenly failed them. The ever reliable Coco Crisp, a man whose defensive reputation for making highlight reel plays precedes him, suddenly cannot make a routine catch?

How did the three-headed relief monster of Sean Doolittle, Ryan Cook, and Grant Balfour suddenly quiver in the cold, hostile territory of Detroit surrendering multiple late game runs?
Are my eyes playing tricks?

Perhaps this isn't the team that came within one game of leading the American League in wins. Perhaps the walk-offs and the good feelings are over. Perhaps, the A's will head home, bow to the home fans one last time and die by the sword for a final time in 2012.

Or maybe, they won't. Maybe, they have another rabbit in the hat. Maybe, the little team that could will be re-energized by their raucous fan base and bernie themselves to three consecutive wins and the ALCS.

After all, it took a stirring sweep of the all-powerful Texas Rangers to end the season for this team to leapfrog into first and earn their first division title since 2006. The entire season has played out like a classic baseball film, and we're not talking about Moneyball. The tales are all equally plentiful and inspiring. From defying the near unanimous last place predictions, to the walkoffs, to overcoming the heart wrenching skull fracture of Brandon McCarthy. This team has rose to every obstacle and occasion that has been thrown in their faces.

They have also done it with a joy and love of the game that has so desperately reinvigorated baseball in the East Bay. The upstart Athletics have had their hands full with Jim Leyland's Tigers and despite strong starts by Jarrod Parker and Tommy Milone, the A's have failed to get that one big hit.

Brandon Moss came close during Game 1, with a potential game-tying shot that was caught at the wall. During Game 2, the A's had the aforementioned Crisp thrown out at the plate on a close play and watched helplessly as Cliff Pennington's deep drive in the 9th carried foul by mere feet. The luck has to change, but first the A's will have to play a cleaner brand of baseball.

With every play under the microscope, the mental and physical errors must be kept to a minimum. This will be another challenge, another hurdle for Oakland to clear. There will be those who underestimate them, who refuse to take them seriously, who will make snark comments about their stadium and payroll. Let them.

Nothing has proved to be too much to overcome in 2012, why should the Tigers? With the imminent return of Brett Anderson on the horizon set to start Game 3, the A's like their chances to pull out a victory. If they are to make a comeback, it will have to start there.

Devin Pangaro is a Staff Writer for FanSided.com's Swingin' A's Blog and Columnist at Big Leagues Monthly | Magazine.