ALDS OAK vs. DET Analysis

Well, the Oakland Athletics' tremendous unexpected season is now on the verge of coming to an end. Even going back home, it's nearly impossible to come back from a two-game deficit and win three in a row, especially knowing that Justin "I bribe every home plate umpire in the league" Verlander is gonna pitch in the last game. Might as well see how these two ALDS teams stack up, because I might not get another chance to...

If you compare the overall total points scored of these two teams, things look a little bleak for the A's. But then when you see that the A's won six more games in a much more competitive decision, and you see that there's more magic at work here than the numbers can express. Let's see how that magic descends position by position.

C: Derek Norris vs. Alex Avila
Avila was an All-Star last year, but his OPS is down .159 points and his HR totals have dropped by more than half. But I'd still take him over a rookie who barely cracked the Mendoza line this season.
ADVANTAGE: TIGERS

1B: Brandon Moss vs. Prince Fielder

Moss has been one of the great feel-good stories of the year, finally making some noise in the majors after being a well-regarded prospect since 2005. Three teams and an open batting stance later, he is a big reason why the A's led the majors in home runs after the All-Star break. But it's hard to top Fielder (below) who's cleared 30 HR in six straight seasons and who just signed for $214mm over nine years, regardless of how loose-fitting his jersey is.
ADVANTAGE: TIGERS

2B: Cliff Pennington vs. Omar Infante
Infante was originally developed by the Tigers, but found his way back into the fold after spending some time with the Braves and Marlins. He doesn't have a lot of pop in his bat, but he's the kind of guy who profiles as a No. 2 hitter. What Pennington brings to the table is SS-caliber defense - that's where he played until the midseason acquisition of Stephen Drew - cuz he's certainly not turning many heads with a .215 AVG.
ADVANTAGE: TIGERS

3B: Josh Donaldson vs. Miguel Cabrera

Donaldson is a converted C who was moved to 3B in a hurry prior to the start of the season due to a freak workout injury to projected starter Scott Sizemore. He spent most of the year in AAA, but he elevated his game, and when he came back down the stretch, he came up with some big hits. As for Cabrera, two words: Triple Crown.
ADVANTAGE: TIGERS

SS: Stephen Drew vs. Jhonny Peralta
Drew played an abbreviated season after recovering from a gnarly ankle injury he sustained last year with the Diamondbacks, but his raw skills were never in doubt. Peralta is known more for the nontradition spelling of his first name than for anything outstanding on the field.
ADVANTAGE: PUSH

LF: Yoenis Cespedes vs. Quintin Berry
Two rookies here, one known for his amazing success on the basepaths (Berry was 21 for 21 in SBs this year) and one known for this YouTube video showcasing his awesome talents. Despite a rash of unfortunate injuries, Cespedes has impressed in every aspect of his game and might have gotten some serious Rookie of the Year consideration were it not for that 21-year-old who plays in Anaheim.
ADVANTAGE: ATHLETICS

CF: Coco Crisp vs. Austin Jackson
An amazing contact hitter, Jackson's fantasy numbers were certainly impressive - .300 AVG, 103 R scored, a league-leading 12 triples. But he doesn't bring to the table nearly what Crisp does in terms of defense or danger on the basepaths. And had Crisp not been bitten by the injury bug, I don't doubt his season would have been just as impressive if not more so.
ADVANTAGE: ATHLETICS

RF: Josh Reddick vs. Andy Dirks/Avisail Garcia
Reddick was acquired from the Red Sox in the offseason in a trade for closer Andrew Bailey, and it's been no question which team got the better of that deal, at least in 2012. The wiry Reddick brings 30 HR power, Gold Glove-quality defense in RF (he led the league with 14 OF assists), and great taste in which professional wrestler to cheer for. Meanwhile, Jim Leyland can't even find an outfielder solid enough to play against both lefties and righties.
ADVANTAGE: ATHLETICS

SP1: Jarrod Parker vs. Justin Verlander

Changeup artist Parker has put together an amazing rookie performance after coming over from Arizona, leading the team with 13 wins. But how can you compete with Verlander, the reigning Cy Young award winner, especially when he has every umpire in the league in his pocket, handing out called strike three's like so many flyers on a street corner. I hope he and his stupid double butt-chin never gets to hang out with Kate Upton in that damn dumb perfect game club.
ADVANTAGE: TIGERS

SP2: Tommy Milone vs. Doug Fister
Is there an echo in here? Crafty lefty Milone also put together an amazing rookie performance, and also led the team with 13 wins. Fister is 6'8" and has a name that probably got him some flak as an adolescent, as soon as his schoolmates got mature enough to understand the possibilities.
ADVANTAGE: PUSH

SP3: Brett Anderson vs. Anibal Sanchez
Anderson looked like he had recovered really well from his Tommy John surgery for his six starts this year, until he sustained an oblique injury just from throwing a pitch. If he's ready and available, he's one of the nastiest lefties in the game right now. Sanchez pitched poorly at first after coming over from the Marlins in a trade, but has righted the ship and has gotten back to the pitcher we knew he could be.
ADVANTAGE: ATHLETICS

SP4: A.J. Griffin vs. Max Scherzer
Another rookie, Griffin actually led the A's in points per game among starters A's pitchers with at least 10 games started. But it's hard to match up against the pitcher who struck out the second most batters in the league, no matter how badly he hurt his ankle in the Tigers' division-winning celebration.
ADVANTAGE: TIGERS

RP: Grant Balfour vs. Jose Valverde

Valverde is a completely different pitcher than the one who was 49 for 49 in save opportunities in 2011, but he still brings the same theatricality and flare to the mound. Balfour is one of the most fiery pitchers in the game right now, sacrificing pure rage for theatricality. He started and finished the year as Oakland's closer, giving way to Ryan Cook in the midsummer months, but his role is set in stone now after appearing in five games in a row to close out the season.
ADVANTAGE: ATHLETICS


The A's have their work cut out for them, but as we've seen seven times before, this is not an impossible hole out from which to crawl. But the A's won an improbable three games in a row to take the AL West on the last day of the season, so they can DO IT AGAIN, DAMMIT! It's been a season full of remarkable comebacks (14 walk-off wins to lead the league), so why should the trend stop now? LET'S GO A'S! WOOO!