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It's adamantine to accept how ascendant a aggregation the Oakland Athletics (83-68) were afore the All-Star break. Now on the border of one of the adversity collapses in the history of MLB, the Seattle Mariners' (81-70) affectionate can bisected authority their animation and bisected rejoice for the time being. Oakland's adversity may able-bodied aftereffect in a baseball renaissance in Seattle, should they abduction an AL Wild Card seed.
Dating aback to Aug. 1, the Athletics accept back accustomed up their already heralded analysis advance over the AL West. Their 10-20 almanac over the aftermost 30 amateur is angry for the adversity in the American League with the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox, two teams in the apartment of their corresponding divisions. It's abstruse and absolutely arresting for A's fans, because how active GM Billy Beane was at the barter borderline to try and advance their team. And advance they did, in agreement of their rotation. But back trading OF Yoenis Cespedes for SP Jon Lester, the A's accept not hit the brawl and denticulate runs like they did in the aboriginal half.
The Mariners accept not played able-bodied as of backward either. They allotment a 3-7 almanac over their aftermost 10 contests with the Athletics. But the Athletics are coast at a abundant faster rate. Seattle does not accept to be exponentially bigger than Oakland over the abutting anniversary and a half – they artlessly charge to be hardly better.
Then, of course, there are the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers additionally affected in the AL Wild Card race. K.C. has played abundant bigger baseball in the additional bisected than Oakland has, accepting gone 16-14 over their aftermost 30. It's acceptable to anticipate for that reason, and because both teams currently acquire added wins than Oakland, that the Royals and Tigers will accomplish the playoffs.
The Mariners accept a appropriate backbone of agenda remaining. They arch Friday to Houston to booty in three adjoin the Houston Astros, again three on the alley adjoin the Toronto Blue Jays, addition aggregation on the alfresco attractive in at Wild Card relevance. Finally, the Mariners end the approved division adjoin the best aggregation in baseball back they host Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels for three amateur at Safeco Field. Accustomed that the Angels accept already clinched, Mariners admirers will accept to be optimistic about administrator Mike Scioscia comatose some of his added impactful players, abating the accountability of acceptable for the M's.
Oakland's final 10 amateur are against the Philadelphia Phillies (three games), Angels (three) and again at the Rangers (four). It has been a absent division for Texas, but no aggregation would be added agog about arena their actual amateur as a absolute spoiler.
The Athletics' annihilation will be ballsy and celebrated if they do not accomplish in authoritative the playoffs. The Mariners' aboriginal abeyant playoff anchorage back 2001 will aloof be memorable. Either way, the coursing for October is in abounding swing. Mariners admirers charge to achievement that a majority of the Athletics' swings for the butt of the approved division absence the mark. That shouldn't be annihilation new for them back the Midsummer Classic was played weeks ago.
Jordan Wevers is a biographer for RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanWevers, "Like" him on Facebook, or add him to your arrangement on Google.
Title : Oakland Athleticsâ Pains are Seattle Mariners Gains in AL Wild Card
Description : Getty Images It's adamantine to accept how ascendant a aggregation the Oakland Athletics (83-68) were afore the All-Star break...