And thus, the successful MoneyBall-Era Oakland Athletics is officially over (1999-2006), as the Athletics will not make the postseason again until the 2012 season. The Athletics will not have a winning record from 2007-2011, but they will still be a competitive team each season, and even finish with a .500 record of 81-81 in 2010
Perhaps Magglio Ordonez's crowning moment of his career, smashing a pennant-clinching walkoff HR in Game 4 as the Tigers completed the sweep of the A's. The Tigers were probably the most improbable story of the 2006 season, rising up from the ashes after years of misery, leading the AL Central for the balance of the regular season, up until the Twins caught them on the season's final weekend. But it turned out to be a blessing of sorts for the Tigers anyway: the Twins wound up getting swept vs the A's in the Div. Series, while the Tigers ousted the Yankees & then rolled past the A's in this series.
Regarding the 2006 Athletics regular season (Since SW561 doesn’t have the 2006 regular season): Athletics made the postseason after starting slow with a record of 23-29 Athletics got redhot during the Summer (like they seem to always do during their 1999-2006 era), and won 18 games in June, and 21 games in August. And unlike their September collapses in both 2004 and 2005, Athletics played nicely in September 2006 and made the postseason with 93 wins; impressive. Athletics power was their two-monster-offense of Frank Thomas and Nick Swisher whom both hit almost 40 home runs each. And the Athletics also had a very nice bench. Their starting pitchers were nothing special in 2006. Zito was their best pitcher, and he had a respectable but still somewhat high ERA of 3.83, while Dan Haren, Joe Blanton, and Esteban Loaiza had ERA over 4.00. Blanton and Loaiza ERA was almost 5.00 And Rich Harden's injuries still showed up this 2006 season, as he only played in 9 games. Their bullpen was alright, but nothing special. Huston Street had a nice season in 2006, but nowhere near as dominant as his rookie 2005 season. Bottom line, I have no idea how this 2006 team made the postseason, and I have no idea how this team won 90+ games. On paper, 2006 was their weakest team of their 1999-2006 era and should have won like 82 games. But those Athletics in both the 2005 season and the 2006 season sure did the impossible.
This was Barry Zito final season with the Athletics, as he will sign with the Giants in the offseason. Zito will return to the Athletics in the 2015 season, which is his final MLB season.
So the Athletics, after breaking their “Division Series curse”, now they go on and get swept in the ALCS, WOW These games were close, so its not like they were laying an egg and were content with simply breaking their Division Series curse.
This was Ken Macha final season as Athletics manager. Ken Macha will manage again in the 2009 season with the Brewers. Athletics will hire Bob Geren to be their new manager.
I forgot that Huston Street (Athletics closer) was brought to the game in game 4 in the 7th inning. Rarely see that ever since the 1990s, with closers entering a game before the 8th inning I think Brad Lidge also did that in a game against the Braves in the 2004 Division Series
