The Twins and A's returned to Oakland on Sunday for Game 5 of their Division Series. Oakland fans were sporting yellow and white Korean thunder sticks, but the stadium wasn't even close to full even though Minnesota closer Eddie Guardado had 60 people in the stands. The Athletics evidently had the most expensive playoff tickets of any team, and with several other sporting options in the Bay area, including the Giants' postseason games, fans weren't inclined to fork over the cash. I think teams make a big mistake in pricing tickets at rates that won't fill the ballpark. Fans watching at home on television don't buy concessions. However while I imagine there are more souvenirs sold at postseason games, people probably eat less because they don't want to be looking at their hotdog or worse yet, in the concession line when an important or historic event happens on the field.

After the game Ron Gardenhire revealed that Mr. Pohlad, speaking to the team before the game, had said of Brad Radke, "if we can get him through the first two innings. . ." Radke survived the first two innings with only one hit allowed. Meanwhile the Twins scored a run in both the second and the third by putting together several hits. Oakland broke onto the board with a solo homer from Ray Durham in the bottom of the third and then the bats were silent until the ninth inning. Both starters pitched effectively before handing the game off to their bullpens. The middle relievers and setup men did their jobs, and then each team handed the game over to their closer in the ninth.

I can't say that Art Howe should have used another pitcher in the ninth, as Koch theoretically is their best reliever and they needed to hold the game to give their offense a chance against Guardado. However Chad Bradford, who pitched the eighth, has gone two innings a number of times this season and rivals Koch's effectiveness. Regrettably, Koch pitched poorly, first walking Dustan Mohr and then allowing a homer to A.J. Pierzynski. Before the inning ended, he'd allowed a third run to score on a combination of hits and walks. I realize he pitched well this year, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if the A's choose to deal him this off-season.

Guardado almost allowed Oakland to come back in the bottom of the ninth. He's struggled against the A's all season, including giving up the game-winning, walk-off homer to Miguel Tejada that allowed Oakland to win their 20th straight game. Completing his campaign to hold the starting second base job in 2003, Mark Ellis hit a three-run homer to bring the game within one run. At that point there was only one out, but then Terrence Long then flew out to center, leaving the A's with only one out in which to tie or win the game. Randy Velarde singled to put the tying run on base, and while we were busy wondering why Howe wasn't pinch running for the 39-year-old, confusion broke out near the Oakland dugout.

When Howe had made defensive changes at the top of the inning, he'd inserted Greg Myers into the #2 hole for Scott Hatteberg while Velarde hit in place of catcher Ramon Hernandez at #9. Nevertheless, Myers almost went to the plate after Velarde. Leadoff hitter Ray Durham was still in the dugout while Myers approached the batters box. Half the Oakland organization yelled and motioned for Myers to return to the on-deck circle, while Durham grabbed a bat and headed to the plate. Durham had a strong Division Series and helped the A's considerably after the trade, so he may have earned himself a nice contract this off-season as a free agent. However this incident has likely cost him a few million dollars as teams prefer not to sign inattentive players. The ALCS might look quite different if Durham had been prepared to hit rather than looking rattled after scurrying to the plate.

At one point during the ninth, Joe Mays got up in the bullpen and began throwing. Gardenhire said after the game that his pitching coach had suggested the move, since Mays needed to throw on the side Sunday if he were to pitch Game 1 of the ALCS. Minnesota had no intention of sending him to relieve Guardado.

Some sources have suggested that the Oakland front office set the pitching rotation for the playoffs rather than Art Howe; whoever made the decision cost them a trip to the League Championship and probably the World Series. Had Barry Zito pitched Game 1 instead of starting on the last Sunday of the regular season, the series would have been over after Game 4 at the latest. Minnesota's offense folds against tough left-handed pitching, and there was no reason for the A's to give them additional opportunities by throwing the right-handed Tim Hudson twice.

Regardless of whether the front office doesn't trust Howe to make rotation decisions or Howe set the rotation, he shouldn't return as their manager in 2003. Since Howe never eagerly embraced Billy Beane's philosophies, Oakland should fire him and promote bench coach Ken Macha. Macha's currently the leading rookie managerial candidate and will almost certainly be managing a major league team next season. There's no reason to let him leave the organization, especially when Howe will expect an off-season extension past the end of his current contract in 2003. The Athletics should take this opportunity to move on to a manager who has matured with their organizational philosophy and who can mesh with the younger positional players joining the team.

Denny Hocking replaced Luis Rivas at second base in Game 5 because Rivas had some soreness in his hamstring. Hocking has also experienced success against the A's in the past. Unfortunately, Hocking will not accompany the Twins to the ALCS. When Minnesota gathered on the field in celebration, someone now believed to be Jacque Jones stepped on his hand. The nail of Hocking's middle finger reportedly split in two places and he needed stitches to close a laceration, sidelining him for the near future.

While I doubt Hocking's presence would have decided the outcome of the next round, injuries like this are always senseless. In most other weeks, this incident easily would have earned our Turkey of the Week, but Erubiel Durazo stepped up to snatch that dishonor. I've long been an advocate of Durazo receiving more playing time, so I was quite disappointed to hear that he'd refused to play the outfield in the playoffs. I don't care that the Diamondbacks put him at a disadvantage by not playing him there during the season. When your team suffers a blow like the loss of Luis Gonzalez, you step up and do whatever you can. Arizona sorely needed Durazo's bat in the lineup. The situation is particularly poignant considering the way in which Miguel Cario stepped up to replace Scott Rolen, although Cairo does possess significant experienced at third. Sadly, recent reports indicate Rolen's injury will likely prevent him from playing again even if the Cardinals reach the World Series.

The first half of the Atlanta/San Francisco broadcast was presented from a slightly different angle. Since the bright sun shinning into the cameras caused the picture to come out very faded and fuzzy, the production crew was unable to use the shots from the centerfield cameras.

Barry Bonds wasn't going to be knocked out of the playoffs in the first round on his own turf. With bases loaded in the first inning, Bonds hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Kenny Lofton from third. Benito Santiago knocked in Aurilia, Reggie Sanders walked, and J.T. Snow stranded three runners on base. However, the Giants didn't mind leaving the runners on base, as they started the whole process over again in the second. San Francisco scored another two runs on a few more hits and a couple more walks, again leaving the bases loaded to end the inning.

Once Aurilia hit a three-run homer in the third, Atlanta decided to replace Tom Glavine. Kevin Gryboski finished out the third and kept San Francisco off the board through the fourth before handing the ball over to Damian Moss. Meanwhile Livan Hernandez held a no-hitter through four innings, before David Bell, without the excuse of the Metrodome roof, decided to imitate Scott Hatteberg. Bell ran toward home to catch a Vinny Castilla pop up, only to have the ball land several feet behind him. No error was called because no one was near the ball. The next ball was also mishandled but again ruled a hit. While a double play eliminated the second runner, Castilla scored on a Furcal double before the inning ended. San Francisco scored off Moss in the bottom of the inning, negating Atlanta's run. Hernandez allowed two runs in the top of the sixth, but then settled down, pitching through the first out of the ninth inning without allowing another run. The Giants also failed to score again, but the damage was done and they forced a Game 5 in Atlanta with a 5-run victory.