"Game On" - The A's Take Another Crack At Verlander in a Decisive ALDS Game 5

The year 2000: We lose the ALDS 3-2 to the Yankees.

Barry Zito was clutch as it gets in a Game 4 elimination game in Gotham, only to return to the Network Associates and fall to Jeter, Mo Rivera and Paul O'Neil.

Art Howe trotted out Gil Heredia for that pivotal Game 5 in Oakland. It wasn't enough. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7QkBNaw_0Q 2001: We lose the ALDS 3-2 to the Yankess. (After winning the first two games of the series on the road in The Bronx behind Mulder and Hudson).

In the potential series clinching Game 3, JEREMY GIAMBI DOESN'T SLIDE. We lose 1-0. http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=3134880

Cory Lidle gets shelled in Game 4. Mulder couldn't hold down David Justice and co. in Game 5. Jeter was Jeter throughout. 2002: We lose the ALDS 3-2 to the Twins

This is also commonly referred to as the "Moneyball Year" in some circles. The Big Three, Billy Koch, Eric Chavez, Miguel Tejada, etc. etc. were all hitting on all cylinders.

We gave the ball to Tim Hudson in Game 4 with a chance to clinch in the Metrodome, and lost.

In Game 5 back at The Net, A.J. Pierzynski and David Ortiz killed us.

Denny Hocking caught the final out at second base under the afternoon sun off the bat of Ray Durham. In the postgame dogpile at the mound, Jacque Jones stepped on Hocking's hand and broke it. The whole scene was just gut-wrenching. Eventually they made a movie about it with Brad Pitt et al. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAVBXQoLQPE 2003: We lose the ALDS 3-2 to the Red Sox

This time Rich Harden is our ace and Ken Macha is steering the ship. Oh, and Erubiel Durazo is one of our best hitters.

Ramon Hernandez's two out bunt in the 12th won us Game 1.

Zeets delt in Game 2 and we went back to Boston up 2-0.

Then in Game 3 Byrnes hobbled around home and forget to touch the plate. Miggy argued a call instead of just running.

That night Hudson gets in a bar fight in Beantown, allegedly. The next day in Game 4 Huddy leaves the game in the first with a strained oblique.

Game 5, back at The Net, ManRam takes Zito yard and pimps the homer all the way down to first. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePv2R6hYM5Q

4 years in a row losing 3-2 in an ALDS. 2006: We finally win an ALDS, sweeping the Twins. Only to then be swept by the Tigers in the ALCS

Despite the dynamic play of Milton Bradley, the A's seemed overmatched by Detroit.

Magglio Ordonez capped off the sweep with a walk off bomb off Houston Street to send the Tigers to the World Series. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbGXgwHE_YA 2012: We lose the ALDS 3-2 to the Tigers

Maybe the best regular season in A's history. 15 walkoffs. 5 games back of the Rangers with 9 to play. Hamilton's drop. Winning the West on the last day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXSCjarkVgI

We lose game 1 to Verlander. Then we lose Game 2 to Fister. Then we come back to Overstock.com and Brett Anderson comes off of injury to stave off elimination. Then Coco walks off on Valverde in Game 4. Then Verlander beats us in Game 5... and the fans refused to stop chanting "Let's Go Oakland" while head groundskeeper Clay Wood groomed the field with tears in his eyes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CeR7w5H2uA 2013: Verlander arrives back in the Coliseum to face rookie Sonny Gray in a do or die Game 5. The Red Sox await the winner in the ALCS. Game on....