Baseball

The Oakland A's were quite good in the second half of the 2012 season. So good, in fact, that they had us all asking the same question every time they actually lost a game:

"Wait a second, how the heck did that just happen?"

Here we are on this Saturday night asking this question after Oakland's 3-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. What the heck kind of person/thing/ominous force sucked the life out of this A's team?

It's difficult to believe that there could be much criticism for a pitcher who won the AL MVP and Cy Young Award last season. 

But Justin Verlander carried a question over whether or not he could win a big game—more specifically, a playoff game—coming into the postseason.

Cincinnati Reds ace Johnny Cueto left Game 1 of the NLDS against the San Francisco Giants with what appeared to be a back injury.

Amy Gutierrez of CSN Bay Area gave more specifics on the injury.

We use the words "courage" and "hero" much too often in sports to describe some of the amazing things we see from day to day that defy our expectations.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt made a sensational grab in foul territory in the top of the first in Game 1 of the NLDS. 

Belt went head-over-heels but was able to hang on for the out. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The bottom line of Game One in Detroit: Justin Verlander continued his dominance of the A's offense.

The Tigers won 3-1, largely on Verlander's powerful right arm. But in a series that could very well be a matter of Oakland needing to win the three games he doesn't start, there was a positive to take away—the poise of rookie starter Jarrod Parker.

Coco Crisp boosted the Oakland A's early on, giving them a lead four pitches into the game. Then, the A's couldn't do anything right on offense.

The Detroit Tigers gutted out a crucial 3-1 victory in Game 1 over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night in a tight matchup that went down to the wire.

Justin Verlander opened his 2012 playoff run with a bang and proved his reigning AL MVP status with a dominating performance on the mound, giving up just three hits and one earned run on a first-inning home run from Coco Crisp.

That home run would end up being the only scoring play for the A's on the day.

Of the four Division Series matchups, this one probably featured the most different teams.

The Athletics exceeded almost everyone's expectations with rookies and other youngsters, while the Tigers were on the outside looking in for most of the season despite their high expectations with superstars like Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder on the roster.

Well, the "Boys of Summer" have faded into the sunset, and we are now almost three months removed from the Midsummer Classic. 

With a lot of water under the bridge and the award season discussion already in full swing, I thought I'd release my 68 picks if the All-Star Game were held today instead of in July

Begin Slideshow