Well...

The pitching staff did only give up two runs in 11 1/3 IP. In Arlington. Of course, it was a clinic in offensive futility for the Rangers as much as the A's. They had about as many men in scoring position with less than two outs not score as the A's--and we know the A's are not going to shock anybody with their power.

As far as Bailey goes, well, Ziegler was lucky to make it out of the ninth. But then, Ziegler's supposed to be their set-up guy, and Bailey their closer, so I guess there's never an excuse when either one of them gives up game-tying or game-winning runs--or even puts runners in scoring position unless they're inherited runners, and putting them in scoring position is being traded for outs.

As for Sheets, I do think it was pretty good to have enough composure to withstand having a strikeout victim reach on a passed ball, and then get into scoring position on a bad throw to first. Those are the type of plays that discombobulate a guy like Gio Gonzalez--or for that matter, Brad Ziegler. Of course, when every out is a struggle, I guess you don't quibble with how you do or don't get one.

It really gets into the mysticism of the game. Do you get outs because you expect to get outs, or do you get outs because the natural flow of the game leads to them? In other words, do you stand against a mighty river of runs when you pitch, or do you gently guide a river of outs?