OAKLAND — Outside the Coliseum’s confines — maybe on MLB Network or certain corners of Twitter — is the place to feel the deserved pressures and drama surrounding an excruciatingly close American League wild card race. With nine games left, just a few slip ups separate the comforts of home field advantage in the jaws of sudden death and just another October night in front of the television.
Step into the Coliseum’s confines and all that tension slips away at the door. Just like any other day this season, the A’s are playing cards, kicking the soccer ball around, cracking jokes.