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| Jeana Keough. Not a bad win for a doormat legend. |
It was Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1979 when A’s pitcher Matt Keough shuffled to the mound in the “Mausoleum” in front of 1,772 distracted Oakland fans (“Hey, pass that joint”). He was facing the formidable 85-60 Brewers. The A’s at the time were 50-95, well on their way to a 100-loss season and doormat infamy.
But the team records did not matter. The true doormat story that night was Keough. He had not had a decision in 28 consecutive starts—a feat not accomplished since Cliff Curtis did it in 1911—and he had lost 14 games in a row, tying him for the major league consecutive loss pitching record. Would he break the record tonight and enter the Doormat Hall of Fame?
We had to know. We were there, the Commish, Wacko, and Walkfish.
Keough set his jaw like a robot in a Schwarzenegger movie. His teammates seemed extra alert (never know when a Keough pitch will transform into a 120 mph line drive at your head). Matt hung in there for a complete game, gave up 5 hits and 1 run, walked 4 and struck out 5. A’s won 6-1. History was averted! The Brewers bombed Keough a week later.
By the way, Anthony Young smashed the record with 27 consecutive losses across the 1992 and 93 seasons. Wow!
Keough’s lifetime record was 58-84 with a 4.17 ERA. But he was a big winner in the end, marrying a Playboy Playmate, Jeana Tomasino, and raising a family and eventually starring together in “True Wives of Orange County.”
And that, my friends, is why we love our teams, even when they lose, because doormat or champion, there is always excitement on the field and history to be made.
And now for this week’s predictions for teams with 3 or fewer wins:
Panthers- 28
Lions- 17
Buccaneers- 28
NY Giants- 14
Steelers- 44
Jaguars- 8
Raiders- 10
Cardinals-12
Broncos- 16
Chargers- 36
Broncos have sort of snuck in the basement here, only 3 wins. Definitely on the radar now!
With their miserable loss to the Seahags on Thursday, the 4-5-1 Pack is in the sack. Welcome to the couch, guys.
Watch out for the Skins, they are a stealth doormat.
Eagles are not stealth. They have crash landed on the patio, setting the propane tank on fire, and will now have to face a red hot Saints team. BTW, Eagles have still lost by more than a touchdown only once in their last 33 games. So they keep it close. Not a "doormat" game, but still have to call this one: Eagles, 21, Saints, 28.
The Oracle has spoken.
and what a game it was! Man, some of those minimal attendance games at Oakland Coliseum were like some kind of abstract experience.
ReplyDeleteWhen someone jumps on a pitch and you can hear the crack of the bat echoing more than once off the concrete...in the middle of a game...it is surreal.
DeleteI think I've done it again in my Underdogs post, getting mixed up about whether I'm calling it a loss or a victory. No, wait, it's right. If the BUCS lose to the Giants, they will be tied, and the Bootineers will be only 1 game back of the 49ers, and then play the Whinos next week. Whew, some white knuckling coming up.
ReplyDeleteTalk about surreal. How can you gain outgain opponents by thousands of yards and still be in the basement?
DeleteConsistent red zone turnovers. They have to be leading the league in that category. I think I'll say "turnovers in the other team's territory."
DeleteThe plot is thickening!
ReplyDelete