Idiots Write About Sports

And today, Keith Foulke drives on the sidewalk — and takes out a couple of pedestrians.

Yes, Foulke blew the save (those gopher balls to Manny Ramirez will do that to you), but hang the big scarlet “L” for this contest on the jersey of Ken Macha. The A’s manager unforgiveably bungled this one.

With the Athletics leading 2-1, Ramon Hernandez and Scott Hatteberg kick off the bottom of the eighth with consecutive singles. Runners on second and third, nobody out. A deep flyball, and the A’s pad their lead against a dangerous Red Sox offense.

Frank Menechino, the little-used-backup infielder getting a rare start, grounds out failing to advance the runners. That brings Eric Byrnes to the plate — the same Eric Byrnes who is in a death-spiral of a hitting slump. I don’t have the exact numbers at my disposal, but he went something along the lines of 7-for-99 in the month of July (a robust .070 average, or, to put it more bluntly, seven more hits than a dead man). August hasn’t been much kinder, and while Byrnes has played less and less, he gets the occasional ill-advised start today.

Byrnes came to the plate in the eighth, working on an 0-for-3 afternoon. He had already struck out twice. He did not necessarily inspire confidence that he would put the ball into play. Nevertheless — even with ample help on the bench — Macha stuck with Byrnes, who promptly struck out. As if to underscore the folly, Billy McMillon struck out, too. No runs, two hits, two runners left.

And of course, Manny Ramirez immediately led off the ninth with a game-tying homer.

Because Macha had already used up Bradford, Rincon and Foulke — way to handle the ‘pen, Skip — he had to start the 10th inning with a new pitcher. Instead of John Halama, an admittedly uninspiring choice but one who could pitch several innings if need be, Macha tapped Jim Mecir, fresh of the DL and rustier than a metal can left out in downpour. Mercir coughed up two runs (with the help of an Eric Chavez error), and, as I write this, the A’s are down to their last out, trailing 4-2.

The press and the fans will roast Foulke for the blown save. But Foulke’s manager blew the game a half-inning earlier.