The saddest part of Oakland's playoff meltdown

The saddest part of Oakland's playoff meltdown
(Image credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Oakland Athletics fell short again in the playoffs, losing an extra-inning thriller to the Kansas City Royals Tuesday night. But beyond that heartbreak, the loss may be most disappointing to Oakland's 14-year veteran who made his first postseason trip this year — only to warm the bench all game: Adam Dunn.

Dunn was among the active leaders in games played without reaching the playoffs. Meanwhile, three of the teams he's played for over the years — the Reds, Diamondbacks, and Nationals — all made the playoffs shortly after he left. Yet Dunn did not get the start Tuesday, and never got a chance to pinch hit even as the game dragged into the twelfth inning. And with the A's out of the playoffs after one measly game, so, too, is Dunn.

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Jon Terbush

Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.