Liam Hendriks closing out the Wild Card Round to send the Oakland A’s to the ALDS has been determined to be the best moment of 2020 according to the fans.
The Oakland A’s had many memorable moments during the 2020 season. They were the ultimate cardiac kids, the bats coming alive in the ninth inning as they hit walkoff homer after walkoff homer. There were amazing catches and impressive performances on the mound, all of which would have brought the crowd to their feet had fans been allowed at the stadium.
But only one moment can be the A’s top moment for the 2020 season. According to the fans, Liam Hendriks shutting the door on the White Sox to lead the A’s to the ALDS was the best moment of 2020.
The people have spoken: Liam Hendriks closing it out to send the squad to the ALDS is your favorite 2020 A’s moment! #RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/4EC2PQhxir
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) November 21, 2020
The idea that he was even able to make that Game Three appearance was remarkable. Hendriks had thrown 49 pitches in Game Two as the A’s staved off elimination, only to come back the next day and earn the save to send Oakland to the next round. No other pitcher in baseball history had done that before.
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It only served to cap off another incredible season for Hendriks. His transformation to an elite closer was complete as he was able to prove that his stellar 2019 season was not a fluke. Hendriks posted a 1.78 ERA and a 0.671 WHiP, striking out 37 batters with just three walks over 25.1 innings while notching 14 saves.
None of those saves were bigger than the one to send the A’s to the ALDS. It marked the first time that Oakland had won a playoff series of any kind since 2006, when the A’s were swept out of the ALCS. Although the season did not end as anyone would have hoped, Hendriks still did his part.
That may well be one of his final moments with Oakland. Hendriks is a free agent, and is considered to be one of the top relievers on the market. Even with a depressed market, he will receive an excellent payday, one that the A’s are not likely to match.
Liam Hendriks had an impressive season for the Oakland A’s. His save to close out Game Three of the Wild Card round was not only historic, but it was also named the top moment of 2020.