No regrets, Dunn eyes retirement
A's veteran slugger isn't called on in first postseason game
KANSAS CITY -- Beyond the obvious sorrow clouding yet another A's postseason gone wrong on Tuesday night in the visitors' clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium was sincere disappointment for a man who waited 14 seasons to get there and exited it without a single at-bat.
Adam Dunn, on a postseason roster for the first time in his career, watched the American League Wild Card Game from the bench, not once stepping on the field in the A's 9-8, 12-inning loss to the Royals. Now, he plans to retire.
"That's probably it," said Dunn, he of 462 career homers.
The veteran slugger, who joined the A's for the final month of regular-season play, extended his time as a player as long as he could, remaining dressed in uniform more than an hour after the game had ended, long past midnight, when all of his teammates had already filed out of the clubhouse.
He played in 2,001 regular-season games without a postseason appearance, the most among active players and 14th most in Major League history among players with zero postseason games.
Dunn insisted he wasn't disappointed.
"Not at all," he said. "Let's not make a bigger deal out of it. I love Bob [Melvin]. He's one of the best managers I've ever played for. He's as good as there is out there. You wish the best for a guy like that. He's awesome. Awesome."
Melvin considered using Dunn in the 12th inning with a runner on second and one out. He knew the Royals would walk Dunn, though, and thus went with Alberto Callaspo, who came through with the go-ahead hit. The Royals plated two in the bottom half of the inning to win a wild one.
"From a fan's perspective," said Dunn, "probably one of the best I've ever seen. It was exciting. We just came up short."