Angels will Break Playoff Jinx Against Red Sox
Chris Bahr - SportingNews.com
Sep 17, 2009
Barring an unexpected development, the Red Sox and Angels will meet in the ALDS for the third consecutive season and for the fourth time since 2004. Boston won all three of those previous series, going 9-1 in the process despite having home-field advantage in only 2007. Will this season be different, or will Los Angeles' frustration continue?
Chris Bahr explains why this will be the year the Angels solve the Red Sox:
It has to feel like "Groundhog Day" for Angels fans. Once again, the Angels put together an outstanding regular season -- this time in the midst of a horrible tragedy -- yet once again their reward actually is a penalty. Boston has owned the Angels in the postseason this decade, winning nine of the 10 games between the teams and eliminating Los Angeles in three ALDS matchups. As a result, the Angels of the 2000s quickly are becoming the Braves of the 1990s: postseason regulars with one World Series win to show for it.
After the Angels beat the Red Sox in eight of the nine games they played in the 2008 regular season, it appeared they were set to break Boston's postseason stranglehold. Although L.A. managed to win one game in last season's ALDS, it suffered the same fate as in 2004 and 2007.
Why this season will be different:
Starting pitching. A weakness for the Angels earlier this season, the rotation is peaking at the perfect time. John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders are rounding into form, and Jered Weaver has been solid all season. In addition, new acquisition Scott Kazmir has been outstanding. Meanwhile, the Red Sox aren't sure what to expect from ace Josh Beckett. Jon Lester has been great, but there are real questions about who will serve as the No. 3 starter (the injured Tim Wakefield? The enigmatic Daisuke Matsuzaka? Clay Buchholz, who never has pitched in the postseason?).
Offense. Unlike in past seasons, the Angels won't be concerned about whether they can hit and drive in runs. Los Angeles has the majors' best batting average and has scored more runs than every team except the Yankees. At one point this season, everyone in the Angels' lineup was hitting .300. With Kendry Morales putting up Mark Teixeira-like numbers, L.A. will finish with its highest homer total since 2000. And it still ranks second in the majors in stolen bases.
Lessons learned. The Angels, aggressive to a fault in last season's ALDS, were one botched suicide squeeze away from rallying in Game 4 and potentially forcing a Game 5 back on the West Coast. Manager Mike Scioscia won't make that kind of mistake again, and with the improved offense, Los Angeles won't need to get creative to drive in runs. Last season's loss left such a bad taste in the Angels' mouth that they will be hungrier than ever to clear the Boston hurdle. Lackey and center fielder Torii Hunter were quite vocal about their disappointment in 2008, and both will be in prime position to do something about it in '09.
Los Angeles' bullpen remains a concern, but not enough of one to cost them the ALDS.
Chris Bahr is a senior editor for Sporting News. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
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