Championships are won and lost with two things: Heart and Confidence.
Both were on display yet again in Anaheim where the defending World Champ Boston Red Sox took Game Two of their ALDS series with the Angels.
In my previous article, I mentioned that Boston had gamers, and that the Angels, for all their success, really lacked that "get it done" mentality.
Once again, the heart of the Angels order continued to hit the ball, though not powerfully, as Mark Teixeira, Vlad Guerrero and Torii Hunter all had productive nights.
The Angels even managed some drama late in the game.
I'm not going to get into a detailed recap here. Most of you watched the game, or at least the highlights, and aren't reading this for any sort of play-by-play.
I am, however, going to pull a total about face and chastise my favorite team.
Tonight, I'm not pulling punches.
I'm letting it all hang out, and I'm starting right now.
Why this series is on the ropes:
1. Pitching
I wrote in my preview of Game Two that Santana would have to be error free tonight to give the Halos a fighting chance, and for the most part, he pitched well.
Well, except for that whole "Four-run first inning" thing.
The middle relief core tried to do their thing, and they escaped some jams late in the game to keep it within striking distance.
K-Rod, in what very could have been his last appearance as an Angel, was decent in the 8th, but got lit up in the 9th, all personified when J.D. Drew, the Sox outfielder who'd been plagued w/ back problems of late, showed the Angels that his back feels fine by belting a top of the 9th two run homer to recapture the lead.
2. Heart
I understand that baseball is a game of numbers. Let's look at some from this series.
Number of...
Angels extra base hits this series: 1
Angels Left on base by Howie Kendrick: 11
of Boston Red Sox runs scored with 2 outs this series: 8/11
of Extra base hits by Boston Red Sox this Series: at least 9 (I'm not lookin 'em up)
I love the Angels. I love Kendrick. I bleed Halo red.
I don't sense that this team has the spark.
They lack that player that takes 'em to the next level—that gets on and causes problems, a la Jacoby Ellsbury, David Eckstein, the super utility version of Chone Figgins (though he redeemed himself somewhat tonight, getting on base three times, and even tying it in the 8th, before, well, see above.)
The Red Sox have swagger. They walk into a stadium knowing they can beat any team, anytime, anywhere. They are the reigning World Champs, and they continue to act like it.
This entire series they've brought the game to the Angels, and the Angels have been on their heels.
The meat of the Angels order, all batting roughly .400-.500 this series, have not combined for an extra base hit.
Think about that.
Until Figgy tripled in the 8th tonight, the Angels had 18 consecutive singles, and are something like 50+ post season innings without a home run.
Jason Bay has two in as many games, and this is the first playoff series of his career.
You can't win playoff games single-ing all the way. Not when you're playing the Red Sox, again, in October.
3. Confidence
1 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Scott Rogers 9 months ago
Scioscia seems to have graduated from the "I think I'll let Niedenfuerer pitch to Jack Clark with 1st Base open..." Tommy Lasorda School of Bullpen Management!!!
Why Arradondo didn't pitch the 8th is beyond me... and since he put Scott-"I'll give up 3"-Shields in, he needed to stay with him. Frankie hadn't pitched in the 8th inning ALL SEASON LONG, and ALWAYS gets lit up when he comes into a tie game, just like Percival did, just like Smith did, just like Harvey did and so on!!!
Bringing Frankie in down a run, put him in a position he hasn't been in for years and basically rendered him an average pitcher as Mr. Drew can attest.
I love Scioscia, but sometimes, he just doesn't get it!!!
As for the 9th, after Ortiz doubled, Frankie needed to drill that goddamn Yukilis who was at the plate waving his bat more than Lee May or Gary Sheffield ever dreamed of... Drill SOMEBODY in the ribs and SEND A MESSAGE!!! GEEZUZ!!!
By the way Tommy, that ball Clark hit, STILL hasn't landed!!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.