100 Win Season is Best in Baseball: Is It Enough?

Anaheim - It took them three tries to get win number 100 this season, but the Angels finished in dramatic fashion Sunday, their final game of the regular season.

Their record? 100-62.

Good enough for the best record in baseball.

Good enough for the best franchise record of all-time.

Good enough to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, on the heels of the American League All Star Game victory securing home-field advantage for the World Series.

Is it good enough to win in all? The Angels certainly hope so.

Skipper Mike Scioscia told the LATimes Kevin Baxter that the Angels have had an amazing run, but the regular season doesn't really mean much.

"I don't think anything that has happened in the regular season is going to affect what these playoffs are about," said Scioscia. "This is about getting there and executing pitches if you're a pitcher, making plays on the defensive side and [having] good at-bats"

That hits home for Angels fans for a variety of reasons. First off, the Angels have won the AL West four times in the last five years.

That sounds great on paper.

They've also lost nine straight playoff games.

All to the Boston Red Sox, their first round match-up in this years ALCS, beginning Wednesday.

Secondly, the Halos have all but limped into the post season in recent years, culminating in last years miserably banged up offense that at one point had a blind Garrett Anderson(the left fielder had pink eye so bad he couldn't open one eye) and Reggie Willits batting cleanup with the bases loaded and the game on the line.

This year stands to be much different.

First, the Angels won the division handily, so they had the opportunity to rest their banged up lineup. This means that players like Chone Figgins, Erick Aybar and Howie Kendrick, all nursing nagging injuries, are rested and in better position to start the post season than recent years. It also means the pitching staff hasn't been heavily taxed of late (minus the two drubbings delivered over the weekend from Texas Friday and Saturday).

Secondly, the Angels aren't the Punch and Judy hitters they've been in years passed. They have legitimate power threats, and a variety of them at that.

All-Star trade deadline acquisition Mark Teixeira is the most obvious upgrade in terms of pure home run power. Center Fielder Torii Hunter is a huge upgrade both offensively and defensively over Gary Matthews Jr.

Mike Napoli is killing the ball and finished with 20 home runs and a .273 batting average (which is compelling mostly because he was batting just .203 at the all star break). The Angels even have pop on the pine, with Reserve outfielder Juan Rivera capable of putting them out, coupled with Brandon Wood and Kendry Morales who've both shown that they can swing with the big kids.

Finally? The Boston Red Sox are not the same team they were a year ago. Perennial October stud Manny Ramirez is doing his thing up the freeway in Chavez Ravine for the NL West champion LA Dodgers. Jason Bay is a great fielder and hitter, but he's no Manny Ramirez.

Ace Josh Beckett, hands down the best active playoff pitcher in all of baseball is nursing his oblique and his start has been pushed back to Game Three, at the earliest. Mike Lowell is also hurt, and he has been a huge playoff plus for the Sox. This leaves John Lester and Dice-K as the starters for Games One and Two in Anaheim. 

Lots of understory in this upcoming series, with much more to come.

Up Next: The Three Keys to Beating the Red Sox