My Angels have done it again. Yesterday, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot this season by winning their fourth AL West title in five years. They also clinched the AL West sooner than any other team in the division’s history (yes, this includes the Mariners *smirk, smirk*).
However, the last 17 games for the Angels won't be anything to relax about. They have to maintain the best record in the American League, which would secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs (including the World Series —- by virtue of the AL’s victory in this year’s All-Star Game). The current contenders right now are the Tampa Bay Rays who are currently 87-57 with a .604 percent. Angels sit at a close 88-57 and .607 percent, but are leading the entire major league.
But getting home-field advantage is not what really worries me. Having a strong and healthy team is much more important. This is why the Angels didn't get anywhere last year in the playoffs. Guerrero had shoulder and elbow soreness, Anderson had conjunctivitis in his swollen right eye, Matthews messed up his left knee and his shoulder, Figgins was hurt, and Kotchman was reportedly getting over fighting mononucleosis. Right now, we have Chone Figgins with a sore right elbow, Howie Kendrick who has been out due to a strained left hamstring, and Maicer Izturis with a torn left thumb ligament and is out for the rest of the season. Three strong starters who are all injured. We've lost 7 straight postseason games in a row due to this kind of luck, dating back to game 2 of the 2005 ALCS. Are we cursed?
Still, they are my team and I will cheer them on through the postseason. Go Halos!
clinching sooner than any team in the division is more of a testament to how terrible the al west is this year. in previous years oakland was much stronger, and once upon a time the mariners won some games. no other team in the west even has a winning record.
ReplyDeletethey have a good team, but i still think the sox will take the division series. the angels have a very deep rotation, but the postseason is about the top 2. and id take beckett and daisuke over lackey and either saunders/santana
mostly i want the rays to win.