Red Sox, 2. Angels, 0.

Come October, the Angels can't beat the Red Sox; not in Fenway, in Anaheim, in Williamsport, in Omaha, anywhere.

If last night's 7-5 was lost any indication of the Angels future - the Angels better switch leagues.

The 2008 American League West Champions took the field last night down 0-1, needing to win Game 2 in order to stay alive (35 teams have gone down 0-2 in a best-of-five series and only five have come back to win the series). With Ervin Santana (16-7) taking the mound, every Angel fan longed for the Ervin Santana of October 4, 2005. Almost three years to the day in Game 5 of the ALDS, Santana (a rookie at the time) replaced the eventual American League Cy Young award winner, Bartolo Colon after Colon injured his right shoulder in the first inning. In five and a third innings Santana limited the dangerous Yankees lineup to just three runs on five hits and collected the win in the Angels' 5-3 victory, which sent them back to the ALCS for the first time since their championship run of 2002.

In the top of the first, when excitement was still at an all-time high, Ervin recorded two quick outs. Then, he gave up a knock to Big Papi, then Kevin Youkilis singled, then J.D. Drew doubled, scoring David Ortiz. Then game 1 hero Jason Bay stepped to the plate. Bay, who put the Red Sox ahead for good in game 1 with a two-run bomb, added another dinger to his postseason resume, sending this one to the deepest part of the ballpark. An interesting fact: the Angels don't have a home run in 60 some odd playoff innings, Jason Bay had two in a span of three.

Finding themselves down in a hole, the Angels clawed their way back into the game, answering the four spot the Sox put on the board in the first, with a run of their own.

After allowing another run in the top of the fourth, the lead was stretched to 5-1. In the home half of the 4th, a Chone Figgins single scored Juan Rivera which made the score 5-2 Sox. The Angels seemed to be back in the game as they had been able to get runners on, but struggled immensely to get them in. A run in the 5th made the score 5-3 and sparked an Angels rally.

Santana settled down after allowing five consecutive 2-out hits in the first, only allowing one more run in the next four and a third innings. After a botched catch by Torii Hunter and a single by Red Sox captain Jason Varitek, Santana was relived by rookie phenom and potential 2009 Angel closer Jose Arredondo. Arrendondo, who went 10-2 as a reliever for the Angels this year, walked the first batter he faced to load the bases. After striking out Jacoby Ellsbury, he was able to get MVP candidate Dustin Pedroia to pop out to third, holding the score at 5-3 going into the bottom of the 6th.

The Angels scored individual runs in the 7th, and 8th to tie the game at 5. However, the top half of the 9th inning shut the door on not only any Angels rally, but any hopes of making it to the World Series.

After allowing a walk after tallying two outs in the 8th, Scot Shield was lifted for 62 save, 10-million-dollar closer Francisco Rodriguez. After getting out of the 8th unharmed, K-Rod came back for the 9th. After giving up a double to Big Papi, Rodriguez was able to settle down and get dangerous clean-up hitter Kevin Youkilis to ground to third for the first out of the inning. Up walked J.D. Drew.

When the ball left J.D. Drew's bat, everyone in the stadium knew it was gone. Everyone saw Torii Hunter run to wall, but everyone knew he wasn't going to be able to scale it and retrieve the ball, bringing it back along with the Angels' season. Half an hour later we were down 0-2 staring another inevitable sweep at the hands of the Red Sox in the face.

A devastated 45,354 fans filed out of the Big A for the last time this season.

So this is what it feels like to win 100 games yet not see mid-October. So this is how the 2001 Seattle Mariners (116 wins) and the 2002 Oakland A's (103 wins) felt after holding the best record in baseball, securing the American League West title, yet failing to reach the World Series.

The Red Sox' eleventh straight - yeah, eleventh straight - playoff victory over the Angels sealed the fate of the 'best team in baseball.' All that's left is the inevitable game 3 shutout via the arm of Boston ace Josh Beckett. Beckett, who boasts a career postseason record of 6-2 with a 1.73 ERA, takes the mound Sunday night at Fenway to put the final nail in the Angels 100-win coffin. Last year, Beckett threw a complete game, 4-hit shutout in Game 1 of the ALDS, against who? You guessed it, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

On a positive note, at least we're not going through the same torture as Cubs fans - yet.

The Guerrero Blunder: The Day After

I still don't think it happened.  

Waking up this morning, down 1-0, hurt. It hurt deep down inside. My fan hood had been challenged, my confidence in the Angels, dented. And for good reason. 1-0 Red Sox is a lot different than 1-0 Angels, especially in a short 5-game series. Just like runners on first and second, one out, is a lot different than runner on first, two outs - which was the scenario last night.  

Vladimir Guerrero, has an A-Rod esque history in the playoffs - unsuccessful at best. When he came to the Angels in 2004, a year after the 2002 Championship season, he was the worth the price of admission. Guerrero was expected to rejuvenate the aging Angels line-up and carry the Angels back to the World Series. His first year in an Angels uniform, he hit a measly 39 dingers (the third highest total in his career) and drove in a lousy 126 runs (the second highest total in his career) collecting the American League MVP award in the process - and to think he spent eight season rotting in Montreal. However, in the 2004 postseason he hit a porous .167 (3 for 12) as the Angels were swept out of the ALDS by the eventual World Champion Red Sox.  

This year big daddy Vladdy, limped his way to an average of .303 and a home run total of 27 (and it was a DOWN year for the slugger). However, his defense became suspect and manager Mike Scioscia began using him as at DH more and more.  

Before the acquisition of Mark Teixiera, a blessing in and of itself, Guerrero was the only guy in the Angel line-up who had a chance to hit it out of the park every time he stepped to the plate. His eagerness at the plate, which has always entertaining, yet problematic, has put every fan on the edge of their seats since his arrival in Anaheim. Every since his first swing in an Angel jersey, every fan knew he had the ability to turn any pitch 425 feet the other way.  

I knew going into this postseason, for the fourth time in five years, Vlad was going to break this little funk he was in. I knew that someone was going to leave a hanging curveball and see it fly over the rocks at Angel Stadium. I had confidence that Vlad, who has become a more patient hitter since the arrival of amazingly patient power hitter Teixiera, was going to prove to everyone that his lousy playoff numbers were merely that, lousy numbers.  

The first 7 1/3 innings of last night's electrifying game one was exactly what I was expecting. His two hits energized the crowd, for everyone seemingly knew about his documented problems in the playoffs. The lovable Dominican with the funky batting stance and clumsy nature, had just come up big in a tight spot, sparking an 8th inning rally sure to lead to an eventual 1-0 Angel ALDS lead.  

However, one bad decision may have changed everything. I saw the ball leave Kevin Youkilis' hand that play and I'm just hoping it didn't take Vlad's confidence with it.

Red Sox, 1. Angels, 0.

I keep replaying the 8th inning fiasco in my head. I see the ball drop. I see Vlad advance to second. I see Torii reach first. Then ... I see Vlad rounding second.

The Angels (100-62) entered the playoffs with the best record in all of baseball. Their franchise record 100 wins only elevated their playoff expectations to 1990's New York Yankees level - ironic considering the Yankees missed the playoffs this year. This year's mindset, World Series or bust.

After annihilating the pathetic AL West (a division many experts picked the Mariners to win), clinching it in record speed, the Angels' sights were set on bigger and better things - ultimately a World Series title. These 2008 Angels were supposed to be different from the 2004, 2005 and 2007 teams who won the division in impressive fashion yet failed to reach the promised land. 

A team loaded with power (Mark Teixiera, Vladimir Guerrero, and Torii Hunter) and finesse (Chone Figgins and Erick Aybar) took the field Wednesday night in front of a deafening crowd of 44,996, ready to prove to all the nay-sayers that they finally had what it takes to win it all. However, a familiar foe stood between the Angels and a 1-0 American League Divisional Series lead - the hated Boston Red Sox. 

During the regular season, the Angels beat the Sox (or 'Saux' as many Bostonians pronounce it) eight out of nine times. Dominant right? You'd think so, especially considering the Sox were overwhelming favorites to win the World Series this year. If the regular season was any hint, the Red Sox didn't stand a chance come October. Unfortunately, those eight out of nine victories against the defending champs flew right out the window Wednesday. 

Over the last few years, the Red Sox and Angels have this sort of big brother-little brother relationship. Big brother (the Red Sox) allows little brother (the Angels) to beat him up when the stakes aren't relatively high (the regular season). However, when it's time to get down to business (the playoffs) big brother always winds up taking little brother to the woodshed, leaving him demoralized and defeated. If history has shown us anything, the Angels can handle the Sox in the regular season, but once the "second" season rolls around, beating the Sox is anything but easy.

With a starting rotation made of steel, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim took the field tonight expecting to make a statement to the rest of the MLB. They were coming for the title and nothing was going to stand in their way. They took the field a rejuvenated and focused baseball team. Their eight straight playoff losses to the Saux were a distant memory.

Attending tonight's game I was especially amped up, for we had tickets last year, but never got to go on account of the three-game ALDS sweep. Chants of 'Lets go Angels,' filled the Anaheim air as we filed up to our seats. A sea of Angel red painted the stadium.

As the first pitch hit Mike Napoli's mitt, an electric atmosphere filled the stadium. The top of the first was a blur due to the mind-numbing cheers. After taking a 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning on a Torii Hunter RBI single, every Angel fan in the stadium tasted victory. In the sixth inning that taste turned sour. Manny Ramirez' heir to left field, Jason Bay, turned a John Lackey fastball into a two-run home run, silencing 44,996 people in the process. Red Sox 2, Angels, 1.

After two scoreless innings, the 8th provided the drama. Angel slugger and fan-favorite, Vladimir Guerrero lined a scorcher into right field, for his second hit of the night. Up walked Torii "Spider-Man" Hunter. After a long at-bat Torii fought off an inside fastball, sending a lofted ball over first base. It dropped in fair territory and the rally was on.

"Vladimir, wait! Why are you rounding second?!?!? ... Noooooooooo!"

Angel Stadium - silent. Their adorable slugger had just made the most incomprehensible decision of his 12-year career. A base running blunder that is sure to be remembered years from now and may go down as the worst rally-killing out in playoff history. His heart was too big. His determination backfired. He tried to do too much.

The blooper drifted over first-baseman Kevin Youkilis' head for a single. Vladimir safely reached second, but for him it wasn't enough. After seeing the ball drop, Vlad, who isn't fast by any means, decided to head to third. Youkilis grabbed the ball (by this time Vlad was barely rounding second) and threw a laser to Mike Lowell at third, easily picking off the overanxious Guerrero. As Guerrero walked back to the dugout, curiosity ensued. Why? Why Vlad?

Jonathan Papelbon's domination in the 9th (striking out the side) cemented another Red Sox playoff victory and snatched home-field advantage from the stunned Angels in the process. Their ninth straight playoff win silenced the 'Big A,' sending Halo fans home thinking, 'Uh oh, not again.'

In my mind, Vlad never rounded second. Howie Kendrick (who grounded out after the Guerrero blunder for the third out) came up and hit the go-ahead homer. K-Rod came in in the 9th and shut down the mighty Red Sox. An ecstatic crowd left the stadium thinking, 'World Series here we come.' We won the game and are now 10 wins away from claiming the title.

I've already tried to recreate that 8th inning fiasco millions of times, yet so far, Vlad has rounded second every time.