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.
1 comment:
Wow Brian, that is really good. You had me on the edge of my seat, and I WAS at the game.
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