Several thoughts on the Boston Red Sox defeat of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the American League Division Series...
The Angels turned a 2-0 deficit into a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning, and you have to say that Sunday night’s marathon played a part.
Hideki Okajima and Justin Masterson—who both pitched in Sunday’s loss—were unable to put away Mark Teixeira, Vladimir Guerrero, and Torii Hunter in the eighth inning, even after going to two-strike counts on all three. Teixeira and Guerrero walked and both scored on Hunter’s two-out single to tie the game.
Much was made by the media about the Red Sox’s postseason win streak over the Angels, and Anaheim players and coaches tried hard to defuse such talk.
Yes, the Angels were able to end their skid, but not until the Sox ran the streak to a record 11 games, and even then it took a 12-inning marathon to do so. Still, it bears some consideration that many Angels players seem to have it in their heads that they simply can’t beat the Red Sox in the postseason.
The only two Angels players to make significant contributions throughout the series were Hunter and Teixeira—and neither one has been an Angel for long. Both were making their first postseason appearances in an Angel uniform, and they didn’t play like they were carrying the weight of past Anaheim playoff failures against Boston.
- B/R Ticket Guide
More evidence that the Angels have it in their heads that they can’t beat the Sox could be found in Anaheim’s fielding during the series.
From the three-run “single” by Jacoby Ellsbury in Game Three to miscues by Angel infielders and outfielders throughout the ALDS, the Angels appeared to be playing like they hoped they wouldn’t make mistakes.
That’s not the fundamentally sound Mike Scioscia ballclub that won 100 games during the season; it’s a team that was collectively thinking, “How are we going to lose yet again?”
If the “predestined to defeat” attitude appeared familiar at Fenway Park, it’s because the Red Sox suffered the same anxiety until 2004, when they faced the New York Yankees.
Game to game, series to series, year to year, Boston players seemed to be wondering which Red Sox player would make the crucial gaffe or which Yankee would be the new hero…and the fans and media took that attitude to the extreme.
It took the historic comeback from three games down in the 2004 ALCS to turn the tide, and the Red Sox haven’t looked back since.
The question is, what do the Angels have to do to break through? Or will they?
The Red Sox broke "The Curse" to win two World Series titles. The Texas Rangers of the late '90s were unable to get past those same Yankees and ultimately their window of opportunity closed.
The AL West is Anaheim’s for the taking, as long as Seattle keeps getting duped on the free-agent market and the Rangers can’t learn how to pitch.
However, as their lone World Series championship falls further and further back in the rear view mirror, will the Angels have to watch out for a reputation of playoff futility that Red Sox fans were all too familiar with for years?
Boston entered the series with two of the best clutch postseason performers in recent memory on their roster—and neither one made a significant contribution in the ALDS.
Despite his age, Josh Beckett is arguably the best playoff pitcher of his time, yet he was hurt and pitched like it in Game Three.
David Ortiz has returned from his wrist injury to the third spot in the Red Sox's order, but he is hardly the commanding presence of years past.
For the Sox to have any chance of repeating, the two are going to have to be the players fans remember, not the players that took the field in the ALDS.
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about 1 month ago
Mike -
Great article, I love your POV...I agree that Beckett and Ortiz need to step up to get past the Rays..The Red Sox offense looked lifeless in the last two games, and the Rays pitching is on fire right now. I expect a very interesting series..I look forward to reading your recaps on the ALCS.
about 1 month ago
Great article, can't wait to read the next one!
about 1 month ago
Good stuff. I agree that Beckett and Ortiz are going to have to make a bigger impact for the Red Sox to keep winning.
about 1 month ago
It's amazing how the Sox find a way to win, even without Ortiz performing well. Beckett looked rusty, that should wear off going into the ALCS. As for the Angels, that window may be closing fast if they lose K-rod and Texiera to free agency.
about 1 month ago
Concerning your question above, the Angels won't break through against the Sox until they adjust to their style of play. Game 2 of the series, for instance, featured Dice K on the mound. He has 18 wins on the season and 150+ Ks. The key stat that the halos could've easily taken advantage of is Dice Ks achilles heel which is giving up a TON of walks. But what did they do? Showed little patience at the plate and swung away when they could've taken way more walks than they did. Sure enough they lost game 2 which was basically a must-win and found themselves in the hole at Fenway, on the verge of elimination. Foolish.
They need to abandon this moneyball-esque mentality and stop relying solely on solid pitching and defense. Whatever they're doing it isn't working, especially against the Sox who can win in a million different ways and circumstances. Halos won the WS in '02 thanks to a potent offense, as well as solid pitching and defense mixed in. Coincidence? Why they can't imitate that 2002 team mode is beyond me. It's flat out stubborn. 100 wins in the AL West is close to worthless when you're playing against a team that a.) has a dominant history against you and b.) won 95 games in a STACKED AL east.
The Angels ineptness was completely evident in last nights failed suicide squeeze. Bunting against a guy who throws in the mid to upper 90's? Think about that for a moment. What did they expect? They won't beat the Sox until they revamp their style of play, which is far too conservative and filled with questionable signings.
about 1 month ago
I don't think it's necessarily any one aspect of their game. Playing in such a weak division probably lulled them a bit. The Red Sox had to gut out 50 or so games against the Rays, Yanks, and Blue Jays. Plus, the terrible record the Sox had against the Angels this regular season likely hurt their preparedness. I think when the Angels have to fight tooth and nail for a playoff spot (like in '02), then they will win.
about 1 month ago
Thanks everyone for your comments. The last few posts bring up an interesting point that has long been debated and may never be answered: What's the better situation for a team entering the postseason, to clinch early and be able to rest, or to fight down to the wire and enter with the momentum?
Clinching early gives a team the chance to rest players, get everyone back to health, set the rotation and bullpen, and basically be fresh entering the playoffs. That didn't work out well for the Angels, nor did it help the Chicago Cubs.
On the other hand, fighting tooth and nail to the end of the season for your playoff berth means that your team should be on a roll, playing with confidence. Players in this situation often tell the media they have been playing in playoff-style games through the end of the regular season, so the pressure and intensity of the playoffs is nothing new. But it didn't prove to be beneficial to the Milwaukee Brewers or Chicago White Sox this season.
What do I think? I think it's easy to explain after the fact, but predicting it is a crapshoot. It oftentimes depends on the makeup of a team; the Brewers are relatively new to the postseason and they simply ran out of gas - but the White Sox are a veteran club that encountered the same problem. Another factor that can play a big role is a clubhouse leader. No one could have predicted the run by the Colorado Rockies last year, but Matt Holliday became a household name because of his leadership in September and October.
In the end, when a team is asked to choose between clinching early or going down to the wire, there's only one right answer - hoping to make the postseason, no matter how you get there.
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