Hold on to your hats, Angels fans. This is going to be a long, drawn out, hard to swallow article.
But then again, so was yet another early October exit.
Turn off the Halo.
It's time for some painful analysis in my post series "year in review" piece.
This is what the Angels need to address this offseason, period.
1. Gamesmanship
2. Teixeira
3. Vlad
4. Closer
5. Catcher(s)
6. Team Approach (especially Mickey Hatcher)
7. Pitching
Let's just get into it.
Gamesmanship
The Angels show up, do their jobs, and go home.
I'm not saying that the individual players don't have heart.
I know they do.
What I'm saying is maybe Scioscia's ability to get the team to turn the page so well on losing games is part of the problem, because they don't feel the burn from losses.
Maybe they'd play a little harder, a little more emotionally, with their hearts on their sleeves, like the (god I hate that I'm saying this) Dodgers, or Red Sox, or Tampa Bay.
Maybe they need a little more spit in your eye attitude and win at all costs swagger.
I'm a total homer for this next line, but the 2002 team could win. Any game, any time, anywhere. They had an aura that whatever adversity they faced, they had the tools to overcome it.
Good pitching? Work the counts!
Lots of offense? Produce more runs and manufacture in spots 1-9.
Rough outing by the pitcher? Great defense.
This year's team never seemed to step up for each other, and I don't know why.
Every team member will tell you that the club had special chemistry this year, lots of camaraderie, and Scioscia starts that with his usual training camp antics in spring. The team wins and loses together—they just don't do it on the field.
When Lackey needed a modicum of help from his teammates in both games of this series, the defense folded like a house of cards. Sure, Kendrick and Aybar are playing in their first real postseasons, but that shouldn't matter.
So was Lowrie, who hit the game-winning single last night.
Lester's only in his second.
All those two did was show up and execute—and the Angels' execution, top to bottom this series, was suspect at best.
The heart of the order had hits, but how many were singles? I think something like 90 percent of them.
Batters three, four, and five in a lineup aren't there to single and get one base. They are there to move the runners along. Granted, there weren't many runners, but there weren't any extra base hits anyway, so it's a push.
Napoli brought it.
Lackey brought it.
Everyone else showed up and hoped it would be enough.
That's what makes the difference, and that's why I'm actually really worried about this postseason.
Not because of what we have or don't have come spring training.
You can't teach hunger, fire, and gamesmanship.
I don't know if any Angels have enough (minus Lackey, Shields, and maybe Napoli).
Mark Teixeira
My biggest fear with Teixeira is that he's the best free agent of the year and has said himself that he never even had Anaheim on the radar until he arrived here.
Will a two-month battle with the boys in Anaheim and the experience of playing here be able to change that?
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about 1 month ago
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about 1 month ago
You're right, Angels are lacking or need more gameship. This has a lot to do with the manager/coach, as you state on your article and this sums up my point:
Scioscia has to go! Fire Scioscia. A Postseason record of 5-15 since 2002 is not good enough. I blame Scioscia for not finding ways, lifting his players morale or making the necessary adjustments for this shocking record.
So he wins you 100 games in the season...SO WHAT! this isn't single table soccer where the most point/wins makes you champion. As long as you get into the playoffs it doesn't matter if you win 100 or 86.
Joe Torre got booted out of NY for not winning a World Series and the bloke had won like 6 or something! Angels should do the same with Scioscia.
Lastly, I'm tired of Angels fans talking about 2002. Guess what? You must have missed the memo:
It's 2008 and you have lost the Division Series yet again! Stop talking about 2002 you're starting to sound like Oakland Raider and Newcastle United fans.
about 1 month ago
Fire Scioscia? Not the answer! And I don't know what is.. hopefully, live and learn (and sign some key players) will be enough.
As for 2002... the only time I hear it brought up is in an effort to figure out why the current team lacks championship caliber. In addition, I will flag the above comment as offensive for the reason that in no way, no how, should the Angels or their fans be compared in any way, shape or form to the Raiders!
about 1 month ago
Hellujah, brother.
This is the HALOS not those I-5 Neighbors (and NLCS bound) Dodgers....
about 1 month ago
great article... i thought i had just done the first preview piece for next year but saw this... and Teix stays K-Rod goes and we move on because as an Angel fan even I know K-Rod is overrated... stupid Dodgers and Sox!!!!!
what do u think about Garret? are we picking up his option 2?
about 1 month ago
I think we should tear up his contract and just sign him to a three year 22-26 Million dollar deal, keeping him a Halo for the rest of his career. Beyond that? Dunno. I personally think we do something similar (Though adjust the numbers accordingly) for Vlad G, too. Option years are tough.
about 1 month ago
GREAT STUFF SCOTT..GOOD READ
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