Thoughts on Game 1 … Angels 4, Red Sox 2

• Weaver and Schilling pitched solid games.  Each guy made mistakes that cost runs, but both changed speeds effectively and continually pitched out of trouble.  With these 2 teams at the plate, you can’t complain about your starter only giving up 2-3 runs.
• Defense matters.  Boston probably lost this game in the field, with 3 of the Angels’ 4 runs coming after fielding misplays.  In the bottom of the 4th, Schilling failed to cover 1st on a possible Anderson double play.  Matthews followed with a shot in the left field gap, which Brandon Moss … who replaced Ramirez in LF, after Manny Being Manny got himself thrown out … mistakenly threw the ball to 3rd, allowing Matthews to get to 2nd.  Kotchman then laced a 2-run single up the middle, tying the game.  Then, in the bottom of the 7th, a charging Moss bobbled Figgins’ liner, allowing Mathis to easily tag up from 3rd.  There’s no guarantee that Moss would’ve thrown out the young catcher, but by misfielding the fly ball he rendered the decision moot.
• Conversely, despite an uncharacteristic error in the 9th, Orlando Cabrera continues to flash HUGE leather for the Halos.  His play in the 5th, where he fielded Ortiz’s ricochet off of Figgins and threw out Papi, not only saved a run, it may have been the game’s pivot point.  Click here to watch video clip of Cabrera breaking Boston’s heart ("Cabrera fires to first").
• Did anyone else have Scott Spiezio flashbacks after the Macier Izturis HR?  Gotta love the dink over the short RF wall.  If we’re gonna contend in the playoffs, these are exactly the kinds of contributions we need from the role players.
• Mathis continues to impress.  He’s calling a strong game against quality opponents, he made a few digs in the dirt that kept Red Sox baserunners stationary, and in case you didn’t notice, it was his double that knocked Schilling out of the game and his tag-up that gave the team a needed insurance run.  A few weeks ago, he looked like he couldn’t wait to get back to Salt Lake.  Now, he’s gunning for Napoli’s job and giving the team the depth at catcher it desperately needs.

They probably should’ve won 3 of 4 against the rival A’s, but the Angels did what they needed to do this weekend.  They entered Friday’s game with a 3.5 game lead in the AL West and finished Sunday with that same lead, all while playing in the unfriendly confines of Oakland’s McAfee Coliseum.  Along the way, a certain Mr. Guerrero appears to have found his impaling stick, lefty Joe Saunders has turned into a good luck charm, and Chris Bootcheck has become unhittable.  Here are some post-series thoughts on which we can hang our halos, before turning our attention to the Boston Red Sox:

• It’s true.  Joe Saunders is a good luck charm.
• 10 of the Angels’ 15 runs came with 2 outs.  This is a good habit to get into, what with the playoffs 2 months away.
• 
  On Friday, the team was down 3-0, but Vlad’s HRs gave them a 4-3 lead in the 8th.  On Sunday, they were down 3-2 going into the 7th, but came back to take the lead and win.  For the first time in years, the Angels are a legitimate threat to comeback and win close games.
• Vladdy appears to be back. ***** that’s a fun sentence to write.  Let me do it again.  Vladdy appears to be back.
• Justin Speier continues to excel. Since his first appearance off the DL (July 14), he hasn’t had a bad performance.  He’s had statistically poor outings, but in none of those games was he lit up.
• Chris Bootcheck has been **** near unhittable.  On Friday, he came in with 1 out and the bases loaded and got 2 outs without allowing a ball leaving the infield.  The following night, in the 8th, he struck out the side, getting the A’s toughest side, Swisher, Cust, and Piazza.
• Mathis is looking more comfortable behind the plate.  He needs more ABs, but he’s calling a decent game and he made a few plays chasing down foul balls last night that were all-star worthy.
• 
  Cabrera’s AB last night in the 7th where he literally threw his bat at the ball on the hit-and-run was classic.  3B Marco Scutaro was playing him in, so when his tossed bat hit the ball … on what might have been a pitchout … it skidded past Scutaro into shallow left field.  Because no one was stationed there, Figgins got all the way to 3rd and Cabrera got to 2nd on what was essentially a swinging bunt.  Both guys came around to score what would be the tying and go-ahead runs, so Cabrera’s desperate stab turned out to be a huge play.

WHO’S GOT NEXT?

Boston’s in town for a 3-game series and they’re 3.5 games ahead of the Angels in the overall AL standings.  This is probably not a true must-win series, but it’s pretty **** close.  The Red Sox are a team we could very easily face in the playoffs and they’ve been a longtime bogeyman.  Whatever we need to do to take 2 of 3, needs to be done.  Should be a great series.

And so concludes one of the most frustrating series in recent memory.  The Angels have had more inexplicable series losses (KC, TB), but losing 2 of 3 to 2nd place Seattle was particularly obnoxious because the M’s essentially beat the Halos at their own game … solid starting pitching in their 2 wins, timely hitting throughout, especially of the bleeding, seeing-eye variety, and good glovework.  In the end, I think the difference was Safeco Field.  The teams were so close in production … and quite frankly, mirror each other so well … that home field became the singular advantage.  At least this is what I’m telling myself to hold back the sobs.  Nevertheless, despite losing 2 of 3, there are some positives to take away. 

CONSIDER:

• The Angels actually outscored the M’s 15-10.
• Gary Matthews found his lucky bat and beat Seattle senseless with it.  Speaking of which …
• J.J. Putz is one of the best closers in baseball, but the fact is, he blew a 3-run lead in last night’s game, topped off by Matthews’ game-tying HR with 2 outs.  In a sport built upon confidence, the Halos are now confident they can get to Putz.  Don’t underestimate this.  With 7 games remaining against Seattle … most of which figure to be close games … this is HUGE.
• Yunieski Betancourt is a very good SS, but I’m pretty sure he won’t continue playing as if he took an "Ozzie Smith circa ’85" pill. I’m just sayin’.
• If Miguel Batista consistently pitched 7 innings of 4-hit shutout baseball, he’d be the ace of the staff.  However, there’s a reason he’s not the ace of the staff.  Speaking of which …
• 
  Lackey and Escobar were lights out.  While 2 wins would’ve been nice, you can’t complain about your aces combining for 17 IP and only 2 ERs allowed.
• Nearly everything that could go right for Seattle did, and yet they only made up 1 game in the standings.  In fact, if the Angels can win today’s game in Oakland … with Seattle idle … then their lead over the M’s will improve to 3.5 games.  For all intents and purposes, then, the series loss to Seattle will only have cost the Halos a half-game.  I can live with that. 

WHO’S GOT NEXT?

The Angels head into Oaktown for a 4-game tilt against their longtime nemesis.  The A’s may be struggling this year, but these teams always play each other tough … which is the beauty of rivalry games.  I’m especially looking forward to Sunday’s Cy Young battle, when John Lackey matches up against Dan Haren.

Meanwhile, the M’s showdown against the Red Sox, who they swept 5 weeks ago.  However, it should be noted that Seattle had the luxury of facing Julian Taverez and ex-Sock Kason Gabbard, as opposed to Jon Lester and Josh Beckett, who they’ll be facing this time around.

As a diehard fan of any baseball team can tell you, there are few better feelings than sweeping an opponent.  However, when said opponent is a legitimate World Series contender, a team that you could very easily face in the playoffs, it’s like leaving work early on Friday, hitting every green light on the way home, and walking in the door to see a 12-pack of your favorite beer on ice.  Mmmmm … favorite beer on ice.

HIGHLIGHTS

Matthews’ catch.  Totally set the tone for the series.  If things go right for the Angels from here on out, we’ll look back at Matthews robbing Monroe of a grand slam as one of the season’s signature plays.  Click here to watch video clip of Matthews breaking Detroit’s heart ("Matthews’ catch at the wall").

6th inning of Saturday’s game.  If there were any doubts that Saunders might be running out of gas, Ordonez’s 2-run HR in the top half of the inning made it official.  Suddenly, Detroit had a 3-1 lead and all the momentum. Guillen followed with a single, stole 2nd and then stole 3rd, so Chris Bootcheck came on in relief.  CB promptly induced Monroe to pop out and Inge struck out looking … on 3 pitches, no less … stranding Guillen at 3rd and killing the rally.  HUGE sequence.  In the bottom half of the inning, Kotch doubled in Cabrera and Mathis singled in Kotch, tying the game at 3 and the Angels never trailed in the series again.  A huge inning for the Halos on many levels.

Angels 34, Tigers 13.  That’s Big Red Machine-esque.  In fact, since the series fell during "Break Out The Red" week, I thought the team needed a new "red" nickname.  I nominate BIG ROJO.  It’s got that spanglish thing going on and it’s fun to say.  Go on, say it … BIG ROJO.  Not bad, eh?  While Figgins is making an MVP run and Anderson is **** near unstoppable, the difference-makers this weekend were Matthews, Kotchman, and Mathis, i.e. the guys who surround Vlad in the lineup.  Like I said last time, there has to be production from at least some of these guys and in this series they actually carried Big Daddy.

Baserunning clinic.  Angel runners went from 1st to 3rd so many times, Leyland must’ve thought we removed 2nd base.

Continuing excellence from Justin Speier.  He’s kind of a hidden secret, but I don’t expect that to last much longer. 

Joe Saunders and Dustin Moseley pitched well.  It’s a big series and Detroit’s a solid team, you never know how a young pitcher is gonna react.  While neither guy was ace-worthy, both pitched out of trouble, made adjustments, and avoided giving up a big inning.  Anything beyond that is just gravy.  Mmmm … gravy.

LOWLIGHTS

Vlad getting hit.  Trust me, emptying one’s bowels isn’t as fun
as it sounds.  Turns out it was a non-issue, but for about a
minute the season was flashing in front of my eyes.

Napoli’s back on the DL with a hammy tweak.  These injuries can linger, but we’ll see.  Might be nothing.  Mathis also has something to say about this.  He showed flashes against Detroit, he’s still learning the staff, and could grow into the role.  Starting Moseley yesterday was a brilliant move.  Angels had the series wrapped up, why not give Moseley and Mathis experience against a good team?  In the long run, though, I’ll feel better with a productive Napoli.

Weaver got rocked.  However, he’s been pitching well, so until I see a pattern I’m not worrying.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT DETROIT?

Sweep or not, the Tigers are still one of the AL’s best teams.  They’re having some pitching problems … middle relief issues, as well as Rogers, Zumaya, and Rodney on the DL … but you know that offense will keep them in most games while the kinks on the mound get worked out.  This is the same team that beat the Angels 12-0 back in May and swept Boston just a few short weeks ago.  They know as well as anyone that anytime you can sweep a playoff team you take that opportunity, especially to the tune of 11 runs a game.  I have little doubt that the Tigers will be competing for a playoff spot.

WHO’S GOT NEXT?

Californaheim heads into a huge series at 2nd place Seattle with momentum, confidence, and a 4-game lead.  However, the M’s sport a 3-game winning streak and, on paper, match up pretty well with the Halos.  So, while a sweep and double digit runs would be nice, performances like that are an aberration.  The goal at the beginning of each series is to win 2 of 3 and this series is no exception.  That being said, Seattle better bring its A game because Big Rojo is coming.