Fuentes has 2 losses and an ERA of like 7.  K-ROD has an ERA below 2 and is perfect in save opportunities.  Hypothetically the Angels would have a 12-11 record instead of a 10-13 record with K-Rod.

Furthermore, the Fuentes disease seems to have infected the entire bullpen.  Jose lost his dominance and Scot can't find the strike zone.

Someone commented that there's something wrong with the system.  If the system is flawed, how come Sanders and Weaver and the AAA starters don't seem to have contracted it?  When Santana and Lackey get back I think Palmer and Loux should go to the pen.

Someone else commented that Scioscia shouldn't use relievers.  That makes sense.  Let's just have Weaver and Saunders pitch every other day like Drysdale and Koufax.

K-ROD can listen to Kid Play and dance the funky chicken for all I care.  I don't care if Ocho Cinco was closing for us as long as the Angels the win.

AL West Division

According to the pythagorean expectation theory, this season ought to play out better than 2002 as  these are the current standings as of Saturday night.

AL West Division

Rev probably hasn't even gotten up to check his mail.

"That was as flagrant as anything as I've seen in this game," said Scioscia, who was ejected in the top of second for continuing to argue from the bench.

"There were some things that happened on that field that were disturbing. The league has to look into it," he added.

"Some words were said that were just outrageous," said Hunter, who rapidly went from peacemaker to protester. "And it wasn't from the Red Sox. I freaking lost it."

Asked if those words were spoken by the umpires since there were only Angels, Red Sox and umpires on the field, Hunter balked.

"I didn't say that," he answered. "It might have been the voices in my head."

I'm looking for quotes of what was said and who said it?  Funny gets extra points!

This is the first post-season victory over the Red Sox since the 1986 playoffs and  Donnie Moore was one strike away from bringing the Angels to their first WS appearance. The nut has been cracked.

Watching the 3 RBI non-catch and HK seemingly wilt under the pressure, it looked like more of the same.  Freakish injuries, freakishly bad plays, freakishly bad calls. But HK recovered, breaking out of his slump by getting a couple of hits and executed a sac bunt to put Naps into scoring position. He made a critical play, key to winning the game. Naps of course put the team on his back and made sure the Angels weren't going down without a fight.  He even threw out a would be base stealer. When was the last time we saw that happen?

Other key performances of note, the entire bullpen, including a terrific performance by Shields (retired every batter he faced) and Weaver(his first MLB relief appearance, slammed the door shut). Aybar came up with his first RBI and hit in this post-season(the first of his career?)

The confidence of being able to weather do-or-die moments in a hostile environment has to give the Angels the upper hand.  They know they can do it.  They don't have to press.  They don't have to play beyond themselves. They just have to do what they already are capable of and they can come out on top. 

Now there's added pressure on Boston to win game 4 lest they get that sinking feeling as the reality of letting a 2 game lead slip away will surely favor the Angels if they earn a game 5 back in the Halo friendly Big A.

I like their chances!

I decided to look at splits at the end of the 2007 season and compare them with what the Halos are doing right now.  Here are some observations:

Players who have more than 40 ABs in that period, 6 hitting .299 or higher in 2007, 2 slugging above .500.  GA was the hottest hitter during that period and got an eye infection in the ALDS.

Right now, 5 hitting over .300.  but HK hasn't played, Morales hitting .293 and Naps .288.  6 players slugging over .500, Tex and Naps slugging over .600.

Starting Pitchers in 2007, Lackey 2.32 Ervin 2.96 Moseley 4.50, Weaver 4.50, and Saunders, Escobar 6+

Starting Pitchers in 2008, Weaver 2.25, Ervin 3.03 Lackey 4.78 and Saunders 5.24. Garland & Moseley 6+

Relief 2007 Speier Oliver and K-Rod < 3.00  Shields et. al 6+

Relief 2008 Jepson K-Rod Jose < 3.00 Shields Oliver < 4.0

Summary (assuming no freak injuries):

o Hitting for Avg is probably better this year if HK produces.

o Slugging is greatly improved.

o Starting Pitching is slightly worse.

o Relief pitching has better depth.  Bulger and Jepsen are X factors.

Conclusion

Halos should be able to put runs on the board.  Seems to me that's been the main problem in recent years.  Let's hope they can go deep!

2007 Hitting last month of the season.

2008 Hitting last 30 days

2007 Pitching last month of the season

2008 Pitching last 30 days

                OBP     SLG     BA
G Anderson      0.402   0.602   0.376
M Teixeira      0.433   0.620   0.340
T Hunter        0.402   0.701   0.338
H Kendrick      0.366   0.436   0.330
V Guerrero      0.380   0.582   0.319
E Aybar         0.373   0.435   0.304
C Figgins       0.360   0.314   0.284
M Izturis       0.321   0.400   0.260
J Rivera        0.275   0.452   0.233
J Mathis        0.304   0.388   0.194
G Matthews      0.265   0.107   0.107

                                OBP     SLG     BA
1       Baltimore Orioles       0.358   0.491   0.300
2       Seattle Mariners        0.344   0.439   0.300
3       Los Angeles Angels      0.363   0.490   0.298 XXXX
4       New York Yankees        0.363   0.459   0.289
5       Detroit Tigers          0.356   0.479   0.285
6       Texas Rangers           0.346   0.461   0.278
7       Cleveland Indians       0.345   0.461   0.273
8       Boston Red Sox          0.359   0.413   0.271
9       Minnesota Twins         0.334   0.406   0.271
10      Chicago White Sox       0.331   0.456   0.264
11      Kansas City Royals      0.312   0.392   0.256
12      Toronto Blue Jays       0.323   0.385   0.252
13      Tampa Bay Devil Rays    0.336   0.438   0.250
14      Oakland Athletics       0.289   0.319   0.218