1. This Angels team hasn’t exactly rolled over for this Yankees team.
2. The Bronx may be tough, and we’re not technically in the same house, but red’s pulled it out in the past anyway.
3. I seriously doubt the Angels are relaxed about facing the Yankees, and anyone who is will get bitch-slapped by Torii.
4. I dunno.

Maybe someone else will continue with creative counterpoints to the rest – I have to get back to pretending to work.

Seriously, I think we are capable of splitting the first two in NY, coming back here and winning at least 2 more, and splitting the last two in NY which takes either 6 or 7 games.

The players do not care who they play in the World Series.

He had a key walk in both games 2 and 3. I would not say his at bats were that terrible. Those walks were both very key.

With regard to no one giving us a chance, no one is predicting we get swept. Most are NYY in 6 or 7. I’d say they are giving us some respect.

The Angels ownership of the Yankees in the playoffs have only previously occurred in 5-game series. It will be more difficult over 7 games AND with a more potent Yankee lineup.

I still call Halos in 7.

i totally agree the angels MUST split the first two games in new york if they want to win the series…

okay some reasons why i had my points (not in any particular order):
1. The Angels don’t have a stigma against the yankees as against the red sox (on the contrary, the yanks have one against us)
2. yankee stadium while not having the history, draws a lot more than boston, and is more enclosed than boston as well (no giant wall in left field), plus historically they are more rambunctious
3. media – think of the the vikings, weren’t they tired of all the constant brett farve talk and questions from the media, i think this might happen to the angels (granted ny media is tough in general)
4. even as fans, we are taking the yanks lightly (compared to the red sox series) – and that is just looking at the pre-series posts
5. my only reference about paplebon is that Mo Rivera is better (even with 2001 hiccup)

I totally agree baseball is a VERY streaky sport, and we even saw that last series. The Angels scored in bunches (almost every time they scored in an inning was a multirun inning, not one run here, another there). And if the Bombers are having a three pitchers for their staff, they might only pitch 5 or 6 innings to preserve their arms (presumably for a possible world series). When did the Angels score most of their runs last series, after the 7th inning (when the sox starter was still in, or inherited runs).

my main point here was that are the angels as revved up against the yankees as they were against the red sox (who they were what 13 of 14 in the playoffs before this series)?

also, I am trying to start a conversation here, some like sothball and Downing Rules are trying to talk back. insulting isn’t what i am trying to go for. my main point is, what are the angels weak points in this upcoming series (some of which i listed).

bitch once, and give my reasoning, that is all. the summary of which is in the last paragraph of my last post (directly above)

…something significant will occur that no one predicted.

(Roll over Nostradamus).

1. Better rotation 1-3 (possibly offset by the weather timing factor, which might force them to use a fourth starter), 2/3rds of whom are lefties — against whom Kendry doesn’t hit as spectacularly well. (Contra: the Angels are more flexible because they can send out four starters, and with the weather-related schedule changes, this could be significant.)
2. Teixeira gives them more range on the right side, which means Jeter doesn’t have to patrol as much ground — better up-the-middle defense.
3. Better defense generally, as they have a center fielder (Melky Cabrera, and more so, Brett Gardner) with actual speed.
4. Better bullpen (just about any AL team would)
5. Superior (just) offense

It should be a close series, but I’m not feeling it. Plus, on the Rob Is Just Plain Nuts Gut Feel meter,

6. It would be a perfect bizarro-world finish to the season if the Angels sweep the Red Sox and then get manhandled by the Yanks, whom they’ve been pretty successful against lately.

I’m calling it. 4 game sweep with the Angels holding the broom.

With all his blog activity taken as a whole, I see a pattern developing here.

It’s serious

I’m terrified of the Angels. Why? 2002. 2005. The Yankees are favored, and my thoughts are Yanks will win in 6 games, but I don’t count out the Angels until it’s over.

JK. But You made some great points. I am a Yankees fan and even I can’t tell you which AROD will show up to the game tonight. Good luck and if for some odd reason we lose than I’ll root for you in the WS. :P

I’m starting to get a little nervous now.

Anyone else?

“…Angels are the underdog, practically no one is giving them an ounce of a chance (except Buck Showalter?), in the ALDS some gave us a shot”

If anything the Yankees are underdogs! Take a look at the last fourteen years and you tell me who has the better head-2-head record?