The Angels still have a realistic shot to win the ALCS. I take heart in the fact that the Yankees have twice beaten a team that looks very little like the team we've been watching through most of the season--the one that plays excellent defense, that has good pitching, that is poised yet fired up, and that has a clutch, potent offense. I have no doubt that the "other" Angels team will show up in Anaheim starting tomorrow. And when it does, the Angels will win. Actually, I have almost no doubt...

Just as not all runs are created equal, not all losses are created equal. Extreme case-in-point: Game 6 of the 2002 WS--after that loss, you just knew that the Giants would be toast in Game 7. Compare that to the previous game, Game 5, where the Angels were pounded 16-4, and were already behind 6-0 after two innings. Some days are just not your day; you're not going to win, regardless.

It's easier to walk away from and forget about the Game 5-type loss than the Game 6-type loss. Game 1 on Friday was more like the 2002 Game 5 loss; there wasn't  much chance of winning given how the Angels were stinking it up on the field. Easy to move on. Last night's game wasn't nearly as gut-wrenching as the Giant's Game 6 loss, but it was one that could have gone either way--and I believe those types of losses are much harder to walk away from and forget.

Fortunately (and this is a good part of my optimism), the Angels have the best forget-about-the-last-game-and-focus-on-the-next-game guru around in Scioscia. Definitely look for the Angels *not* to fold up the tent; we'll see a different looking (and playing) team than the one that we watched in NY. It will be a great indicator of Scioscia's prowess and of the team's make-up when Game 3 ends with the Angels having a "1" in the ALCS win column.

One game at-a-time...