Angels Playoff Checklist

by gary matthews jr. jr. on Aug 27, 2009 12:43 PM PDT Comment 46 comments

In the midst of a 2-7 slump, I realized how spoiled I am to be an Angels fan (did the three game losing streak keep anybody else up at night?). Then I looked at the standings and realized that we are still 5 games up on the Rangers. Baseball Prospectus still has us at an 84% chance of making the playoffs. More importantly, Gary Mathews Jr. Jr. Prospectus has us at a 100% chance of making the playoffs.

Over the last couple of years, the Halos haven't had much success in the postseason. We are a really good team, and if we follow my playoff checklist, we will be playing deep into October.

1. Two of our starting pitchers step up

It's safe to say our starting pitching has underperformed this year. However, last nights game against the Tigers was HUGE!!! Not only because it put us another game up on Texas, but because a healthy, rested Joe Saunders gives us the consistent starting pitcher we need. If Lackey, Santana, or Weaver can figure it out before the playoffs as well, it will give us the necessary one-two punch that can go head-to-head with the Beckett/Lester and the Verlander/Jackson combos--especially with our offense.

2. Play Napoli

It's been recorded on this site before that the run prevention capabilities of our two catchers is about the same. As noted by the patients in the blind-kid ward at your local orphanage, Mike Napoli is the far superior batsman. Mike Napoli has fallen to 2nd place behind another rugged, Italian backstop on the all time list of AB/HR for a catcher, but he is still ~2,000 places ahead of Mathis, owner of the .199/.279/.326 career slash.

3. Stop platooning Quinlan

Maybe Q's unassuming midwestern looks remind Soth of another of his fair skinned man crushes, but this doesn't mean he should get an automatic spot on the line-up card against lefties. Not only is Kendry Morales our BEST HITTER but his .270/.283/.440 as a RH is better than Quinlan's .245/.275/.347.

4. Play Howie

This might get backlash from some of you, but Mighty Maicer is just not as good as Howard. Kendrick has been absolutely mashing since he got back to the big leagues. I'll take Kenrick's three-run jacks over Micetits "clutchiness" any day.

5. Stay healthy

This is a little out of anybody's control but please, no pink eye this year.

If the team can do these things (three of them are easy), us Angels fans will be muchhappier bunch this October.

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.

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6. Don't face Boston

by haloak on Aug 27, 2009 10:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

To hell with that

I want to face Boston, I want to win that series IN Boston, and then we can watch our team celebrate in front of chowd nation. That would be completely satisfying.

This team is our extended family, That's why we love them no matter what the record, no matter what the score.

by halofan4life on Aug 27, 2009 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

I thought this the last two years

I no longer share these thoughts.

RIP #34

by linkbruin on Aug 27, 2009 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hahaha agreed. i can wait for that satisfaction of beating boston until after we win the WS this year.

I want the whitesox/tigers, then i want the yankees. and then i want the Dodgers!…. the dodgers arent going to make it that far, but it would be cool to see freeway series once in my lifetime

In Kobe we trust!

by robi s on Aug 27, 2009 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

the Lakers went through even worse hell with boston

but boy was 1985 well worth it. i want the halos to face boston. we must confront and defeat Vadar.

by SCHalo on Aug 27, 2009 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

This is wisdom

At this point I’d rather just win the World Series than “prove” that we can beat Boston.

If the Rangers don’t get their act together, we may not get our wish.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Aug 27, 2009 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I still think it...

I don’t want to hear any of the Chowd fans I work with or know to tell me that we only won because we were “lucky” enough to not play Boston.

by thetooth on Aug 27, 2009 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Go Angels!!!!

by deejayelleseven on Aug 27, 2009 5:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Be careful what you ask for.

by haloak on Aug 27, 2009 6:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I want to beat Boston

But I’d rather have the satisfaction of watching that disgusting team locked out of the Playoffs.

Go Rays!

The HK-47 hitting droid is the finest line drive machine ever built

by RallyMonkey5 on Aug 28, 2009 6:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

or Rangers

I kinda want the Rangers to make the playoffs, to force NESPN to face the fact that 4 of the 6 playoff teams are from the Western Divisions (would say west coast, but Texas isn’t exactly coast). This puts me in weird situations where Im not sure if I want the Rangers to win or lose.

That'll only happen if that one prospect is the second coming of Christ and redemption for mankind can only be achieved by smacking many balls out of the yard.
-The Limey

by anaheim angels on Aug 29, 2009 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

word to nos, 2 and 3

f’n No-Bat Quinlan.

Tell your statistics to shut up

by HaloDutch on Aug 27, 2009 10:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Napoli has made some pretty stupid errors behind the plate lately, so im not to hot on him, but I agree Napoli is a huge upgrad over mathis offensively, and its worth the sacrifice on D.

Also, no to howie lol. Might maice is my favorite player outside of aybar lol.

In Kobe we trust!

by robi s on Aug 27, 2009 11:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Staying healthy is objective #1

Hopefully, the past injuries will pay dividends down the road. Lacky, Santana, Saunders, Hunter and Vlad will have less wear and tear and more gas in the tank for the post season.

by Gary Matthews Sr. on Aug 27, 2009 12:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe GA didn't have pink eye

maybe he was just really….hiiiigh.

We Will Win With What We Got.
R.I.P. Nick Adenhart, Marquis Cooper, Steve McNair, and Frank Grimes, or Grimey, as he liked to be called

by JoseGuillenSux on Aug 27, 2009 1:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

no...

you’re high.

TonZ-of-GunZ

by Funke5ive on Aug 27, 2009 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He didn't have pink eye

he was just too lazy to open his eye for a few days.

I wish my toilet was shaped like Fenway. It already smells like it.

by SalmonStream on Aug 27, 2009 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice haha

RIP Nick Adenhart.

"When the Babe tries to call his shot, I hope Nick puts one in his ear."
--RallyMonkey5

by Clutch on Aug 27, 2009 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

2-5 slump, not 2-7

We’ve won 2 out of 7, going 2-5 over the span.

Other 2-5 stretches this year:

May 25-June 2, May 23-30
April 18-25, 17-24
April 12-19, April 7-15

by mattwelch on Aug 27, 2009 2:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

never had more than 3 losses in a row this year either...

consistency. i like it.

Do it for Nick '09

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Aug 27, 2009 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Everything is fine here except the Maicer vs Howie bullet...

…which isn’t supported by enough data this season. It feels more like the man/fan crush that you’re ascribing to Scioscia with other players.

Steve Bisheff, who cravenly refuses to post critical comments that rebut his “opinions” on his blog, has the same take, but the season’s stats don’t support it, nor do the stats in August. Izzy has a .883 OPS in August to Howie’s .796 OPS.

The two players have had nearly equivalent playing time. Izzy has simply been more consistent, and better overall this season. It isn’t about “clutchiness”, it’s about a player that has maintained an avg above .290 for three straight months and who has only made one error at his position all year. I would take the stat line Izzy has put up both before and after the ASB from a middle infielder any season of any year.

by Turks Teeth on Aug 27, 2009 2:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Plus,

Howie just seems like a huge choker in big games and important situations. Maicer is steady as they come. Howie is a bundle of nerves a lot of the time.

by UpStream15 on Aug 27, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have we SEEN Maicer in the offseason?

I was under the impression he was injured last year and didn’t play much in ’07 or ’05…

RIP Nick Adenhart.

"When the Babe tries to call his shot, I hope Nick puts one in his ear."
--RallyMonkey5

by Clutch on Aug 27, 2009 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hence, sample size is much too small to make that comparison

Maicer could be great in the offseason, or he could be just as big a choker as Howie is—granted, he’s got much higher BAA w/ RISP during the regular season, gets on base more, and most of the time doesn’t look like a deer in the headlights, but can’t tell about the postseason until we see him…

RIP Nick Adenhart.

"When the Babe tries to call his shot, I hope Nick puts one in his ear."
--RallyMonkey5

by Clutch on Aug 27, 2009 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Er, POSTseason

Yeah.

RIP Nick Adenhart.

"When the Babe tries to call his shot, I hope Nick puts one in his ear."
--RallyMonkey5

by Clutch on Aug 27, 2009 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree. I have maintained that had we a healthy Maicer, we would have fared much better in the DS last year.

GARY MATHEWS JR JR> Do you even remember how much Howie killed our chances against Boston. He was a Friggin Black Hole sucking up the K’s and Terrible defense. I also don’t remember Maicer being sent down for Sucking like one HK47 was.

That’s not to say he will do that again, but to unequivocally play him ahead of Maicer just doesn’t make sense.

by Big Bad, 'Vlad'! on Aug 28, 2009 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Our September is WAY harder than Texas'

Im not worried but I think we need to pick up the playing if we are going to take down the likes of the Chi Sox, Bo Sux and Skanks all in one road trip.

Yikes.

Do it for Nick '09

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Aug 27, 2009 2:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm pretty glad that we have a "tough" September.

Hopefully it will prepare us for the tough postseason games. That being said, making the playoffs comes before anything.

by UpStream15 on Aug 27, 2009 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

This team needs some toughening up just in time for the big boys…none of this clinching September 10 and coasting into the “omigosh wha’ happon?” of last season!…

RIP Nick Adenhart.

"When the Babe tries to call his shot, I hope Nick puts one in his ear."
--RallyMonkey5

by Clutch on Aug 27, 2009 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Momentum

Winning that first round in a tough series and gaining momentum is the best way to me to make it to the World Series and win it.

At one time it was a great season if the Angels could make the playoffs, but this organization has developed to the point that anything less than a World Series win is a disappointment.

by California Cajun on Aug 27, 2009 2:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Very true. I cannot recall there ever being World Series winner who failed to win the first round.

We don't have a Bullpen. We have a Cowpen. Before we get to call it a Bullpen these guys gotta grow a pair.

by Stirrups on Aug 27, 2009 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Win.

Let's win one for Nick
WE WILL WIN WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT

by moosemastr on Aug 27, 2009 6:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

by Big Bad, 'Vlad'! on Aug 28, 2009 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Id take 3 sweeps

That'll only happen if that one prospect is the second coming of Christ and redemption for mankind can only be achieved by smacking many balls out of the yard.
-The Limey

by anaheim angels on Aug 29, 2009 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree especially with one point

Maicer Izturis should be the super-sub this year, as long as Howie keeps mashing. We could use a 5th starter but Trevor Bell/O’Sullivan/Palmer should be fine.

This is a great team managed by a great manager.

Don't call me Desmond!

by highlandhalo on Aug 27, 2009 4:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Who is this "Howie" who "keeps mashing" of whom you speak,

especailly compared to Izzy’s ‘mashing’ line?

We don't have a Bullpen. We have a Cowpen. Before we get to call it a Bullpen these guys gotta grow a pair.

by Stirrups on Aug 27, 2009 4:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe i was a little hasty

But Howie does have 10 RBI in his last 8 games, so that’s something to get excited about.

by gary matthews jr. jr. on Aug 27, 2009 5:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

My hopes

ALDS- Red Sox SWEEP

ALCS- Yankees SWEEP

WS- Dodgers SWEEP

I hope to God that we DO play Boston in the 1st round so that other fans won’t make the argument that the Angels made the WS without having to beat Boston, oh, and I hope they sweep the crap out of them while they’re at it.

Secondly, even though we’ve proven we can take the Yankees in the playoffs, it would be nice to say we beat the best team in the AL.

Lastly, I hope we face the Doyers in the WS and, once and for all, gain bragging rights to all those drunken, bandwagon, cholo fans. Icing on the cake.

Then Sosh manages manages in the 2010 all star game baby!

THE END

by TheAntiSox on Aug 27, 2009 10:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs