100 Wins and 62 Losses in the regular season and the best record in baseball does not seem to translate well in post season success. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have been able to clutch on to defeat out of the welcoming hand of victory against the Boston Red Sox. As the series stands the Angels are down 2 games to zero and will be having quite the akward trip to Boston.

Last night game proved to me that there is a mystic about facing the Red Sox that our franchise just cannot shake. Pitching that has been lights out, becomes vunerable. Offense that has been on fire is quickly exstinguished. It feels as if the Angels bottom of the batting order has fallen down a proverbial rabbit whole, but instead of finding a wonderland on the other side we've found an inability to count on offense from anyone not named Torri, Vladimir, or Mark. And a team who is know for its base running seems to become lost. More so, guys who play the best defense in the bigs, mutate into little league players. Bear in mind, the Red Sox are playing hurt and last night's game did not include Mike Lowel or Jed Lowrie. And last years most intimidating hitter, Manny Ramirez is playing for a different team and wiley veteran Curt Schilling remains on the DL.

The Angels join their National League Counterpart the Chicago Cubs, The Milwaukee Brewers, and the Chicago White Sox as teams who are down 2-0. Although it is unlikely, the Angels still have an opportunity to take the best of five series. I'm naturally a pessimistic and I find it especially hard to be optimistic about the Angels opportunities at the Green Monster. Much like the Angels offense I have fallen down the rabbit whole. Unfortunately there is no wonderland for me either. In fact there is just a bad taste in my mouth and a cornicopia of bitterness. I will be watching the game on Sunday with one hand over my eye, peeking through. As if the last few years of suffering through playoff loses have taught me anything; ghost, ghouls, and goblins don't make the month of October frightning, it is the way the Angels play haunts me year after year.

Here's my moves

Cleveland:  Juan Rivera, Maicer Izturis, and Nick Adenhart for C.C. Sabathia

Colorado:  John Garland and Mike Napoli for Matt Holliday

I really like Napoli, Willits, and Izturis.  But if they could bring us another world class starter and a spark to our outfield offense.

That would make our starting line up look like...

3B  Figgins

2B  Kendrick

LF  Holliday

RF  Guerrero

DH  Anderson

CF  Hunter

1B  Kotchman

SS  Aybar

CH  Matthis

After the Angels left, Mason and Ireland were the last thing that was worth listening, with the exception of the occasional dose of Colin Cowherd.  ESPN has decided to reunite the The Big Show, especially after talks of Ireland being offered a show on the Angel's home station 830 AM.

Although I usually spend my commute home going from Leykis or the Cannons, I'm kind of looking forward to Ireland and Mason.  I thought they had good chemistry.  That is of course unless the Angels are on.

Just thought some of you'd be interested.

Nathan Haynes, former Angels Hitting Coach/Proverbial odd man out  was Designated For Assignment from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, now that Cliff Floyd has been taken of the DL .  With the San Diego Padres releasing aging Center Fielder Jim Edmonds, does anyone thing Buddy Black might put a few calls into Maddon about Haynes?

Or is Haynes doomed to remain on the Ray's AAA Minor League team? 

I really can't stretch this out anymore than I did.  Does anyone else hit the Corona Bombers at the Stadium.  $12 is a lot for a beer, but it saves you a couple of trips to the concession stand.

Maybe I'm a sucker.  Or maybe I'd just like to see Woods get some big league at bat conditioning, but I'd like to see him start at 3rd Base.  And then move Figgins to start at Short-Stop.  Izturis could back up 3rd, where he played a lot last year and Aybar could back up Figgins at Short. 

Okay so the lack of Angel stove talk has spurred my creativity.

Realistically, the Braves don't have a lot of needs.  However they could use a Center Fielder.  Something we have a surplus of.  Grant it, we're not going to be able to trade Matthews away, but what about Figgins?  Now hear me out.

In a deal for Chone Figgins and Casey Kotchman, could we pluck Mark Texeria away from the Braves.  I think Figgins is a native Georgian and could answer their problem in Center.  Kotchman would trade places with Texeria.  

Then our line up could look more like...

RF - Garry Matthews Jr.
2B - Howie Kendirck
DH - Vlad Guerrero
1B - Mark Texeria
LF - Garret Anderson/Juan Rivera
CF - Torri Hunter
3B - Izturis/Woods
C  - Mike Napoli
SS - Aybar

Looking ahead???  I saw it on MLBTradeRumors and thought it would at least invoke some interesting conversation.

Garret Anderson (37) - $14MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Juan Rivera (30)
Vladimir Guerrero (33) - $15MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Jon Garland (29)
John Lackey (30) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Francisco Rodriguez (27)
Darren Oliver (38)