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August 19, 2008
Given that they’re the only team already assured of a division title, it’s not difficult to piece together why bookmakers and pundits are fervently touting the Los Angeles Angels as the World Series favourite in mid-August. But that and a buck fifty will get you a bag of chips, unless of course you live in downtown Toronto in which case you’re house poor and probably can’t afford such frivolities any more than you can stomach the trans fats or absurd caloric intake. But I digress... The Angels are a hell of a team. They’re well coached, have great fans, a nice fat market, a big trade deadline acquisition and plenty of pop to go with a solid helping of hurlers. And all of that may well be enough to net them baseball’s biggest prize. Then again, maybe it won't. Here are five reasons the Angels might NOT get it done in October. 1) All Of The Above The mere fact that they’re such a heavy favourite probably works as a detractor. Saying a team should win it all is like saying you should go talk to that girl that smiled at you from across the room. It’s a good idea, but it’s also a lot of pressure. 2) Lord Have Mercenary Marx Teixeira is as good and well-rounded a first baseman as you’re likely to get in the Major Leagues, but with rare exception it seems like teams that go out and add that piece they know they’re going to lose over the winter, the piece that knows it’s headed elsewhere after two months of work, rarely succeed in the fall. Ask Bobby Abreu. 3) Saving Disgrace Francisco Rodriguez will almost certainly shatter the single-season save record, but picking up one-run wins when you have a 14-game lead over the Texas Rangers is kind of pointless, a reality made even more ridiculous given the pressure of post-season play and how important the diminutive stopper will be when it comes.
Whether K-Rod rests down the stretch or pitches his way into exhaustion, he may not be on the right pace when it matters most, and that could be costly. 4) Frankie Say Relax K-Rod’s situation extends to the whole team, in a way. Yes there’s an age-old argument about whether a team can have too much rest pre-playoffs, but with the remainder of L.A.’s season rendered basically meaningless by the club’s massive lead, they may not be the most sizzling squad when it the the lights flick on. Plus it’s real easy to get caught napping in a best three-of-five. 5) Shields Your Eyes He’s not a starter, a closer or a position player, so how big an impact could he really have? A pretty big one, to hear me tell it. Shields has been one of the most effective, consistent late-inning relievers in baseball during his eight seasons with the Angels, but he’s coming off his worst year ever and despite having leveled off a little since then, is still experiencing some eyebrow-raising struggles. I can’t recall how many times Shields got the Angels off the hook during their several post-season runs of yesterday, but if he coughs it up a couple of times, those Halos could start choking in a hurry.
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