Fall Down or Fall Classic: Los Angeles Angels

Making history, or falling prey to it? Fall Down or Fall Classic looks at the reasons each playoff team could win it all -- or could become a mere footnote in 2007's MLB yearbook.

Postseason baseball is becoming a bit of a habit for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Some of Southern California Including Orange County Some Of The Valley A Little Bit Of Malibu But None Of East Los Angeles. Since the Angels celebrated a World Series championship in 2002, they've made the playoffs in two of four seasons, making it to the ALCS in 2005 when the lost to the White Sox.

So how will the story end in 2007?

The Angels took over first place back in April and they never let it go. Sure, the Mariners provided some excitement at the beginning of September, but the Angels responded by letting us all know who the cream of the crop really is in the AL West. When it was all said and done, the Angels finished 94-68, five games ahead of the Mariners.

So will 2007 end up the same way 2002 did, or are the Angels on the verge of another early exit from the playoffs? I'm of the opinion that the Angels may officially take over the city of Los Angeles this fall, but that's just my opinion. Let's all take a deeper look.


There are many reasons why I like this Angels team, and it all starts with their manager, Mike Scioscia. For my money, there isn't a better manager in all of baseball than the former Dodgers catcher. He's taken a National League style approach and worked it into the American League, and most importantly, he's made it work.

The Angels do everything that a team has to do to win playoff games, and they do it consistently. They pitch well. They hit well. They play defense. The move runners over. They steal bases. That's right, they steal bases.

In a baseball world gone ga-ga for sabremetrics the last few years, it's nice to see a team that still appreciates the value of the stolen base. Sure, it's a risk, but how many times in your life have you gotten something you wanted without taking a risk?

In the cold weather of October, as pitchers reign supreme over hitters, stolen bases become even more important. There are going to be times this postseason when a team's offense is struggling, and somebody's going to have to provide a spark. Stealing a base provides that spark.

Don't believe me? Ask the Red Sox and their fans how important Dave Roberts stolen base was against the Yankees in 2004. All it did was turn the entire series around and send the Red Sox to a World Series title. The Angels saw it first hand themselves in 2005. After the infamous stealing of first base by A.J. Pierzynski in Game 2 of the ALCS, Pablo Ozuna came into pinch run and stole second base before Joe Crede brought him in with a game winner.

Instead of being up 2-0 and going back to Anaheim, the Angels could only salvage a split, and the White Sox rode that momentum right past them.

Still, there's a lot more to this team than the stolen base. There's that man that can hit any pitch, anytime, anywhere: Vladimir Guerrero. There aren't many hitters in this sport that I enjoy watching hit more than Vlad the Impaler. In an offense that relies on base hits, sacrifices, and stolen bases to score runs, Vlad brings the thunder.

Whether he's hitting 450-foot moonshots to center field, or lining an RBI single into right field, he's always getting the run home.

The Angels also have a very strong starting rotation led by John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar. Not to mention a very strong bullpen headlined by K-Rod, Francisco Rodriguez.

Still, there are some concerns about this team. One being the health of Vlad. The Angels aren't exactly strangers to overcoming injuries, but I fear that an injured Guerrero is something they can't withstand. Also, what has always been a lights out bullpen has shown some chinks in it's armor as of late.

In the second half this season, Scot Shields has had a WHIP of 1.81. Not exactly ideal for a reliever, and it's led a lot of people to wonder if Shields is breaking down after years of constant use. If Shields continues to struggle, it will be up to Justin Speier to step in, and I don't know that I trust him as much as I did Shields.

Perhaps the worst omen for the Angels is this: I picked them back in the spring to win the World Series this year. That's probably the worst thing that can happen to any team, and I sincerely apologize to Angels fans everywhere for doing it.

I haven't picked the right World Series champion since....wait a second....I picked the Angels in 2002! They're totally gonna take this thing!

You're welcome, Angels fans.