The Angels are facing two lefties in the ALCS - CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte in the first three games. This makes our Designated Hitter Vladimir Guerrero even more potent of a weapon than before.
A base hit off of Jonathan Paelbon on Sunday has made the belief in this once-great player arise from the Anaheim ashes... and yet his tentative limp makes us all wonder at times what luck's got to do with it. Save for a Francona mental bona', we might right now be arguing whether or not Vlad should be in the lineup for Wednesday's ALDS Game 5. Instead, one rip to center and he reaps his former greatness.
Has Vlad seen his last moment of glory or will he be a factor against the Yankees in the American League Championship Series?
0 recs | 29 comments
I would argue that Vlad is definitely going to become more of a factor
due almost entirely to his now proven willingness to take a walk in clutch situations in the postseason. He did it twice last series and I’m convinced that’s why Papelbon threw him the fastball down the middle—he couldn’t be sure that Vlad would just flail away like usual, and in that situation, could not take the chance Vlad would just watch four pitches out of the zone.
As long as Vlad keeps the opposing pitcher uncertain of whether or not he will swing at their junkballs, he should show more success.
Zu Long - October 13, 2009
I think Paps threw a fastball... because that's what Paps does...
Vlad will be a factor. His presence alone is a factor.
BruinHalo - October 13, 2009
Agreed. I think he threw 80+% fastballs
That is also the knock on him all year.
hauldog - October 14, 2009
I like your take
I think Vlad’s presence is far less imposing as it used to be. I tend to fall on the side that he is getting old, and losing bad speed. Not to mention those rubber knees. However if Vlad remakes his approach, a-la Bobby Abreu and stops swinging at pitches 3 feet out of the zone he very well could reenergize his offensive threat. It will be interesting to see how a more patient Vlad would fare.
UCIHalo - October 13, 2009
The Hype from the Red Sox series ...
alone makes the Yanks think twice. Hence, he is already a factor.
Can you see the Yanks walking Hunter to get to Vlad now??
matthiasstephan - October 14, 2009
That still makes me laugh. We sat there in shock when they walked Hunter, knowing there was the potential,
knowing how Vlad has responded to “insult” in the past.
opiejeanne - October 14, 2009
Game 1, 3rd inning
Vladimir can still flail with the best of them. But, the lefties in this series might give Vlad a better chance to contribute an extra base hit or three.
Where is his power? That’s what I am noticing is missing.
jimmuscomp - October 14, 2009 via mobile
Those walks were huge IMO
hauldog - October 14, 2009
You know what?
I don’t care if he’s “done”. That hit was so amazing…it makes up for it
Figgi4life - October 13, 2009 via mobile
That hit was pretty amazing
I say we decide in the off season what to do with Vlad. Until then lets just pull for him and hope for the best.
UCIHalo - October 13, 2009
Does anyone really know?
We all know he can still annihilate the ball. We, also, all still know that Vlad can turn a ball out of the strike zone into a base hit. So the potential is still there. I mean he still is, for the most part, a .300 hitter. Yet, even though we know all of this, we also know his knack for swinging at horrible pitches and grounding into double plays.
Its a tough call. All I can say is that with as easy as it is to hit a homerun in Yankee stadium, its hard not to imagine Vlad getting ahold of one on Friday and putting us over the top for a win.
Go Big Daddy…once last hurrah, eh?
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - October 13, 2009
I can pray that
the best impact of Vlad’s Conquest of the Fen could be that he realizes the leveraging power of what he still has in his bat. In critical situations such as an ALCS, he can ply what remains available of his once-formidable skills to simply hit the ball. He can do that with ease. HR’s, less so.
Stirrups - October 13, 2009
Vlad will factor in, good or bad.
we can only hope it’s for the good.
howiestheman - October 13, 2009
My thoughts exactly
He bats in the 4 spot – there is no doubt he will play a factor in multiple games this series. My hope is that we see the patient (Game 2) and the clutch (Game 3) rather then the flail at the down and in pitches side.
gorams77 - October 14, 2009
Even if we do see the flaily Vlad, the Yankees may not pick up on it for a game or two.
I suspect they will be very careful with him after seeing what he did in the ALDS.
opiejeanne - October 14, 2009
you overestimate
their thinking.
Brian S (brianguy) - October 19, 2009
I sure hope he isn't done.
The fan in me, continues to hope that Vlad will instantaneously revert to ‘05 form, but the analytical baseball mind tells me that it might not have been nothing more than luck, plain and simple at Fenway this Sunday. If this sounds like a negative post, that isn’t my intention at all, nothing more than my honest feelings. Whatever the case may be we’ll soon find out. Here’s to hoping that Vladdy has at least 12 clutch hits left in him this ALCS. And,The fan in me believes it, Go Halos!!
halofolife - October 14, 2009
I trust in Big Daddy Vladdy
Slyintine - October 14, 2009
sometimes
I trust him against LHP and Mariano (since his pitch breaks like a lefty), but we may need to count on someone else when facing someone who throws the right way.
elricsi - October 14, 2009
I predict he hits at least one HR to right field in Bankee Stadium
mattwelch - October 14, 2009
Willits will as well
linkbruin - October 15, 2009
don't forget
Alfredo Amezegua
Brian S (brianguy) - October 19, 2009
Vlad is as streaky as they come nowadays
July/August = .341/.392/.629 with 11 HR’s in 132 AB’s. The rest of the year? Not so much.
But his hot streak DID happen, and shows he can still crank it up at times. IF he gets hot…wow. But I won’t be convinced until he rips CC’s first pitch about 435 feet, sending shivers up and down the Hudson River.
johnnyangel101 - October 14, 2009
Add to Vlad comment
He was 3 for 4 in his only Yankee Stadium appearance, with a HR. Not that that matters much, but it might mean something…
johnnyangel101 - October 14, 2009
i was there
moondoggy, cath619, and I were there. Sucks they lost that game. Their bullpen has really turned it around
princeton11loveshalos - October 14, 2009
Let's hope they walk Vlad
to get to K-Mo or Juan and make them pay that way
SocalAngelFaninOC - October 14, 2009
i think vlad still has some magic left in the tank.
it would be a mistake to underestimate him. again.
retrohalo - October 14, 2009
I'd be more worried about Figgins
He has had all of one good postseason series in his life.
hauldog - October 14, 2009
I’m thinking that Vlad likes the way he felt after getting that line to center that won us the game so therefore i feel he will have one more post season to relive the glory he once had before he fades away due to age and injuries
peteyweestro - October 14, 2009
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