2009 ALCS: Errors costly as Los Angeles Angels are eliminated from postseason - ESPN
That's eight errors in all. Which begs the question: How would the Angels have fared if they had been fundamentally sound?
Angels can't stop Yankees, season over - OCRegister.com
"I think the biggest difference was we had players play big in the series," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "CC was huge for us. Alex (Rodriguez) was huge for us. Mariano Rivera was huge for us. Our starting pitching has been outstanding throughout the playoffs. Guys have gotten big hits. "We’ve had big players do big things – and that’s why we got a chance to go to the World Series."
Superb pitching seals Yankees' destiny as AL champs - Ben Reiter - SI.com
Over 6 1/3 innings of work, Pettitte allowed seven hits and one earned run, and threw 64 of his 99 pitches for strikes. That total might have been aided by home plate umpire Dale Scott's rather generous strike zone, but the Angels didn't complain after the game, insisting that Scott's zone was consistent for both sides.
Team Reports - CBSSports.com
3B Chone Figgins finished the postseason with just three hits, three runs scored and a .086 batting average (3-for-35). "I'm disappointed that the way I went about it was the way I wanted to, but I didn't get any results," Figgins said. "I didn't change anything about the way I played in the regular season. That's just the way the playoffs went for me."
Team Reports II - CBSSports.com
Manager Mike Scioscia was outspoken in his criticism of the postseason schedule, drawn out to accommodate TV coverage. "It's just something that seems like it's gotten away a little bit," Scioscia said. "Eight games in 21 days (since the end of the regular season) is something you never expect in a baseball season."
Baseball's Unspoken Corruption - Twinkie Town
Baseball has a big problem. One that threatens the credibility of the game. No, it's not steroids, nor runaway contracts, nor mal distributed team revenue, though each of these is bad enough. Baseball's biggest problem right now is tying its post-season schedule directly and unalteringly to T.V. network requirements. In other words, games can only be played (or must be played) when the TV network decides.
Did MLB give the Yankees an advantage? - OCRegister.com
By the time Andy Pettitte makes his first pitch to Chone Figgins in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series Sunday, the Angels and New York Yankees each will have played eight games in 21 days. That, in the word of Angels manager Mike Scioscia, is "ridiculous." "Can I say it any clearer than that," he said.
Angels are lost in the Bronx -- latimes.com
It wasn't quite as stinging as last year's division series loss to the Red Sox, when ace John Lackey said he wanted to "throw somebody through a wall." The Angels thought they were the better team last October. They did not this October. "They're a great team," Lackey, who will become a free agent this winter, said of the Yankees. "We would have had to have played pretty perfect to win this series, for sure, and we didn't do that."
Los Angeles Angels' putrid play and errors result in agony of defeat to New York Yankees
They didn't play like a team that belongs in the World Series and now the Angels are going home. They capped a thoroughly unspectacular showing against the Yankees in the AL Championship Series with another less-then-stellar performance in the 5-2 loss Sunday night.
Same old story for Angels: Falling short - eastvalleytribune.com
They may be among baseball's most consistently excellent teams, praised throughout the sport for doing all the little things right, but the Los Angeles Angels can't find a way to reach the final two again.
Yankees buy, reclaim part of their birthright - Yahoo! Sports
It was a long restoration, a five-year plan, the sort seen from another Evil Empire. And it took money that looks like it was delivered by TARP: $1,056,894,314 spent on players alone since the 2005 season, give or take a few million this year. And yet if it delivers that elusive 27th World Series ring, one the Yankees will have to snatch from defending champion Philadelphia, a billion might as well be a penny and five years a day, because all the struggle of turning the chokingest team in history into this – a mighty machine – took more than time and money.
Pennant pressure too much for error-prone Angels - Ted Keith - SI.com
What was surprising was that the Angels had once again bumbled their way to yet another loss in yet another game they could have -- perhaps even should have -- won. After groping through the usual run of clichés to describe the feeling of emptiness that accompanied his seventh title-less trip to the postseason in his career, he finally settled for this: "It sucks, actually. We should've played better defensively. We didn't play Angels-style baseball."
Above all, poise was missing - Angels Unplugged - Los Angeles Times
The team that played so well, with so much confidence, in the regular season and the ALDS never showed up in the ALCS. Instead, we were forced to watch these tentative impostors dressed in red.
Hunter: 'We didn't play Angels-style baseball' - USATODAY.com
"Eight games in 21 days is something you never expect in a baseball season." Neither do you expect the club that led the majors with a .297 average with runners in scoring position to hit .229 in those situations in the ALCS. Or the second-highest scoring team in baseball averaging 3.2 runs, more than two below its regular-season output. Or the third-best fielding team in the league committing eight errors in the series, by far the most of any team in the whole postseason. "We didn't play Angels-style baseball," center fielder Torii Hunter said.
With '09 in books, Halos look to future - MLB.com
The overall outlook remains bright here, no matter how disappointing this postseason defeat was. This is a franchise that has managed to combine the better parts of two approaches in building its team. It has a productive developmental system; young, promising pitchers in particular keep on appearing in Angels uniforms. And it has been able to fill in with some reasonable free-agent signings. This is a stable organization, well managed at every level from the front office to the field.
Video Central - FOX Sports on MSN
Now that the Angels' World Series run is over, find out Mike Scioscia's very candid reaction as told to Ken Rosenthal.
October 26 - BR Bullpen
Events, births and deaths that occurred on October 26.
2002 - The Giants appeared destined to win their first World Series since 1954, when pitcher Russ Ortiz, tossing a 5 - 0 shutout, strikes out Garret Anderson to begin the seventh inning. But scoring six times in the 7th and 8th innings of Game Six, the Angels' rallied from five runs down to stage the biggest comeback in Series history for a team facing elimination and beat the Giants, 6 - 5, forcing a Game Seven.
0 recs | 95 comments
Putrid plays is about right.
The frustration to me is is we didn’t play our best ball in this series, not by a long shot. If we played this way against the Red Sox, I doubt we would have beat them either.
Critical errors and too many wasted opportunities….just can’t give away runs and scoring chances to any team, much less a team that won 103 regular season games. Once again, coulda, woulda, shoulda.
sothball - October 26, 2009
If we played this badly just a little bit more often during the regular season
we would have missed the playoffs altogether and been spared this level of frustration.
All that great success in July and August does does not mean crapola to me if this is the crew that is going to keep showing up in October.
Really, as bad as the Halos played in the playoffs, they rolled the Red Sox and were one stupid-assed pitch from Fuentes to ARod away from a game 7 against the Yankees. They were still not that far away from the WS. The Yankees were not exactly playing like the gods of baseball. But they bungled enough, just enough, to totally squander the opportunity put in front of them.
And, as bad as the officiating was all around, the Halos could have easily overcome that just by getting their own shit together. Top to bottom. So they failed to play like a championship team, therefore they failed to play for the opportunity to be the champion.
Stirrups - October 26, 2009
If we had played this poorly...
we might have even lost a 7-game series to the Washington Nationals….
Downing Rules - October 26, 2009
Washington Natinals...
SenorChuckles - October 26, 2009
You forgot to include
those craaazy comix as a great memory. Especially those filled with innuendo.
Thanks WHF, have a cozy winter.
Moondoggy - October 26, 2009
Game 1, Figgy and Aybar staring at a ball dropping in the infield
Is a good summary of the series.
The team that showed up against the yanks would have finished behind texas and seattle. I suppose that is what’s so frustrating, that, again, this team didn’t put their best foot forward in october. And this is against a yankee lineup that wasn’t exactly firing on all cylinders.
clover_black - October 26, 2009
I thought the back to back errors on the sacrifice attempts were the best summary of this series.......
just disgusting.
norcaliangelsfan - October 26, 2009
Complimentary bookends.
Figgy/Aybar and the sacrafice bunt attempts were bookends to some other questionable effort by the Halos during this series. UGH.
sothball - October 26, 2009
That Figgy & Aybar missed pop up
will probably be the single most difficult image to forget about from this series since it unfortunately seemed to define it. It was a lot like the worst lingering memory of last year’s post-season where Aybar missed a squeeze bunt which resulted in Willits get caught in a run down between home and third base.
Quad Fin Rider - October 26, 2009
And the sad part is...
… that non-play was in ADDITION to the official 8 errors. And the 8 errors don’t even include all the bonehead baserunning mental mistakes. Maybe the Angels need to come to camp earlier next year and have a crash course of BASICS.-
Hoppity Hooper - October 26, 2009
oc register photo slideshow
Before the game, Princeton and I ran into a photographer who was working for the OC Register. We’re in the slideshow. :)
cath619 - October 26, 2009
Complete with Princeton jacket and a rally monkey! Nice!
http://www.ocregister.com/photos/angels-series-game-2623362-yankees-run/pid2623372
AlanFalcon - October 26, 2009
looks like they took it down.
cath619 - October 26, 2009
So weird. Did anyone grab a copy of the picture?
And did they pull it down so they could put up that heart breaking picture of Figgins walking down to the clubhouse? I don’t remember that being there before.
AlanFalcon - October 26, 2009
I snagged it; it's on my computator at work. I'll post tomorrow...
And yeah, WHOA on that Figgins picture. I didn’t see it there before, either. I’m actually going to save that one too. If he’s done with the Angels (nonononono!!!), that’s the shot.
cath619 - October 26, 2009
here's the cached version of the page
cath619 - October 27, 2009
or not. let's try this again?
LINK
cath619 - October 27, 2009
fantastic!!
Moondoggy - October 26, 2009
That's terrific.
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
cool stuff.
norcaliangelsfan - October 26, 2009
Sweet
Clutch - October 26, 2009
:D
cath619 - October 26, 2009
BOTS = SFK
Scott Fucking Kazmir. This guy was brought in specifically to deal with the AL East offense. He almost shit the bed during the ALDS and then he makes a God-awful throw on a routine play to offer up a few more runs. I guarantee that if it was anyone else on the pitching staff (even the former Justin “serve it up on a silver platter” Speier), we get that out.
3rd Echelon - October 26, 2009
Unlike Teixeira,
Kazmir was traded for the ong term.
It’s my hope that Butcher works with Kazmir to correct his mechanical flaws. When he’s on, he’s a dominating pitcher (as he was for most of the regular season after the trade). When he’s off, he’s painful to watch. Too many 2-1 and 3-1 counts, too many walks, and too many fat pitches because he’s behind i the count.
sothball - October 26, 2009
Kaz looked great during the short time he was with us during the season...
Dominated without getting any run support…
clover_black - October 26, 2009
Exactly. I know most of the baseball experts here figured this out...
but regular season numbers mean absolutely nothing. The Yankees won because they had more guys that could put up proven numbers on the postseason.
Don’t get me wrong, Kaz is good, but you could tell he folded under the pressure. He was stressing as a starter, but bring him in as a reliever in a elimination game and he chokes. This is why we need to keep a guy like Lackey.
3rd Echelon - October 26, 2009
There's a rumor out there that Kaz can strike out batters...
but all I’ve seen him do is get behind counts and nibble at corners.
20-20 hindsight, I’d have Ervin start in his place.
Still a good trade, IMO.
I’m blaming this season on Kelvim Escobar. This tease is gonna be playing winterball. He needs to resign with the Angels and play for free meals.
clover_black - October 26, 2009
I never want to her the name Kelvim Escobar again.
I would probably throw a fit if the Angels took another chance on him
ryanfea - October 26, 2009
Fuentes' blown save
is much more of a series blame than Kazmir making a bad throw.
Let’s not forget that Scioscia chose to allow Santana to start that inning, and Howie dropped a throw on the play before.
The general rule is that you don’t bring in a starter, for relief, in the middle of an inning.
There are lots of other rules, like benching players when they are not performing, yanking a pitcher when he can’t find the zone in an elimination game, etc.
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - October 26, 2009
Fuentes BS in game 2 killed the series
plain and simple…had to play from behind the rest of the time.
K3YEROUT - October 26, 2009
Favorite memory of 2009?
After winning the Western Division Championship, seeing the guys run out to Adenhart’s image on the wall in center field.
2nd Best – Beating Boston in Boston (and getting the go-ahead runs against Papelbon no less!) to advance in the playoffs. Put that demon to rest.
3rd best – Being at the game when Vlad hit his 400th home run…right off of the foul pole near our seats.
As I sit here, there are so many other great memories. What a year!
sothball - October 26, 2009
At least I won't have stomach-upsetting, nail-gnawing anxiety watching Game 7 tonight.
I would give anything to have stomach-upsetting, nail-gnawing anxiety watching Game 7 tonight.
cath619 - October 26, 2009
Favorite Memory:
Third game against Boston in the ALDS was poetry. Vlad getting the hit off Papelbon. Angels Sweeping. 2 outs, two strikes, 3 times. Aybar vexing his demons. It was just to great. Possibly the best game I’ve seen. That was by far the highlight.
Vlad’s (possibly) last hit as an Angel coming against the greatest closer of all time for an RBI. (Also, when Vlad tells the ump <TWICE!> the strike zone is to constricted, that’s saying something).
Mathis showing up in the postseason. Being able to root and have confidence in him.
The Izzy short toss to barehand play with Aybar. Ridiculous.
Every Torii Hunter Catch.
Every Torii Interview.
Really, too friggin many.
FirstTwoThird - October 26, 2009
uhhh, did Torii play in the alcs?
I don’t remember him showing up…can you say non-factor? I was very disappointed in his inability to put his money where his mouth was…I really expected him of all people to show up. Yeah, I know he hit .304 with 2 rbi, but really? Batting 3rd in our order? Granted Abrew and Figgy were not on base much. He had 2 pitches to hit out last night and missed them both (fouled one back and one down the RF line). Opportunities lost was the name of this series…bad defense, and SHITTY umpiring!
I will probably slightly-excuse the error due to weather conditions, but my point to all this is he is our highest paid player, he bats 3rd, and he was very verbal with his criticism during the series. If you are going to mouth off, you damn well better perform.
LINK TO ALCS STATS
K3YEROUT - October 26, 2009
A guy batting 304 with only 2 ribbies means...
nobody was setting the table in front of him. Who was in front of him? oh yeah, Figgy and Abreu, who pretty much crapped the ALCS.
Downing Rules - October 26, 2009
Yes
People are forgetting this in their criticism of Torii.
linkbruin - October 26, 2009
woa there pardner
I seem to remember a lot of men stranded by Torii (or at least I remember screaming at the top of my lungs at an imaginary Torii.
Moondoggy - October 26, 2009
tori sucked w/ risp
in the field
and on the bases
his charisma got him millions, but i couldn’t care less about his charm or personality … he let the team down as its highest paid hitter.
he’s not an elite hitter, never was … this offseason, maybe that will get addressed along w/ the bp
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - October 26, 2009
Need a new three hole hitter
hauldog - October 26, 2009
A healthy Scott Shields in 2010
makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
clover_black - October 26, 2009
no joke
i was just talking about how sick our bullpen can be if Arredondo pulls his head out.
Palmer – long relief
Arredondo
Oliver
Bulger
Jepsen
Shields
Fuentes
…ouch. for other teams.
howiestheman - October 26, 2009
I hope that Fuentes works with Butcher this spring, to become a steady and trustworthy relief pitcher, if not a closer.
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
I read on mlbtraderumors that the Halos might consider going after another closer this offseaosn.
angelskid2210 - October 26, 2009
i hope they do
in the howiestheman pen there are too many ifs.
we know that pens can win championships.
I hate Palmer
Arredondo has potential for sure
not so sure about bulger tbh
Jepsen is Nasty
Shields! enough said
Fuentes gots to go!
RedAces - October 26, 2009
dude
i don’t care if you hate Palmer, he’s a solid long/middle reliever.
Bulger has a very good season, but did it quietly.
he had:
65.2 IP, 68 Ks, 3.56 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 128 ERA+. I’d say that’s really solid, especially from a 6th/7th inning guy.
howiestheman - October 26, 2009
plus
if we did go after and sign a guy like Huston Street, our bullpen just became…
Palmer
Arredondo
Oliver
Bulger
Jepsen
Shields
Street
Fuentes
that’s nasty.
howiestheman - October 26, 2009
Oh my yes
I get chills just thinking of that bullpen.
Clutch - October 26, 2009
Street?
Im pretty sure the Rockies still have him under contract :/
SenorChuckles - October 26, 2009
Bulger is VERY good
those numbers would even be better if he didn’t give up like 50 grand slams during the first few months of the season… It took him some time to get his head screwed on, but he has excellent stuff.
clover_black - October 26, 2009
like Houston Street?
he’s a FA, right?
they’re going to go with a Boston-like ’pen. not a bad idea.
howiestheman - October 26, 2009
Well Street isn't a free agent till after 2011.
The free agents are:
1. Mike Gonzalez
2.Fernando Rodney
3. Kevin Gregg
4.Rafael Soriano
5. Jose Valverde
6. Billy Wagner
Looks like they are going to trade for someone because these guys are not much of an upgrade, IMO
angelskid2210 - October 26, 2009
oh boy, lets sign Kevin Gregg ASAP!!!
SenorChuckles - October 26, 2009
Kevin Gregg... why does that name sound familiar?
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
Because of his cool guy goggles?
SenorChuckles - October 26, 2009
Ha! I don't remember the goggles, but I remember him. Sort of.
Looked him up and discovered that he was traded for Resop. Remember him? I didn’t think so.
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
Duh!
Sweeping the Sux in the ALDS was epic. For the rest of my life I will always have that to look back on and tell the story to my grandkids. I look forward to being an old man remembering that. It can never be taken away. (barring Alzheimers?"
Monkeyspanked - October 26, 2009
I still have ALDS game 3 on my DVR.
Every now and then I watch the last two innings and find myself feeling much better.
3rd Echelon - October 26, 2009
Time to pop in the 2002 WS video........
ahh good times.
norcaliangelsfan - October 26, 2009
happy place...
happy place…
clover_black - October 26, 2009
Is the WS over yet?
This the time where I start playing Xbox live more, but those cheap bastards at microsoft gave me a refurbished xbox. So its fucking broken, Fuck :(
SenorChuckles - October 26, 2009
Which game do you play?
Is there something truly better than MVP 2005 on PS2? That’s what I’m still playing. But I’m looking to upgrade.
Monkeyspanked - October 26, 2009
I mean on XBox 360....
Monkeyspanked - October 26, 2009
there is only one game better than MVP 2005...
MLB Slugfest 2005.
but on xbox I like to play Halo 3, CoD 4 and 5, Madden, Left 4 Dead, Orange Box, GTA 4, the Bigs, RB Vegas 2, GoW 1 and 2, and FIFA.
SenorChuckles - October 26, 2009
X-Box does receive the love come october.
I’m stuck with MLB2K8..not a bad baseball game, not great either.
I’m picking up Borderlands on payday. Looks excellent!
clover_black - October 26, 2009
No baseball games on 360 this side of the pond...
…apparently there isn’t a market for them (despite my persistent requests and the success of the Madden NFL games over here).
I’m stuck with shooting stuff til spring rolls around (which may be cathartic).
The Limey - October 26, 2009
Can you mail order through Amazon? (i believe amazon is international?)
clover_black - October 26, 2009
Different format here...
…games bought in the US won’t play on a UK 360 – PAL vs NTSC or some such bollocks. They have to reformat it some how and don’t believe it’s worth their while.
The Limey - October 26, 2009
almost be worth buying the US 360 on your next trip
and then the power converter and what not.
Moondoggy - October 26, 2009
I dont know much about Borderlands other than its a RPG.
Since my xbox broke I havent been up to date on my games, but I cant wait for Bioshock 2.
SenorChuckles - October 26, 2009
Yes
But that’s not till Spring now. Modern Warfare 2 looks amazing.
linkbruin - October 26, 2009
That shit looks dandy, I literally cant wait.
SenorChuckles - October 26, 2009
@Monkeyspanked:
MVP 2005 on PC.
Roster Updates, Stadium Updates, gear updates, name updates. There is a dedicated community churning out MVP 2009 and stuff for the game.
27up27down - October 26, 2009
thanks i'll have to check into that
Monkeyspanked - October 26, 2009
Ummmm...this only includes "called" errors
…and not mental errors on both defense and offense…tone was set by Eybar and Figgy in first game with popup that dropped.
Abreu over running 2b and getting picked off…how f’ing stupid was that? Vlad, same deal last night…wtf were these guys thinking?
K3YEROUT - October 26, 2009
Probably nerves.
And if you’re jittery after 5 games of playing the same team, there’s definitely a problem.
moosemastr - October 26, 2009
I think Game 2 just sealed the deal for the Yanks.
Our boys showed they were just not ready for the big time. But that’s enough bitter reflection. We had a remarkable season, no doubt. The fact that they came so far despite the rocky start in April (even losing a teammate, no less) is something I kinda didn’t consider before last night. Of course I wanted an Angels pennant, but for God’s sake, they accomplished so much!
Then, the sad realization hits me that Vlad, Figgy and Lackey may have had their last seasons as Angels. It would be nice to see some fresh faces, but at the same time there’s a familiarity around these dudes that would really make it hurt to see them go. I love this team.
And, of course, there’s a lot to get excited about for next season. Kendry hit 34 freakin’ homers this season!!! He can only get better. Weave has the potential to be an ace. Saunders, if healthy, may have another All-Star season and turn into a reliable Number 2. The bullpen can only improve on a performance that was ultimately disappointing, but also showed flashes of brilliance. And Kazmir…well, he’s a nice guy.
But DAMN IT ALL! I would have loved to see Angels/Phillies in the WS.
moosemastr - October 26, 2009
my fave moment of the postseason...
…was when torii hit that 3 run shot off Lester in game 1 of the ALDS.
beating Papsmear in Boston for the sweep was great, but it was awesome seeing Torii get straight thug ruggish! I fuckin love that guy.
2pintsofbooze - October 26, 2009
MLBshop.com just emailed me...
to celebrate the Yankees 40th pennant. Some sick fuck knows I’m an Angels fan.
SenorChuckles - October 26, 2009
I got that too.
Big mistake signing up to vote for the All Star Players a couple years ago.
44FAN - October 26, 2009
Yep got it here as well
Marked as Spam—where it belongs
blast21dave - October 26, 2009
Same here.
AlanFalcon - October 26, 2009
ditto
Moondoggy - October 26, 2009
Got it too. Sent it back with a little valentine.
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
I think I love you
Moondoggy - October 26, 2009
Alas, it bounced.
But I tried.
opiejeanne - October 26, 2009
i got the same thing, bitchs!!!
salmonforever - October 26, 2009
me too.
you’d think our all-star votes would be tracked better and they’d market based on that…
cath619 - October 26, 2009
WTF! what if our Line-Up looks like this on Opening Day?!
Aybar-SS
Matthews-RF
Hunter-CF
Morales-1B
Vladdy-DH
Rivera-LF
Mathis-C
Kendrick-2B
Izturis-3B
Angels_48 - October 26, 2009
You silly goose!
it will look like this
GMJ-DH
Vlad-RF
K-Mo-LF
Mathis-C
Power Q-3B
Pujols-1B
Hunter-CF
Wood/HK-2B
Aybar-SS
SenorChuckles - October 26, 2009
WTF Pujols?hahaha
Dude Power Q got me hahahahaha
Angels_48 - October 26, 2009
I'd laugh, but there's a good possibility of that happening.
This lineup needs a proven masher. (haven’t heard that before).
Wood needs to play 3rd, who will surprise everyone by turning into the second coming of troy glaus and 2010 will turn into the second coming of 2002 and chone figgins will regress to horrific standards on the chi sox while they pay him juan pierre money on a 5 year contract.
clover_black - October 26, 2009
If he goes back on HGH and sneaks Vladdy some as well......I will be Stoked!
But Wood Would be playing 3B******
acuda27 - October 26, 2009
A Mental Massacre
cupie - October 26, 2009
Poll doesn't lie
We love stomping those Bahstin Chowds.
I will miss Desmond and Vladdy and Lackey if they do not return. :(
27up27down - October 26, 2009
I been an Angel fan for many years, i would go to the big A to see Ryan,Tannana,Rudi, Bonds, Grich and all those great Angels when I was a kid, so i know how to suffer Angel season meltdowns with the best of them, but this one seems to suck the worst because they were all so freaking lethargic almost like they were satisfied having swept the red sux, literally all the way to the manager they had their heads in their asses, except for maybe Mathis and Lackey….gotta be a glutton for punishment to be a fan of the halos,lol
peteyweestro - October 27, 2009
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