If you listened to the Angels-Vernon Wells press conference on the radio like I did, you may have set a record for shaking your head back and forth.  You may also have winced at the spin, rivaling that of a propaganda campaign during 1930’s Berlin.  In a cryptic quote that may foreshadow the Angels’ dark future, Angels’ owner Arte Moreno, when asked about not signing Carl Crawford, stated, “I guess for me…the 7 year…the 6, 7 year contracts are tough.”

That’s a scary thing if you’re an Angel fan, because the owner of the team basically just admitted that he won’t sign any premium player…ever. The elite players in the game want at least 6 years on a deal for security.  If Moreno is not going to offer that, then prepare for a bunch of 2^nd and 3^rd tier players to be passed off on the fan base as elite level.  When you add to Moreno’s quote his own ego-driven inability to work with the pain in the posterior that is Scott Boras, it certainly seems that the Angels will never land elite level talent.

For whatever a prick Boras has proven to be, he represents the best players in baseball, and if Arte’s chonies are still in a twist after the Mark Teixeira negotiations from 2008, the Angels will go back to the also-rans of the 1990’s in refusing to deal with the agent that represents the very best on the sport.  And guess who their poster boy, Kendry Morales’s agent is?  That’s right, Mr. Boras.  Morales is coming up on a contract year, so as long as he is represented by Boras, Angel fans can watch another prime time player walk out the door.  Unless Moreno actually opens his wallet for Pujols (who is not represented by Boras) in the 11-12 off season, the Angels will fail once again.  Since Moreno said in the Wells press conference that he doesn’t agree with the 6 and 7 year contracts and Pujols is rumored to be looking for a 10 year deal, or at least close to it, the Angels chances of landing him also seem to be about as good as Khloe Kardashian’s chances as a sex symbol.  (See our story, “Stanque Et Cannabis“)

With Angel fans excited about what might come to be, and he told the L.A. Times in December, “I’m not the Boston Red Sox.  I’m not the New York Yankees”.  Then maybe you shouldn’t suggest it in previous months.  Apparently Moreno was so disappointed in October, he told the L.A. Times that he was, “angry, disappointed, and would spend whatever it takes to return to the playoffs.”

"No, he's not Crawford. But his salary is."

So let’s get into the finances.  Wouldn’t it have been better to sign Crawford, and trade Napoli and Rivera for some middle relief?  They spent $23 million over the next 3 years on a 34 and 35 year old middle reliever.   Signing Crawford at $20 million and getting rid of Rivera and Napoli’s contracts for some cheaper, younger middle relievers that wouldn’t have cost anywhere near $23 million seems a lot more viable.  They actually would have saved money.

At 7 years and $142 million, Crawford comes with a price tag of 20.28 million a year.   And after Toronto absorbs a miniscule $5 million of the Wells contract, Wells comes in at $81 million over the next 4 years, roughly $20.25 million a year.   There have been conflicting reports saying Toronto absorbed $16 million of the salary, which would put Wells at a cost of roughly $17 million per season.  Regardless of which is true, when the contract expires, Wells will be the same age as if the Angels would have given the same deal to Crawford.  Crawford hit for a higher average, stole more bases and had more RBI’s than Wells did, and he’s 3 years younger, a gold glove last year, and has nowhere near the injury history Wells totes with him.

"Carl...how does it feel to be paid what you're worth?"

Additionally, Wells’ hitting in the middle of the order doesn’t benefit the rest of the lineup.  Crawford at the top will enhance everyone else’s RBI chances and increase the run scoring ability of the team.

The date is set for April 21^st in Anaheim.  That will be the first day Carl Crawford and the Red Sox come to town, and get to show the Angels fans’ what they are missing, and why their owner made a colossal mistake.  In the end, there has been much speculation that Moreno would have to raise ticket prices.  Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times did a piece recentlyThe average ticket price is said to be around $20, and to justify signing Crawford, it would take prices to around $30. Guess what Arte?  I wonder how many people will pay $20 a ticket to watch a loser.  I think most people are with me, and they would pay $30 to watch a winner.

Phillies vs. Dodgers

Attempting to avenge last year’s loss in 5 games, the Dodgers once again meet up with the Phillies in the NLCS.  This time, however, things may be different.

After dominating and dumping the St. Louis Cardinals, widely considered by many experts to breeze through the National League playoffs, the Dodgers seem to have found their early season form, minus Manny on Steroids of course.  While we cannot imagine a pennant winning pitching staff comprised of Clayton Kershaw, Randy Wolf, and Vicente Padilla, the Dodgers already blasted through the best staff remaining in the National league in Carpenter, Wainwright, and Pinero. On paper, the staff of Cliff Lee (maybe the best trade deadline acquisition this year) J.A. Happ (although he may be moved o the bullpen for soft throwing Pedro Martinez), and last season’s post season stud Cole Hamels should be far superior.  Then again, that’s paper.  And while the Manny isn’t hitting .600 like he did last year, other players have stepped up.  Matt Kemp might be one of the 5 best young players in the league.  He can do it all: defense, speed, power, and hit for average.  The Phillies have a lot of punch in that lineup, and may have the best 1-6 in the league.  They should score minimum of 4 runs a game, but even that may not be enough to get past the Dodgers, especially with their home field advantage.

KEY:  The Bullpen

The Dodgers bullpen is far superior to the Phillies, which is the Phillies’ Achilles heel.  Any time you have two opponents where the same attribute is one’s strength and the other’s weakness, the one who has that strength should win.

Angels vs. Yankees

The improbable story of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim-I’m just going to call them Anaheim Angels from here on out-continues against the best team in the league.  However, what’s different this time for the Angels is the fact that they exorcised the demon that was the Boston Red Sox.  And it wasn’t just who they did, it was the way they did it:  On the road in a ballpark that has been their biggest kryptonite.  Against a team that has eliminated them every time the play in the post season for the last 23 years, including 12 of their last 13 games, and against the best bullpen and closer in baseball, all with nobody on, down to and down to their final strike.

The Angels, going back to the late 90’s, are the only team in baseball with a winning record against the Yankees.  This includes the Joe Torre years of glory, where they won 3 in a row.  Based on this, and the fact that they beat Boston, the Angels feel that there’s no one they can’t beat, including the Yankees.

For the Yankees, there’s no more question about whom the best in the East, or in baseball.  The Yankees racked up 103 wins, and after spending close to half a billion dollars on free agents-that’s right, BILLION-the dividends have immediately been paid. The Yankees downfall this decade has been their lack of starting pitching, and they addressed that by going out and getting C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett.  Their ability to strike guys out, not just get ground ball or fly ball outs, is critical.  Keep the Angels off the bases, and they will be rewarded.  Mark Teixeira has earned every bit of his $188 million dollar contract in the first year, and after using the Angels last year as a bargaining chip, it should be competitive.  Most importantly, Alex Rodriguez is finally coming through in the post season, something other hated and steroid filled hall of famers never did.  But now he’s not o the juice, and after missing over a month still finished in the league leaders in home runs and RBI’s upon his return.  See our article “Red October”-we predicted him to have his first great post season, and so far he’s not disappointing. The Angels bullpen has been shaky at best, and against Mariano Rivera, the Yanks definitely have the advantage.  Then again, the “experts” said that about the Angels vs. the Red Sox too.

KEY: Angels on the base paths.  If the Angels are able to get on base, distract the pitcher and go first to third, as they do better than any team, they can pull it off.  If the Yankees are able to strike guys out and keep the Angels off the bases that will go along way in securing their first pennant in 6 years.

Predictions

Phillies/Dodgers

Our proud Irish Friend and baseball nut, Mr. Reeve O’Leedus, has offered his predictions against mine.  He should be out golfing, drinking, peeling potatoes or getting in a fight.  He may do it all in one night, but he knows baseball, and its fun to see who he picked.  If he’s right though, I have to stroke his shillelagh (sha-la-lee).

“Ahh, to be sure, Phillies pitching is not as dominant as it were last year.  Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge have fallen back to earth to the peat.
Mr. Ryan Howard went 3-for-28 with 11 strikeouts against the Dodgers this year, and Utley and Jimmy Rollins both were a wee bit under 200.  Cliff Lee will be pitching on short rest, and the lads, Ethier, Kemp have grown up.  The Dodgers bench, their left handed pitchers against their left handed line up, and Manny’s a hittin again.  And the Dodgers have home field advantage”. –Irish Reeve O’Leedus

My Prediction:  Dodgers in 7                   Irish Reeve O’Leedus: Dodgers in 6

Starting Pitching        Phillies                   Phillies
Bullpen                      Dodgers                  Dodgers
Defense                      Phillies                   Phillies
Power                         Phillies                   Phillies
Run Production          Phillies                   Dodgers
Speed                         Phillies                    Phillies
Bench                         Dodgers                  Dodgers
Manager                     Dodgers                  Dodgers
Intangibles                 Dodgers                   Dodgers

Angels vs. Yankees

Irish Reeve O’Leedus offers his picks for the ALCS. The bet on this series is I have to bath him in a bowl of Lucky Charms if I lose.  I think I’d actually do the NLCS wager twice: stroking his shillelagh (sha-la-lee).

“ Mr. Sabathia is the only dominant pitcher the Yanks be havin’, Andy Pet it (please)  is below mediocre, so the pitching advantage goes to the Angels.  The Angels also have the “Do it for Adenhart story”.  The history of the Angels beating the Yanks does a wee bit further in helping them, to be sure that’s right.  Mr. Scoscia should outcoach Mr. Girardi
But can Vlad hit?  He has to in order for them to win.  However, Mr. Teixeira and his Portuguese blood is unstoppable.  If he were Irish he’d be puttin’ Shamrock Shake all over ya.”-Irish Reeve O’Leedus

My Prediction: Yankees in 7          Irish Reeve O’Leedus: Angels in 7

Starting Pitching       Push                        Angels
Bullpen                     Yankees                  Yankees
Defense                     Angels                     Angels
Power                       Yankees                   Yankees
Run Production        Angels                      Angels
Speed                        Angels                     Angels
Bench                        Push                        Angels
Manager                    Angels                     Angels
Intangibles                Angels                     Angels

Watch Your Team In Prime Time! Unless You're On The West Coast...

UPDATE: 10/19/2009

After the 11-0 pounding of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ryan Howard answered questions at a press conference.  Athletes and anyone involved in sports with half a brain will tell you that nothing is ever certain, especially in a 7 game series (Just ask the Yankees after losing the 2004 ALCS to Boston whjen they were up 3 games to zero).

But that didn’t stop one reporter, who didn’t identify herself, when she asked Howard something both presumptuous and ignorant.  The question, almost verbatim, asked Howard how it was going to feel to face C.C. Sabathia.

Last I checked, The Yankees were only up 2-0, and the Phillies were up 2-1.  Blatant and obvious disrespect for both L.A. teams, but to Howard’s credit, after letting out a stunned “Wow”, he stated that the Angels and Yankees looks like its going to be a good series, and that the Phillies still obviously aren’t done with the Dodgers.  He even rolled his eyes and laughed through his answer, knowing it was an irresponsible and horrible question.

Got more examples of East Coast Bias?  Post them here!

I just had to turn down an invite to Game 2 because it’s a 1:30pm afternoon game instead of a night game.  Oh, but wouldn’t you know, the people in Philadelphia get to see Game 1 just past 8 (perfect primetime) while we are either missing half of the game, or scampering to leave work early or sitting in massive traffic trying to get to game, let alone pick up kids from school, & get dinner started.  Then there’s Game 2, where the good people of Philly get to get off work just a little early on a Friday night & get home or to a bar or something, while we are right smack dab in the friggin middle of the work day.  We either have to use a vacation day or a sick day & either way, even being the home team, we don’t get to truly rage like a night weekend game would allow for.

And then there are the fine Yankee fans in NYC.  They get 7:30 start times for both Friday & Saturday nights.  Weekend night games for both Games 1 & 2.  No work day after either game.  How perfect & convenient. Plenty of time to get liquored up & rock that stadium.

They get a 7:30pm Friday night home game & I get a 1:37pm Friday afternoon home game that I have to TURN DOWN because I’m still at work!!!  How festive would I be & the rest of our fans be if our game got at least a 7:10pm start?  If the friggin regular season games in L.A. during the week against East Coast teams start at 7:10pm, then the friggin playoff games should be the same….OK fine……I’d even be ok with an early start by an hour.  6pm for us, 9pm for East Coast.  Still primetime.  Why can’t that work??

Son of a flippin beeotch

Yes, I’m angry.  I hope the Angels & the Dodgers kick the living sh** out of both of them.  Then we start EVERY WEEKDAY GAME of the FREEWAY SERIES at 7:10 Pacific Time, so we, the fans of OUR baseball teams can comfortably get to OUR own stadiums & bars ON TIME to watch OUR own teams play & screw everyone else & their flippin time zones…..

Signed—One angry Barbo

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees

With the Yankees firmly owning the best record in baseball, they elected to have recently crowned AL Central Champion Minnesota Twins take a late night flight to New York, hoping to capitalize on their fatigue.  It’s going to work.  Without Justin Morneau, their best power hitter and operating on all heart, the Twins look to be nothing more than the fat girl you talk to in order to get to her hot friend.  Get all your lumps out, pretend you care, work her over, and prepare for the one that’s going to make you King.  In this case, Boston or Anaheim.   The Twins will keep it close in most games, but the Yankees are just too awesome.  In a short series with CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, the gutty little Twins’ luck and grit will run out.  The Yankees are 7-0 against the Twins this year, and its broom time in the Big Apple again.  Look for Alex Rodriguez, unlike any other post season, to have a big one.

Yankees in 3   

Colorado Rockies vs. Philidelphia Phillies

With the late season surge by the Colorado Rockies, no one is talking about the defending champions.  The Phillies boast a top 3 offense and two great starting pitchers.  Well, one of those hasn’t been great lately, but look for Cole Hamels to rebound.  J.A. Happ is great at #3.  It’s going to be a tough series.  The Phillies lead the National League in home runs total bases, and runs scored.  But the Rockies have 40 come from behind victories, and they will be going up against a Phillies bullpen (their Achilles heel) that is suspect at best and will serve the game up on a silver platter at its worst.  Brad Lidge has been choking harder than Jenna Jamison engulfing a “flesh-sickle” lately.  In the end, playing in two hitters’ ballparks, we just don’t see the Rockies being able to out slug the Phillies, but it should go down to the wire.

Phillies in 5

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

The cards are 29-11 in their last 40 vs. the Dodgers.  It will be a tight series, but apparently Manny cannot hit the ball if he’s not on the juice anymore.  Look at his stats after he came back from his suspension.  He’s hitting .255 with only 10 home runs and 34 RBI’s since the all star break, and .143 against St. Louis this year.  And the first two Dodger pitchers leading off are Randy Wolf and Clayton Kershaw?  No one even knows who’s starting game 3?  If you can convince me a rotation of Randy Wolf, Clayton Kershaw, and Mystery Starter # 1 can go into a 5 game series and take out a rotation of two Cy Young Contenders in Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, as well as a #3 that won 15 games in Joel Pinero, I’ll convince you that Oswald acted alone.  Oh, and the Cards also have the best hitter in baseball.

Cardinals in 5

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Angels will find a way to sneak a game, but the first little mess up will destroy their psyche and ruin them for the rest of the series, just like it always does.  Every year it’s supposed to be different.  And every year it’s the same result.  Until the Angels prove otherwise, it’s not prudent to pick them in the series.  The key will be the late innings.  If the Red Sox have a lead after 6 innings, you can pretty much forget it.  Their bullpen is vastly superior to the Angels.  I would feel confident about having Boston’s line up face sorry-ass-excuse-for-a-closer, Brian Fuentes (Boston is hitting .412 against him, and he sports an 8.10 ERA and a WHIP over 3.0), than the Angels having to come from behind against the best closer in baseball, and resident jerk-off and lord of fairy-dance, Jonathon Papelbon.

Red Sox in 4                                   

Say what you want about the Angels.  The fact that they continue to make the playoffs year after year is a testimony to how solid their organization is.  However, they have only been to the ALCS twice during that time.  In fact, three times this decade, they have been eliminated in the playoffs by the Boston Red Sox, whom they will all but certainly face again this year. The stigma is that when the chips are down, the Angels can’t win the big one.  The fact that they are beginning to resemble the Atlanta Braves of recent years, who won 14 division titles in a row and only 1 World Series in that time, is eerily uncomfortable for Angel fans.

Strange things seem to happen every time the Angels visit Boston, and maybe that’s in their heads.  (See our story “Choke Job”)  But this year has been unlike any other year for the Angels.  Three of their five starting pitchers were out for several months.  Early in the year, they lost Scott Shields, widely regarded as the best set up man in baseball, for the season.  Almost a third of the way through the season, they were 8 games under .500.  And most notably in the first week of the season, just a few hours after a stellar pitching debut yielding 6 scoreless innings, they lost their number five starter and rising young star pitcher Nick Adenhart, not just for the year, but forever.

So when the Angels clinched the American League Western Division Monday night, there was talk of no champagne.  No celebratory beer shower.  Just a few congratulatory hugs, and on to business.  After all, the Angels have been here before, and Boston is waiting.  Every year, it seems, for Angel fans.

But they did celebrate Monday night.  There were beer showers.  There was champagne.  And there was also something else.  The players grabbed Nick Adenart’s jersey, present at their side every night in the dugout, and showered the number 34 with beer and champagne.  The chant was A-den-hart…A-den-hart in the clubhouse.  It’s doubtful the emotion captured in that photo could be duplicated any time soon, but doubt is what the Angels are trying to exorcise.  The players took to the field, and after briefly showering the fans with beer, champagne, and a field hose, they jogged in unison to the outfield.  They chanted again, A-den-hart…A-den-hart, and showered the photo of Nick Adenhart that adorns the centerfield wall.  They tapped it, put their heads on it, and thanked it.  Then, they took a picture with it, with Adnehart’s face behind them and above them, perhaps looking down on him as he has all season.

The Yankees have their superstar roster.  The Red Sox have perhaps been the organization of the decade.  The Cardinals have the best player in baseball.  The Phillies are the defending champions.  And the Dodgers, for all their woes and underachieving since they won it all in 1988, still dominate the Southern California baseball market.

But no matter who you root for, as a baseball fan, or even a sports fan, if you watched the Angels tribute to their fallen comrade Monday night and your heart didn’t jump into your throat just a little bit….then maybe you don’t have one.

And maybe, just maybe, that will make it different this year.  We’ll find out in early October.