New York Yankees vs Los Angeles Angels @LA 4:57pm TV: FOX

A great series has a chance to be epic. Joe Saunders, who pitched well in game 2, takes the mound against Andy Pettitte, who the Angels have had a lot of success against. The Angels will face a hostile crowd in New York, but the weather will be much better. I’d like to see the Angels get off to an early start, but it doesn’t seem proper unless they come back from behind. So we’ll see. Good luck out there Halo fans. Hopefully this game will be less stressful and we can take it to game 7.

Yankees

Pitching - Andy Pettitte
2009 Postseason - 12.2 in, 10H 4ER 9K, 2.84 ERA
Last Start Against Angels - 6.1 in, 7H 3ER, 2.84 ERA

Angels

Pitching - Joe Saunders
Last Start Against Yankees - 7 in, 6H 2ER 5K, 2.57 ERA

New York Yankees vs Los Angeles Angels @LA 4:57pm TV: FOX

We’ve found ourselves in a 3-1 hole, but if anyone can pull us out of it, it’ll be our ace John Lackey, who has posted a 1.38 ERA in 13 postseason innings of work. Lackey has already thrown against the Yankees in this series, and while he gave up 9 hits in 5.2 innings and gave up 4 runs, only two of those were earned. He didn’t get a lot of run support, mainly because he was paired against C.C. Sabathia, who quite frankly, embarrassed us last game. But this time, he’ll be pitching against A.J. Burnett, who gave up two earned runs in six innings. One of the reasons we are struggling offensively is because we are swinging too early in the count. We’re giving pitchers innings where they throw less than 10 pitches, and the longer they stay in the game, the less we’ll see of the bullpen, and we have shown we can hit the bullpen (Mariano Rivera may be the exception). Sabathia lasted 8 innings in both outings, and the Yankees won those games easily. But the Yankees bullpen has struggled to control the Angels in late innings, and manager Joe Girardi has had to basically use his entire relief staff to finish the game. Aside from last game, the Yankees were averaging 4 runs a game. If we can keep them under five runs, get Burnett out of the game early and play with confidence, we can take this game and keep the series alive. Go Halos!

Yankees

Pitching - A.J. Burnett
Postseason - 12.1 in, 6H 3ER 10K, 2.19 ERA
Last Start Against Angels - 6.1 in, 3H 2ER, 2.84 ERA

Angels

Pitching - John Lackey
Postseason - 13 in, 13H 2ER 7K, 1.38 ERA
Last STart Against Yankees - 5.2 in, 9H 2ER 3K, 3.18 ERA

…Players

Errors happen when your nervous or mentally somewhere else, and high scoring innings happen when pitchers aren’t aggressive. It feels like our Red Sox series of the past. Mental error after mental error. This is not the Angel team we have seen all year. Why is it so hard to step and throw a baseball accurately? You are major league players.

Also, in two playoff starts now Scott Kazmir is dancing around the strike zone like he’s Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Yankees will get their home runs, but if you limit them to solo shots you can put yourself in a position to win. We saw this in game 3. Scott Kazmir should have been pulled for Santana in the third inning. He maneuvered himself out of two situations early, but the Yankee lineup will get to you eventually if you give them the chance.

Yes this umpiring crew should be fired. The calls they made in this game were sickening, but they really had no effect on the outcome. Excuse my frustration, but it’s time for this team to grow a pair, and be aggressive like they were in game 3 and against the Red Sox.

…Fans

I was at last nights game, and there were a good amount of Yankee fans there. But even when the game started to turn for the worst there were a handful of Angel fans trying to quiet the Yankee cheers, and do their part. They got no support. Maybe it’s just because I was in the 100 hundred section where the Orange County rich sit, who could care less about this team, but what I saw was pathetic. I myself was told by a Yankee fan to sit down because he couldn’t see. I was told this for cheering my team in our stadium, and I wasn’t the only one. When this happened the Angel fans around me did nothing. Also, after the 7th inning half of the stadium left the game. I know we were down, but it’s a playoff game. Let me say it again, IT’S A FREAKING PLAYOFF GAME! Only 8 team in baseball make the playoffs, let alone the ALCS.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I thought we were supposed to support each other. And let me also be clear, there were a lot of great fans there last night. There are a lot of great Angel fans in general, but last night we were out numbered. So I ask again, what are you afraid of? That a Yankee fan will call you a name, or that you’ll get stuck in the parking lot for an extra ten minutes. Give me a break!

I still have hope. This series is not over yet. We won’t see Sabathia until game 7, and we have Lackey on the mound tomorrow. So if you are going to the game on Thursday make yourself heard, stay standing, and stay for the whole game because again, this is the playoffs and a lot of people would love to be where you are. If you aren’t that into it, don’t come. Seriously. We don’t want you there. We have such a great core of fans, so let’s make that known.

- Tony C

Apparently the commissioners office said there is no conclusive evidence that Mariano Rivera cheated. Um, is he watching the same video I am. Why would he first look up (possibly to see if anyone is looking), and then spit right toward the ball. If he wasn’t cheating he is an idiot.

It has been said that a spitball doesn’t perform like Rivera’s cutter, and it performs more like a knuckleball. This just isn’t true. It only ads extra movement. It is impossible to say how it will move because it depends on how much spit is on the ball and where it is on the ball.

The bigger question is why is this getting such little coverage. ESPN talked about it a little, but I have only seen it otherwise on a few blogs and on Facebook. When Brendan Donnelly was suspected of using pine tar we didn’t here the end of it. It’s time to return the favor.

- Tony C

Just saw this video. No wonder the ball cuts so well.

Los Angeles Angels vs New York Yankess @LA 4:57pm

The Angels are coming off a huge walk off double from career .200 hitter Jeff Mathis, a game that Torii Hunter said might have been one of the best games that he’s ever been a part of. The Angels have found themselves running into the problem of stranding runners, leaving 42 on base in the last 3 games. The Halos outhit the Yankees last night for the first time in the series, and although C.C. Sabathia, who gave up four hits, will be on the mound tonight, he’ll be pitching on short rest. This could be a big advantage for the Angels giving them a chance to see a possibly tired Sabathia for the second of three possible starts. The Angels will send out Scott Kazmir, who will make his second appearance in this 2009 postseason. If we win this one, it’s a whole new series!

Yankees

Pitching - C.C. Sabathia
Season - 19-8, 197K 3.37 ERA
On the Road - 12-6, 114K 3.53 ERA
Last Postseason Start - 8in, 4H 1ER 7K, 1.23 ERA

Angels

Pitching - Scott Kazmir
Season - 10-9, 117K 4.89 ERA
At Home - 0-1, 10K 2.84 ERA
Last Postseason Start - 6in, 5H 5ER 1K, 7.50 ERA

This playoff season has consisted of maybe the two greatest Angel games I have ever seen. Of course with the exception of game 6 of the 2002 World Series. It was difficult to watch, and breath, but they came through in the end. And other than the Fuentes’ mistake pitch last night and the Jepsen blunder today, our bullpen has really performed well. As much as we complain about them they have kept us in the game when our offense hasn’t performed.

Now we have the momentum with Scott Kazmir on the mound tomorrow night. Our big advantage for the rest of this series will be seeing pitches. This is the second time around for C.C. Sabathia, and we have seen Mariano Rivera in every game. They have yet to see Kazmir. This could work in our favor. All season the Angels have done most of their scoring in the later innings when they have seen everything the starter has to offer. I don’t see why this will be any different.

If you are going to the game stay loud, and Go Halos!

- Tony C

Los Angeles Angels vs New York Yankees @ NY 1:13pm TV: FOX

As I said before. If Weaver can give us a win today it’s a new series. With Kazmir and Lackey going in the next two games, we can win this thing. Maybe this is how it’s supposed to happen. Nothing has been easy for this team this year, why should this be any different? Keep the faith and Go Halos!

Yankees

Pitching - Andy Pettitte

Season- 14-8, 148K 4.16 ERA
Against Angels - 0-2, 16 in, 6K, 7.88 ERA

Angels

Pitching- Jered Weaver

Season - 16-8, 174K 3.75 ERA
Against Yankees - 1-1, 19 in, 13K, 5.59 ERA

- Tony C

Even Joe Girardi admitted that tonight’s game could have swung either way. Both teams had their opportunities, and the Yankees had the last at bat. It sucked, but it’s not over.

Typically, teams starting a series on the road look to split the two games on the road. Here that didn’t happen, but the Angels go home for three games with Jered Weaver, Scott Kazmir, and John Lackey on the mound. On the surface it looks like a daunting task of winning four of five games, but in reality if the Angels win the next two games it’s a new series.

So everyone get a good night sleep, relax and watch the Dodgers game, and get ready for Monday. If you are going to the game don’t show your discouragement and stay loud.

Chin up and Go Halos!

- Tony C

Before the game

Low to mid 40’s at Yankee stadium. Wow, it was 90 here today. The boys are all bundled up. Makes you wonder if this is going to have any kind of impact at all.

The Dodgers did their part to keep the “Freeway Series” talk alive, will the Angels?

A buddy of mine just called; he has tickets to Mondays game three! I can’t go because of a prior commitment (a paying job). Bummer, but thanks Lon!

I loved Charlie Manuel’s song “The Devil Went down to Georgia”. Just saying.

I’m ready for this game. King Kong vs. Goliath, rock vs. hard place, irresistible force vs. immovable object! Enough blabber about the LAD game, time to switch channels to watch the REAL game! Those guys on “Inside MLB” on TBS have NO chemistry at all. It’s almost hard to watch.

I said this earlier to someone and I’ll stick by it, 4 to 2 Angels is my prediction.

1st Inning

You know it’s cold when Bobby Abreu is blowing into his hands, while he has gloves on! Ha, “This crowd wants to see a perfect 1st inning” says Joe Buck JUST before Hunter spanks a single into left field. Sorry crowd.

“Ninja Assassin” looks kinda like b.a. movie (ask you’re kids).

Wow, ump is giving the pitchers the low ball strike this inning, let’s see if that continues. Jeter is pretty “Ninja Assassin” (ei: he’s b.a.) that was a great at-bat. The dreaded B.B.B., broken bat blooper, by Damon. Wow, Tex was swinging 3-0 and all he could muster was a pop up to left. Not a great a.b. for the 180 million dollar man. No way, what just happened? I haven’t seen that from the Angels all year. What a goof! That’s the shortstops ball and not a single, what a homer ruling by the official scorer. That ends that inning; could have been worse.

Yankees 2, Angels 0

2nd Inning

You gotta love how Scioscia goes to talk to Aybar so as to not let him stew in it. That’s a good Manager.

Morales just doesn’t look as comfortable from the right hand side as the left does he? What? They are selling a “look at the catcher” now? Brought to you by Blackberry? Huh? What’s next, an in-depth analysis of the ball boys jog to hand balls to the ump, brought to you by Petco? That’s really annoying!

Lackey has to shut the Yanks down in this inning, 1-2-3 no doubt. Mission accomplished with Hunter tieing the major league record for most put-outs by an outfielder.

Yankees 2, Angels 0

3rd Inning

As of right now I’m not panicking at all. Ya, I know the score but there is a feel to this game that feels pro-Angel to me.

Figgy doesn’t have a post season hit yet? Wow, didn’t realize that. Zero for fourteen for Figgy now. I understand it but it’s still a bit odd that everyone knows what everyones salary is and the announcers point it out during at-bats. Just weird to me.

I kinda like that Cat Stevens song for the T-Mobile MyTouch phone. “If you wanna be me, be me and if you want to be you, be you.” I’m not downloading it or making it a ringtone or anything but it’s kinda catchy!

Is Aybar a little amped up? That was a nervous throw. He has to get that early play out of his mind! Tex is a good a hitter, too good for a shift, right? Well, he hit it to the shift, but over them. The view of the shift by the way was brought to you by “X”. Fox is shameless.

Kate Cam Count – 1

Yankees 2, Angels 0

4th Inning

Wow, those Bing.com commercials are just, non-sensical. I would have expected better marketing from a gargantuan like Msoft.

How did that ball Vlady hit not get out? I thought this was a homerun park. FALSE ADVERTISING!! Howie Kendrick, from a certain angle on his profile, kinda looks like Garrett Anderson. I miss G.A. It’s not crucial because CC isn’t striking fear in these hitters, but it would be nice to get that run in from 3rd. Mission accomplished!

I don’t get Vince Vaughn. You can’t argue with the #1 movie, but, is he funny?

Now THAT was a controlled and accurate throw by Aybar. Maybe he is over it. Ha, did you see that EMPHATIC arm wave by Aybar on the popup by Cano? Figgy RAN out of the way too. The Angels have settled in, Lackey included. I didn’t like Swisher when he was with the A’s, always a tough out; I like him less right now. Talk about the Bronx Bombers all you want but if the Yanks win this series it’s going to be because of at bats like the one Cabrera just had. Neither pitcher is finishing this game; high pitch counts for both so far.

Yankees 2, Angels 1

5th Inning

I wonder what’s worse, when an announcer blurts out your income or your weight. 290 for CC, we know, we know! Figgy will not go 0 for 15, will he? Yes, he will.

If a double play is a pitchers best friend a lead off double is his worst enemy. Ugh. Here come the big bats. Tex is 0-8 with RISP this post season, Angels plan A-1 has an RBI single in this game. If Lackey can get out of this inning unscathed well that would be huge and a momentum boost for the Angels. That was pretty much a non-intentional intentional walk to A-Rod. Wow, looks like Mathis learned a little from Scioscia huh? What a great swipe. Run given up but that out adds a lil Angel ‘Mo. Well, once again, could have been worse. So much for my prediction.

Yankees 3, Angels 1

6th Inning

The slow mo replay of Mathis nice block was brought to you by… ugh. A run in this inning, would be really nice. That was a nice catch my Damon. Perfectly positioned, and it helped he’s a lefty; easier to get to that ball. YES! Controversy! Let’s see the reply, brought to us by, who knows. Um, I don’t know, to me it looked like he had his toe on the bag. It’s hard to watch Vlady swing like that, but when he connects watch out. But, no connecting this time.

“And if you want to be me, be me and if you want to be you, be you.”

Another long fly that died at the warning track. Thankfully for the Angels this one came off the bat of the Cano. Both pitchers are locked in. So far a good old fashioned hard-nosed pitchers duel; good baseball. 111 pitches, wow, this is Lackeys last inning for sure. Ugh, another Angel miscue, what is going on! Is that the end for Lackey? It wasn’t but maybe it should have been. When the ball gets past the man with the golden glove in center you know its not your day. Angels couldn’t have hoped for a better start by Lackey but the defense let him down; I would have expected that.

Yankees 4, Angels 1

7th Inning

Well, four runs in this inning and a win for Lackey would be nice, but the ‘Mo belongs to the team from the “Grande Mansana”. The Angels aren’t making the easy plays the Yankees are making the difficult ones. Nice dive and throw by Cano. Do you smell a Napoli homerun? I think I do. Let’s see.

Ball one.

Strike one.

Ball two.

Strike two.

Both swings were for the fences though, but that doesn’t count, does it?

Foul.

Strike three. I’m not predicting anything ever again.

I know it’s the seventh inning but I don’t feel like stretching. If anyone sees the real Angel team, you know – the team that plays great defense, tell them to get to New York quick!

Scioscia knows his stuff; Tex hit it right to the shift. The ump has been consistent the whole game with the low strike count for both sides. Joe Buck is right, Tim McCarver is a blowhard; CC needs to come out of this game with the Yankees bullpen as good as it is. They just showed a reply of the Mathis block (not brought to us by anyone surprisingly) and you could see the Angel skipper well from this angle. Some Managers would be screaming, jumping or generally excited watching that play, Scioscia, he has his hands in his jacket with a “Ok Jeff just turn, apply the take, take the hit, well done” kind of look. Classic cool. A wild pitch, what else do the Angels have in store for us, maybe catcher interference? Sheesh. Wow, not catcher interference, I was wrong; it was a hit batter, of course. This has been a long inning. That might be a good thing if CC comes back out assuming Bulger can get out of it without giving up a run. 3-2 pitch, bases loaded, crowd on its feet; let’s see what Bulger is made of here. Not sure what he is made of, but that was a nice pitch.

Yankees 4, Angels 1

8th Inning

Ok, this inning, we need a run at least.

The Simpsons are still on! Hahaha, amazing. That has got to say something about our society, just not entirely sure of what.

CC is out there, not a good idea Joe. Well, I don’t feel bad about saying this because the announcers have mentioned it over and over but from that one angle you can really see CC’s substantial girth. Figgy still hitless. Ugh, CC just made a professional hitter look like a slow pitch league rookie. Weak swing by Abreu. Ya, like I said earlier, that was a great idea pitching CC in the 8th, way to go Joe.

Big time players get hits right here with a runner on 3rd with an extra insurance run, what will Tex do? Strike out. He is a good player, no a great player, but not a big time player yet; he didn’t even make contact.

Yankees 4, Angels 1

9th Inning

Didn’t the Halos score three against one of the best closers on the road recently? This game doesn’t have that same feel, but anything is possible. I believe… sorta.

0.74 E.R.A in the post season for Rivera; Papelban’s was better and the Angels got him. Walking the leadoff guy is a big no-no for a reliever, for Rivera its virtually unheard of. Wow, is Rivera not “right”? Man, it looks like those huge swings just HURT when Vlady swings and misses. Looks like he is trying to hit a five run homerun! Pretty much saw that strike-out coming. Smart to take a pitch when the pitcher was a little erratic, but Rivera’s first pitch to Juan Rivera was right down the middle. First Angel break, Juan just struck out but the pitch was called a ball.

Final Yankees 4, Angels 1

Well, I almost got the score right. The Yankees look very confident but the truth is CC can’t pitch every game and the Angels will not play defense like this again, will they? The Angels came to New York like every other visiting team in the playoffs looking to take one. This one didn’t work out but Joe Saunders is rested and ready to go. Coming home up 2-0 would have been awesome but the Angels will be happy with a split. Scioscia is no doubt already telling them to let this game go. The preparation for Game two is on! Thanks for hanging out with me.

Los Angeles Angels vs New York Yankees @ NY 4:57pm TV: FOX

I can’t express how HUGE today’s game is. For the first time since 2005, the Angels have made it past the first round and are now competing for a spot in the World Series against none other than the New York Powerhouse: The Yankees. The Angels are going to face a tough matchup against 19-win C.C. Sabathia, but have had success against him this year. Los Angeles needs to play their game (doubles and singles and utilize their speed on the bases) and fight through the tough weather conditions (gameday forecast: 38 Deg, 47% chance of rain) to give themselves a great chance of winning. If the Angels take this game, not only will it boost their confidence, but it gives them a better chance to close out the series in Anaheim.

Yankees

Pitching - C.C. Sabathia

Season- 19-8, 197K 3.37 ERA
Against Angels - 13 in, 9ER 11K, 6.08 ERA

Batting (At Home) - .283 BA, 244HR 915R

Angels

Pitching- John Lackey

Season - 11-8, 139K 3.83 ERA
Against Yankees - 7 in, 2ER 6K, 2.57 ERA

Batting (On the Road)- .285 BA, 173 HR 883R

- Kevin H

I just wanted to let all of our Yankee ESPN visitors know that I have really enjoyed the debate over the last week. The series is only a day away, but I hope you all will stay with us even after we beat you in five games. Now on the big bad Yankee offense.

The story of the Yankee offense will obviously be, can A-Roid continue to perform in the postseason. As important as this is to the Yankee offense, they have a lot ways to hurt you, so even if he doesn’t perform the Yankees will still be very difficult to pitch to.

Derek Jeter

Season: (107 runs, 18 HR’s, 66 RBI’s, 30 SB’s, .334 Avg, .871 OPS)
Season vs. Angels: (3 runs, 0 HR’s, 3 RBI’s, 3 SB’s, .333 Avg, .809 OPS)
Career Playoffs: (89 runs, 18 HR’s, 51 RBI’s, 16 SB’s, .311 Avg, .858 OPS)

The first of the Yankees MVP candidates is, as you can see, consistently good. The good thing for us is he is batting first. I believe he served them better as a two hitter because of his ability to move runners, but as with the rest of the Yankee team, it will still be extremely important to keep him off base.

Johnny Damon

Season: (107 runs, 24 HR’s, 82 RBI’s, 12 SB’s, .282 Avg, .854 OPS)
Season vs. Angels: (4 runs, 1 HR, 2 RBI’s, 0 SB, .121 Avg, .428 OPS)
Career Playoffs: (26 runs, 7 HR’s, 21 RBI’s, 10 SB’s, .266 Avg, .758 OPS)

Damon hasn’t done well against the Angels this year, but I’m not sure this means as much as it does for pitchers. Hitters don’t see the span of the rotation and bullpen during a season series. Damon will be thrown a lot of fastballs to keep from walking him for Teixeira and A-Rod.

Mark Teixeira

Season: (102 runs, 39 HR’s, 122 RBI’s, 2 SB’s, .292 Avg, .948 OPS)
Season vs. Angels: (5 runs, 0 HR, 2 RBI’s, 0 SB, .225 Avg, .661 OPS)
Career Playoffs: (7 runs, 1 HR’s, 2 RBI’s, 0 SB, .333 Avg, .869 OPS)

I sincerely hope everyone at Angels Stadium cheers Teixeira as loud as they can when he arrives. To thank him for leaving. What you can do with 20 mill. But aside from the money Teixeira, of course, can hurt you.

Alex Rodriguez

Season: (78 runs, 30 HR’s, 100 RBI’s, 14 SB’s, .286 Avg, .934 OPS)
Season vs. Angels: (8 runs, 5 HR’s, 9 RBI’s, 1 SB’s, .333 Avg, 1.398 OPS)
Career Playoffs: (25 runs, 9 HR’s, 23 RBI’s, 4 SB’s, .291 Avg, .900 OPS)

This story with A-Rod is of course his postseason numbers as a Yankee. Clearly overall he has performed in the postseason, and has killed the Angels this year, but he hadn’t yet performed as a Yankee in the postseason. I can’t say it enough, solo shots.

Hideki Matsui

Season: (62 runs, 28 HR’s, 90 RBI’s, 0 SB, .274 Avg, .876 OPS)
Season vs. Angels: (6 runs, 3 HR’s, 6 RBI’s, 0 SB, .250 Avg, .943 OPS)
Career Playoffs: (28 runs, 7 HR’s, 28 RBI’s, 0 SB, .298 Avg, .883 OPS)

Consistent player who actually hits lefties pretty well even though he is a lefty. Because of this, and because of their wealth of switch hitters the Angels won’t really be able to rely on match-ups.

Jorge Posada

Season: (55 runs, 22 HR’s, 81 RBI’s, 1 SB, .285 Avg, .885 OPS)
Season vs. Angels: (5 runs, 3 HR’s, 10 RBI’s, 0 SB, .308 Avg, 1.079 OPS)
Career Playoffs: (42 runs, 10 HR’s, 33 RBI’s, 2 SB’s, .240 Avg, .740 OPS)

Posada may be out when Burnett pitches, but should be in the rest of the series.

Robinson Cano

Season: (103 runs, 25 HR’s, 85 RBI’s, 5 SB’s, .320 Avg, .872 OPS)
Season vs. Angels: (6 runs, 0 HR’s, 5 RBI’s, 0 SB, .341 Avg, .772 OPS)
Career Playoffs: (7 runs, 2 HR’s, 9 RBI’s, 0 SB, .230 Avg, .659 OPS)

Nick Swisher

Season: (84 runs, 29 HR’s, 82 RBI’s, 0 SB, .249 Avg, .869 OPS)
Season vs. Angels: (4 runs, 1 HR’s, 3 RBI’s, 0 SB, .211 Avg, .769 OPS)
Career Playoffs: (4 runs, 0 HR’s, 2 RBI’s, 0 SB’s, .167 Avg, .583 OPS)

Melky Cabrera

Season: (66 runs, 13 HR’s, 68 RBI’s, 10 SB, .274 Avg, .752 OPS)
Season vs. Angels: (4 runs, 0 HR’s, 5 RBI’s, 1 SB, .398 Avg, .949 OPS)
Career Playoffs: (3 runs, 1 HR’s, 2 RBI’s, 0 SB’s, .161 Avg, .419 OPS)

As you can see, the Yankee lineup is very impressive, but it has also been impressive many times in the past. Luckily, other than Kazmir, the Angels are full of strike throwing pitchers. This should enable the Angels to limit the Yankees to, again, solo home runs.

To sum up, the back end of the Yankees bullpen and their staring rotation do scare me, but I’m confident that the Angels offense can get to their pitching early. Typically the Angels have scored most of their runs in the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings. If they can push high pitch counts to get those starters out early they’ll be in good shape. Now it’s time to play. Go Halos!

- Tony C

Some playoff match-ups have very clear story lines. Take for example the Angel-Boston just completed series. It was clearly about redemption for the Halos. The upcoming Angel-Yankee battle is a bit tougher to categorize. Sure, you have the Angels “Plan A” playing first-base for the Yankees; but the Angels are very content with Kendry “Plan A1″ Morales, don’t you think? The current Angel right fielder is a former Yankee so you could maybe get an article or two out that. But the reality of this series is that there is no clear cut “story”. It’s just a battle of Goliath vs. King Kong, rock vs. hard place. There are no real grudges here, just respect from both sides. Sure, the Angles have owned the Yankees in recent years but they proved against the Red Sox that the past means nothing. This is gearing up to be a classic battle between two powerhouse American League teams that are pretty evenly matched up. But, if you dig just a bit deeper I think you might find an interesting matchup that I feel is going to be a key and favors the halos.

The playoffs are a different animal. The crowds are bigger and generally much louder. They tend to wave things that may interfere with an outfielders attempt to catch the third out, right Holliday? Some times teams add new seats that creep out into the field turning a routine foul ball out into a dive into the temporary seats for a fielder. Cameras are everywhere, so are the umpires. Outfield umps are now positioned down each foul line making it near impossible that a clearly FAIR ball be called FOUL, right Mauer? The scrutiny on every decision is huge. The vice is tighter. The pressure is on.

Mike Scioscia has been there before. He guided the Angels to a title in 2002. He knows the additional pressure involved under the harsh lights of the playoffs. He isn’t afraid to make the tough call, even if it means facing the music when the bunt is missed on a gutsy squeeze play. He has been under the microscope and excelled. Joe Girardi has not. Now, by all accounts Joe seems like a great guy and a wonderful Manager. He has led a team of talented players to the best record in baseball. It’s not always easy to get a bunch of “Alpha’s” to buy into a team concept. But, he appears to have done it; the Yankees exude camaraderie and chemistry that was lacking in years past. But, he has never had to make the decision to either leave a pitcher in or take him out in the top of the ninth with the bases loaded in game four with his team down 0-3 while nursing a one run lead in the ALCS.

Maybe I’m making more of this than I should. But the teams seem so even at every other position. You can make arguments about the better staff, defense or hitters, etc but overall these are two very evenly matched clubs. The Yankees only real domination is in the “Money Spent to Build the Club” category where they walloped the Angels $201,449,189 to $113,709,000! The Angels however have a more seasoned manager who has been through the grind before. He will know how to rally the troops. He knows how to manage during the lows and highs. His mantra has always been “One game at a time”. So entrenched in the Angel psyche is that sentiment even Angel owner Arte Moreno recently deflected a question about a possible Freeway Series for fear of retribution from the club Manager! Scioscia managed the team through a tragic low early in the season and now will no doubt temper the enthusiasm of the huge high that was the victory over the Sox and prepare this team for the next challenge. Managers like to deflect credit to the players and rightly so. But in this series I think the key to a Halo victory is a pasta loving former LAD catcher with the funny last name. What do you think?

- Jose Salviati