‘Angels will fade’ — East Coast bias or painful truth?
July 20th, 2008, 1:24 pm · 45 Comments · posted by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM
They’re not taking your Angels very seriously back East — even after they outscored the Boston Red Sox 15-5 in the first two games of this series to stand alone with the best record in the major leagues.
Heck, the Red Sox can’t even catch the Tampa Bay Rays!
Check out this Dan Shaughnessy column in Sunday’s Boston Globe then come back here to post your reactions and counter his argument.
Update: Check out what the Register’s Mark Whicker has to say about what the past means this year.
Register columnist Jeff Miller adds to the discussion.
July 20th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
It’s not east coast bias, it’s reality. This regular season sweeps means nothing, because the Angels will still have to go through the Red Sox in the post season. The Red Sox are a whole different team in the playoffs. The Angels are too, just not in a good way.
July 20th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
What is there to say? He’s right. The way that we man-handled this last series shows that we are no joke. So Boston, we’ll see you in October. Make sure to pack light this year.
July 20th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
The Angels will do just fine as long as long as our friends in the east live with the past.and as for our manager Mike is worth a good 10 wins over the opponents,with the runs scored against runs allowed the Angels should be 5 games above 500 yet they have the best record and that,s because of the manager.
July 20th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Everyone is has a right to an opinion whether it makes sense or not. I think the folks in Bauston ought to get ready to settle for their NBA title because that’s the only one they will see this year. GO ANGELS!!!
P.S. And, to top it off, I think the Espy Team Award to the Celtics tonight was fixed. The award should have gone to the NY Giants who gave us one of the best Super Bowl games ever!!
July 20th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
It pains me to say, but there is a good amount of truth to that article. Like Jim Rome says, “Scoreboard.” The last 2 years we’ve met the Red Sox in the playoffs, we have just looked horrible. Figgins has a bad habit of making errors in big games, and we still don’t have added a significant amount of power.
When you look at the roster of the World Champion Angels, there was a more power in that line-up. That lineup had 29 more HRs than last year’s team. Granted, the starting pitching is stronger this year. But it seems it’s tougher to get behind in games in the postseason, when you can’t rely on the HR to get back into the game.
Until we could prove that we can win in the postseason against the Red Sox, they could say whatever they want to say. “Scoreboard!”
July 21st, 2008 at 12:19 am
The Red Sox and Manny the Clown have to get by Tampa Bay, the White Sox or Detroit first. They may not even make the playoffs.
The Angels will play the Wild Card because they’ll have the best record in the AL. If the Red Sox don’t win their division, they won’t even be in the playoffs. Angels vs. Cubs in the World Series.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:21 am
angels should just hope for boston to miss the playoffs.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:59 am
Of course October baseball with Boston hasn’t been kind to us. But I’ve seen it time and time again. Things change, teams change. We will see………………….
July 21st, 2008 at 6:19 am
Oh please! Last year we had four of our best starters injured or ill during the “Nation’s” playoffs. Pretty hard to win with hands tied behind your back. As long as our guys remain healthy, our chances to pass up those uppity Sox in the playoffs [if THEY even make it there] are very good.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:08 am
I’m not a big fan of Boston sports teams and their fans’ sense of entitlement lately, but you can’t argue with what he said. They haven’t won a game in the last two recent postgame series. If the Red Sox are lucky enough to make the playoffs, I guess we’ll have a chance to get the monkey off our backs.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:16 am
Those East Coasters are so silly aren’t they?
July 21st, 2008 at 8:23 am
The article is obviously biased. In some matters, however, it states facts, such as the Red Sox should not allow this weekend’s whoopin’ by the Angels to be of any concern to them. The fact that the Angels have beaten Boston 5 games to 1 this season shouldn’t bother Boston in the least either. After all, Boston and the Angels will NOT be meeting in October. Bet your bottom dollar the Angels will be there, but Boston can’t even make it past Tampa Bay.
And as for last year’s October sweep of the Angels, remember the key words here: “last year’s”. For Boston fans who don’t know the meaning of these two words, it means in the past - meaning over, done, finished. The Boston Red Sox ARE has-beens. The Angels ARE the future!
July 21st, 2008 at 8:29 am
Who says the Red Sox are even going to be in the playoffs! The angels should worry about Joe Maddon and the rays.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:45 am
Dodger Fans and BoSox Fans are exactly same. They always revert to the past. We are playing in the present and presently the Angels have the best record in baseball ! Everyone hates the Angels but don’t confuse hate with jealousy ! See you guys in October… if you can beat the Devil Rays. LOL!!
July 21st, 2008 at 8:53 am
It is comical that on the heels of an Angels sweep that this clown feels it is necessary to give himself such a pep talk. The Red Sox need to improve their game to earn a playoff spot. Given that situation, listening to this guy dreaming that they will waltz into the playoffs and all the other teams will bow before them is pretty lame. Go Angels!
July 21st, 2008 at 9:01 am
The writer Dan must have been sipping too much Irish Whiskey before writing the delirious column. I can’t blame him for crying too much after his team of wankers got SPANKED by the Angels. HAAhaahaa!!!
Go back to BAAHHHSTON
July 21st, 2008 at 9:15 am
I truly believe that Angel pitching will get them through any series. But, like some others have already said, Boston still needs to get through Tampa Bay, and I really don’t think they can. Angels vs Cubs in World Series.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:24 am
The Angels will choke in the end?
Well Boston Fans know all about that don’t they?
Just like the Patriots!
July 21st, 2008 at 9:35 am
Sounds like some one is a little worried. What makes you think that the Soxs will even make the post season. So far it doesn’t look so good!
July 21st, 2008 at 9:50 am
Well I’ve seen “September Slides” from both of my MLB teams, the Angels and the Dodgers. I felt the misery as a great season slipped away, game by miserable game. But…I also know the unexpected results of being too cocky about one’s favorite team, and they aren’t good. Better that we all just watch the games and enjoy the season. Praying wouldn’t hurt either. God loves baseball. If blogger Dave Gray’s premonition comes true and it’s the Angels and the Cubbies in the Fall Classic, I’d have to remove the jersey and cap of my beloved Angels and cheer for the Cubs, the way I cheered for Boston when they “Reversed the Curse” I’m a baseball fan first, and a team fan second. I’d love to see the Cubs take it all and I’m a Dodger and Angel fan…and yes, you can still be considered as being a good fan if you have favorite teams in both leagues, in spite of the feelings of others. Good luck to all and I hope we all get some great baseball moments to remember this season!
July 21st, 2008 at 10:08 am
question: If both the Red Sox and Yankees do not make the playoffs, will ESPN make them play a seven game series and force it down our throats, because, hey, they’re the only teams anybody important care about,
RIGHT?
July 21st, 2008 at 10:38 am
The Angels should pin that article on the door of the locker room and remember and respect it for all its truth. Then make him eat his words in October.
I don’t think the Red Sox will need to worry about the Angels in October. They have to get past Tampa Bay and possibly the Yankees first, who always have a strong showing in the second half.
I also think Scocia has learned from his biggest mistake last year. You play for best record and home field advantage. If we had played the Yankees instead last October, we would be talking about our 3rd trip to the World Series this year and not about what Boston fans think of the Angels.
Yesterday’s sweep reminded me of our sweep against Seattle in 2002. The love is back at the Big A, and its oh so fun to watch!
July 21st, 2008 at 10:51 am
lol @ bitter Boston fan
BITTER BOSTON FACE!
July 21st, 2008 at 11:00 am
As a orange county native, who grew up just a few miles from the BIG “A.” And now I live in Boston. Don’t ask, long story. I have to say that as a angel fan for life, that we have the best team in baseball now and probably through out the playoffs. I listen to people all day long give me $&*% about the angels how we got spanked last year. But this year those same people wont return the phone call when I call to rub it in. All boston is, is a bunch of front-runners, bandwagon jumpers. Where were they 10 yrs ago. Or even 5 yrs ago. They have gotten lucky the last two world series. Lets be honest last year in baseball, wasn’t a great year. No, one team really jumped out in front of the pack. Boston cruised through our handicapped angels, at a time when half of the team was on the DL. Boston and Papplebon, in his third person speaking, are a joke. They might as well settle in for another curse of some 86 yrs or so. And while they’re waiting they should renew their AARP cards, because half of their team is OLD, reallllllllllllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy OLD.
Red Sox fans, hey I heard there is a soccer team here, maybe you should jump on that wagon too.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:02 am
“It’s not east coast bias, it’s reality. This regular season sweeps means nothing, because the Angels will still have to go through the Red Sox in the post season. The Red Sox are a whole different team in the playoffs. The Angels are too, just not in a good way.”
one thing you’re ignoring: a lot of it comes down to home field advantage…which Boston does not have, will not have (assuming they can even grab the Wild Card over the Yankees) and is terrible on the road.
but in addition to that, the Angels have much more pop this year. not to mention pitching. so have fun with that. GO HALOS!
July 21st, 2008 at 11:13 am
exactly! thats what I told my dad. I said too bad they wont be able to play like this in the post season against the sox.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:17 am
How does this writer know the Angels will choke? Is he some kind of fortune teller or something. Anything can happen. All years are different, just because they choked in the recent playoffs doesn’t mean they will always. Angels won it all in 2002. Boston, your days are numbered all your players are getting old. Don’t let the last few year get to your head after a century of losing.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:18 am
This guy from Boston is a complete joke! He needs to stop living in the past, move on and live in the present. He reminds me of Uncle Rico in Napoleon Dynamite…the uncle who lives in the past & still believes he’s a star quarterback. This columnist is “Uncle Rico”. His only stance is that the Angels have been burned by the Redsux in years past. True, but that was then & this is now.
Here’s “Uncle Rico’s” reasoning why the Angels will not get to the World Series this year ….”I can’t rid myself of the images in my head. I see Manny’s’ majestic walk off home run over the Coke bottles against K-Rod. I see Schilling baffling the Halos on sheer smarts and location. I see David Ortiz hitting a walk off ALDS winner in ‘04. I see Chone Figgins struggling mightily in playoff games at Fenway.”
I’m going to end with this: This isn’t 1986 or 2004 or 2007….it’s 2008 & the Angels are for real. The Angels have taken 5 or 6 from Boston this year, K-Rod struck out the side yesterday to end the game (not letting up a game winning HR), we beat the Redsux best pitcher (Beckett) on Saturday, Angels out scored their so-called “high powered offense” 20 to 8 over the weekend, have a 9 game lead in the AL West, 1st team to 60 wins & we have the best record in baseball.
Sounds like the resume for a World Series team to me.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:38 am
Dan Shaughnessy wrote ‘Curse of the Bambino’ and ‘Reversing the Curse’ - looks like he’s gearing up for another book…. ‘Sox Sux Cursed Again.’
July 21st, 2008 at 11:46 am
Dear beantown moron…
Nice article on the Angels that just swept your world champion asses. You and the RedSox need to quit living in the past. What’s the average age of that team anyway? 38? I actually feel sorry for the RedSox these days as about 2/3 of the team can barely run the bases! Bob Marley in left field rivals only Jose Canseco for the worst outfielder of all time, your center fielder wears beads in his hair from the 80’s, and your shortstop is…well, i don’t know who the hell he is! Start looking realistically at your team…they are falling apart! You’ll be lucky to even make the playoffs.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:49 am
Boston is done…they might not even make the playoffs…
July 21st, 2008 at 12:15 pm
This line says it all…
“I want to believe they can challenge the Red Sox should they meet again in October.”
Key word being SHOULD…
I have to disagree with Tom’s comment about regular season sweeps meaning nothing. They mean a lot. It means that Red Sox fans have to somehow find a way to brush off the fact that they got their butts kicked this weekend.
Many looked like a 5 year old rolling on the ground chasing the ball playing t-ball this friday. Sadly he thought it was the funniest thing while his team and their fans were in complete disbelief.
Angles play 1 game at a time. We will deal with the playoffs when we get there. Right now the focus is on today’s game not on whether or not Boston fans think we’ll be contenders for another World Series trophy.
Let’s just say that this Angels fan knows that this will be another ANGEL RED OCTOBER!!!!
July 21st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
There is no shame in losing to the eventual champion in any sport. Water under the bridge. The key to all of this is that the Angels roster understands that last year doesn’t matter, nor does a series in July of any season. You play to win game to game and if you accomplish that more times than not, you end up with home field during the playoffs which is IMO, an important step in making a championship run (the 2002 Angels WSC run is not your desired path). With home field advantage, anything is possible, with or without home run power. From there, a healthy post-season roster, achieved mental toughness, the best MLB pitching staff and defense skills coupled with the best fans in baseball will take it from there. Go 2008 Angels!
July 21st, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I agree with the guy who says the Bosox are a different team in the playoffs; they have that certain sense of urgency that propels them to the next level. Francona’s a good manager, but so is Scioscia, and if the Halos can get someone like Bay, Sizemore, Nady, or even Holliday, and add a reliever like Mahay of KC, they’ ll have the last laugh, hopefully against Boston.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Dan Shaughnessy is a tool. He is the perfect example of why Boston sucks. In fact, throughout its long, and often embarrassing past, Boston has always sucked. I can only see 1 reason why people still live/visit that dump - the Samuel Adams brewery. Boston is New England’s metropolis - which is the cultural equivalent of winning a silver medal at the Special Olympics. You don’t need to look far to see the trend of suckage that Boston has been portraying for decades. Here are my top 5 reasons why Boston sucks:
1. When the Celtics won all their championships, there were only 8 teams in the league. Look it up.
2. It took the Red Sox nearly a hundred years to win a World Series. They literally sucked for 8 decades.
3. Spygate. The Patriots should have their own breakfast cereal called “Cheaties.”
4. No city has uglier women. Fact.
5. Boston Tea Party - pretty macho way to start a revolution.
The only good thing about that city was the movie Departed, when all those Red Sox fans die at the end.
July 21st, 2008 at 2:18 pm
1. “I agree with the guy who says the Bosox are a different team in the playoffs; they have that certain sense of urgency that propels them to the next level. Francona’s a good manager…”
2. “…but so is Scioscia, and if the Halos can get someone like Bay, Sizemore, Nady, or even Holliday, and add a reliever like Mahay of KC, they’ ll have the last laugh, hopefully against Boston.”
————————————————
1. Last year, yes. Reality: it’s 2008 not 2007.
2. And yet Scioscia and his merry men in red rule presently with the best record in Baseball sans a “big bat”. How so, luck?
July 21st, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Every season is different but the Angels do not match up well with the RedSox in the post-season who have shown the ability to step up at that time. On the other angels two of the angels best and most important hitters, vlad and figgy, have been post-season busts.
But I do hope Mike learned his lesson, the Angels need home field in the post-season against the Redsox.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I was prepared to go ballistic when I opened Dan Shaughnessy’s Boston Globe column. It was actually somewhat more pleasant than I thought it might be. Okay, enough of the pleasantries.
Boston tops my list of teams that I loathe. Even more than the Yankees. And that takes a lot. Maybe it’s that arrogant term, “Red Sox Nation.” Since when do they represent us? Maybe it’s the sense of entitlement that the Red Sox, the baseball pundits and their arrogant fans seem to share. Maybe it’s the patronizing tone of sports writers like Dan Shaghnessy of the Boston Globe, Tony DiMarco of msnbc.com, or the neanderthals on ESPN (and where do they get those pimp suits anyway?).
Perhaps most of all, maybe it’s the arrogance of the Red Sox themselves and their miserable, Little League ballpark. Start with Kevin Youkilis. Or that smirking breakfast cereal they have in center field. Or Josh “I like to break people’s hands” Beckett. Or the arrogant look and attitude of closer Jonathan Papelbon. And Manny Ramirez? He’s too easy of a target. Maybe it’s their throwback uniforms. Or the fact that they win games with bats, not gloves.
I could keep going, but I won’t. I’m tired of the status quo being served. I’m tired of the east coast media expecting that only the Red Sox and Yankees deserve to win it all, and that the rest of the teams in the MLB are like the bit-player teams who take on the Harlem Globtrotters (who I dearly love, by the way) to be mere pawns. I would love any team BUT those two to win it all. If it’s the Cubs or the Rays, fantastic. Let it be Kansas City or Minnesota. Anyone BUT Boston.
That said, my dreams are for the Angels. They’re the good guys. They play baseball the way it should be played. If I hear one more Sasquatch-type myth that the Angels only need another big bat, I’ll barf. That same thinking brought us Mo Vaughn and Kevin Appier, and you know how that story ended. Badly. We only need to play to our potential, stay healthy, and not beat ourselves.
Of course, if we win, and I believe we can, ESPN will dismiss it as “a fluke” just like they did in 2002.
Memo to the east coast sportswriting pundits: you’re wrong. The past is no indicator of the future. The reason you’re behind a desk is that you could never make your high school team. So what makes you talking heads think you know more than the players? Truth be told, you don’t. It will be fun watching them eat their words, their arrogance and not a little crow.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:35 am
Where did this “Nation” moniker come from? Red Sox Nation, Buckeye Nation. Must describe a bunch of “no-life-outside-of-the-team” Fans.
“They’re going crazy down there in “Tiger Nation” - give me a break.
Please folks, let’s not ever start a Trojan, Laker, Angel, Charger, or any other So Cal “Nation”!!!!!
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:02 pm
No TexasAngel Fan, instead we have loser announcer who add an “ee” sound to the end of players’ last names…”Figgy”…”Jiggy”…FRUITY!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:19 am
I love how you people try to discount the Red Sox power by saying “they can’t even catch Tampa Bay”. Keep in mind the Red Sox play in a REAL DIVISION, one with FIVE teams, and one that actually has more than one competitive team in it. If the Angels played in a five or six team division, likje everyone else, they wouldn’t have such an easy time making the playoffs ever year. But it’s kinda cute how you Angels fans think your team is the best because they dominate the smallest and weakest division in all of baseball, so as you were…tell us some more how unstoppable they are. HA!!
July 29th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
As you all say EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO HIS OR HER OPINION. But don’t put all your pennies in one bag. I’ll be patient and try not to talk trash and just keep my fingers crossed and try not to get to excited about our continuous Angels wins..further more lets talk about Tampa Bay! No one in MLB wants to see Tampa Bay make a shot at winning AL East..because the money is with Boston..but I would love to see Tampa Bay win AL East and see them in the playoffs at any rate.Take note Boston might not even make the playoffs,how many times can we repeat ourselves. So put the players on the field and lets play ball..and I’ll keep making my living right there behind homeplate at Angel Stadium….THE GREEN MONSTER IS NOT SO HARD TO HIT OVER AND WE PROVED THAT LAST NIGHT….so lets finish it out….. THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER HAS $$$$$$ IN MY HEAD!
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:19 am
after the last 10 days, the original article is even further from the truth now!!! After we swept them AGAIN, and at fenway this time. We added Tiexiera, the only missing piece was a “big” bat. The sox lost manny the clubhouse cancer.. Boston will be hard pressed to even sneak a wildcard much less win the al east. the angels can rest 4 guys every night and still win the div. by 10 games.