Orange County Register

Just sifted through all the Angels’ comments from another Fenway meltdown and I found one voice of sanity. It belonged to Torii Hunter.

Even Mike Scioscia, who normally composes himself as well as any manager before the reporters shuffle into his office, appeared to be simmering well after the cooling-off period. He wondered what the count was on Nick Green before he walked to drive in the tying run. “Three-and-four?” Scioscia asked.

The only problem with Scioscia’s perspective: the calls weren’t that cut-and-dry. Yeah, Green probably went on his checked swing, according to the replay. But replays almost always indicate a player committed to the swing. It’s not uncommon for the umpires to blow that one.

The 3-and-2 pitch was borderline. It appeared to cross the plate at the bottom of Green’s knees. It was far from an egregious non-call.

Closer Brian Fuentes, the man (again) in the middle of the storm, suggested umpires are afraid to rule against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

“It’s either a mistake or they’re scared,” Fuentes said. “One of the two.”

Normally, I’m all for bluntness and genuine emotion in baseball quotes. Anything that breaks from the drab, repetitive soundtracks some players recite in front of reporters is refreshing.

In this, I think the Angels are just shooting themselves in the foot. No matter what happens (other than a miraculous Texas revival) in the next few weeks, they are going to have to play playoff games at Fenway Park. Why make it more haunted than it already is? Why create any more doubt in their own minds? Why give the Fenway fans any more ammunition.

Back to Hunter, the lone voice of reason. Here’s what he said:

“A lot of players on this team are getting it wrong,” Hunter said. “It’s not more important to play this team (the Red Sox) than the Tampa Bay Rays or Seattle Mariners. You play the same game. You do what you do. You have fun. You don’t change your game because it’s the Red Sox or the Yankees. If you play nervous, you’re going to make mistakes. Show some (guts).”

What he said.

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