Angels’ finally set for second season

September 27, 2008 by Nich Hall
Filed under Angels, Major League Baseball

For the Angels a post season beth has been a foregone conclusion since the All Star break. Now finally on the last weekend of the season the Angels have secured home-field advantage throughout the postseason via their league best record of 99-61. Manager Mike Scioscia spoke to the importance of home-field, a season goal, but also was quick to point out the real work is just beginning, “It’s important, but it’s only important if you play well. If you don’t play well, it doesn’t matter where you’re playing.”

Over the past week the Angels had been watching the AL East very closely as the Rays and Red Sox battled it out for the division crown and wild card berth. Last night as the Rays and Sox fell the Angels officially clinched their home-field. The Sox loss clinched the Rays first ever AL East crown, in this the franchise’s first playoff appearance. The Rays will face either Chicago or Minnesota in the ALDS, the Twins currently hold a .5 game lead in the Central. All of that means, once again the Boston Red Sox are coming to L.A. for yet another ALDS. The Red Sox come into this playoff series having won six straight playoff games against the Angels, two series sweeps in both of the Sox championship seasons. However the Angels have dominated Boston this season, handling them on eight of nine occasions, including seven straight. Obviously one of these streaks is bound to end come October.

The Angels as is their prerogative choose to open their ALDS on Wednesday, with game two on Friday. With that rotation in mind both of these clubs will be able to roll their top-three starters in this series. The Angels are expected to start John Lackey, Ervin Santana, and Joe Saunders against the Sox Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka. It should be a terrific series with these pitching matchups playing a huge role. We’ll have a detailed pitching preview on Monday as this series gears up.

With home-field sealed away the Angels have one remaining milestone to reach this regular season. They currently sit at 99 wins, which ties their club record set in 2002. The Halos have two remaining games against Texas to secure their 100th win. But once this weekend set is over the Angels will begin their quest for the only milestone that matters.

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