Angels Will Try To Run Away From History
History may be agaist them, but the Angels have speed on the basepaths and that has been trouble for the Red Sox.
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ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Maicer Izturis #13 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrates after teammate Tori Hunter #48 scored to give the Angels a 2-0 lead over the Texas Rangers in the fourth inning at Angel Stadium on September 30, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Just about everything Boston is historic. There is Bunker Hill and Paul Revere’s house. Then there are the Red Sox, they call a historic park home and play an old-style of baseball — they live and die by the home run.
Part of that history is a post-season dominance of the Angels. Four meetings, four times Boston has won in the playoffs. In the last 10 playoff meetings between these franchises, the Sox are 9-1
But this year can be different because the Red Sox have an Achilles heel — team’s that can run. Speed kills them. And the Angels love to run, love to scrap. This year they plan to run right past the Red Sox and their history.
The Angels, as they long have under manager Mike Scioscia, are going to try to manufacture runs. Get a guy on base, bunt him over to second, maybe he steals third then gets brought in on a sacrifice fly. Sure, they get some home runs and big innings, but most of their runs come by gutting it out one run at a time.
And while the Red Sox catchers are great with the bat, they have noodle arms throwing out runners. The Angles will try to take advantage of that.
Because of the depth of their roster, the Angels will get men on base — yes, even against someone Cy Young candidate and Boston game one starter John Lester. Torii Hunger has hit .667 for his career against Lester, Juan Rivera, Howie Kendrick and Vladimir Guerrero .400. Guys are going to get on base, and they are going to run.
The Angels have their weaknesses too, specifically their bullpen — and if you need a reminder of how important that is, the Dodgers gave it too you last night. Joe Torre went to his bullpen in the fourth inning and they gave up just one run the rest of the way. Tony LaRussa stuck with his ace and the Dodgers nibbled away at him and got the win.
The Angels will need their bullpen, but those pitchers should get a lot of support. Because the Angels are fast and are going to try to exploit that on a historic — and in key spots ancient — Red Sox team.
