Still Traffic On Way To Freeway Series
After sweeping past the first round, a Freeway Series does not seem so impossible. But there is still traffic ahead.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 23: Orlando Hudson #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers leaps to avoid a collision at second base as Chone Figgins #8 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim breaks up a double play on a hit by Angels Erick Aybar during the fifth inning of the baseball game at Dodger Stadium on May 23, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Baseball fans in Southern California want more congestion on the 5 Freeway. It seems everyone from Palmdale to Lake Forest went into the postseason with trepidation — the Dodgers had been slumping, and the Angels were playing a team that had knocked them around in the playoffs in recent years.
Then the games started and the road opened up — like driving the 5 Freeway at midnight. The Dodgers starting pitching was clutch and Manny Ramirez started hitting and the Blue Crew swept past the Cardinals. The Angels ignored the ghosts of playoffs past and just flatout out-played the Red Sox in every facet of the game — including a dramatic comeback in game three with a two-out rally against Jonathan Papelbon, the closer Red Sox fans thought infallible.
Suddenly, a freeway series looks possible. But before you think it’s only going to take 30 minutes to get from Dodgers Stadium to Angels Stadium, there's more than rush-hour traffic blocking Southern California’s dream series.
For the Angels, there is the Yankees. The best team in baseball this season (well, as long as you ignore the first six weeks of said season). They are a better, richer version of the Red Sox team the Angels just beat — the Yankees have bought better talent everywhere they can. Alex Rodriguez is suddenly looking like a guy who can hit in the playoffs. CC Sabathia had a playoff ERA over 7.00 but suddenly looked dominating against the Twins. Derek Jeter just keeps finding a way to contribute when it matters.
But the Angels have a much better outfield, pitching that has been there when it counted, and they have a relentless hitting attack — they have more guys with 50 RBIs than any team in Major League history.
In the regular season, the Angels and Yankees split the series 5-5. Over the last five years, the Angels have dominated this matchup, winning 30 and losing just 19. This series will be a close one.
The Dodgers are still waiting to see who they play — the Philadelphia Phillies (who knocked Los Angeles out of the playoffs last year) or the scrappy Colorado Rockies. Either way, the Dodgers will enter as the favorites, because they are finally hitting and have the best bullpen in baseball.
But these Dodgers have been streaky. During the regular season they almost gave away a 15-game lead to those same Rockies. And in a short series, streaky can equal dangerous — the Dodgers may be favorites, but there is little margin for error, regardless of opponent.
Still, suddenly it feels a little bit safer to dream of a Freeway Series. Red vs. blue. West LA vs. Irvine. Joe Torre vs. Mike Scioscia.
But like getting to drive the 5 Freeway without traffic, getting to dream about it and it actually happening are two different things. Both the Dodgers and the Angels need to navigate through some serious Sig Alerts.
