***OFFICIAL*** 2014 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Thread

raffi · LG Contributor Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 9987

14-3 in the 7th.

16 hits.

4 game sweeps on consecutive weekends.

Steve007 · Franchise Player Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 13227

A's lose! It's a 7 game lead in the division.

Jeffs · Retired Number Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Posts: 25274

With the A's spiraling, I think they're more worried about hanging on to the WC spot than they are with catching us at this point. The only question remaining is about which team gets home field throughout. The Angels and O's are the only team in the running for that.
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Jeffs

I feel like I just watched someone TRULY give 100%. Not the BS I'm-gonna-give-a-110%-just-like-everyone-else-says platitudes, but someone that went until he just....broke. - GT

Steve007 · Franchise Player Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 13227

Oakland had a 3-2 lead in the 9th and then gave Houston the game. They showed a stat that said the Astros were 0-65 this season when trailing after 8 innings. Make that 1-65 now.

I don't think the Astros even got a hit in the 9th. Oakland put in 2 relievers and both really struggled to throw strikes. The Astros scored 2 runs off of walks and a sacrifice fly. 5 guys were walked in the inning.

Naf_srekaL · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 3:50 pm Post subject:

Angels win, A's and Mariners lose. Shame Tampa Bay gave in at the end!

Steve007 · Franchise Player Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 13227

I'm thrilled with the position the team is in but I won't feel completely comfortable until it's closer to being locked up. If it gets down to a 5 game lead again, there is a chance that the lead could shrink to 2 or 3 games. The Angels will also play Oakland on the road 3 times in a few weeks and if the race is suddenly close, I wouldn't want to face the A's on the road when they have all that momentum.

There is always that chance that the A's could sweep and make up 3 games in the standings. So I hope it's pretty much locked up by then.

raffi · LG Contributor Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 9987

3 weeks left, 20 games.

We need to finish off the trip strong (I wanted at least 6 wins so that is still in play) - and then have a decent homestand (10 games) and we should be in good shape heading into those last 6 games.

Obviously, Baltimore will keep us having something to play for until the end, but at some point my attention is going to turn to the 2 probable wildcard teams (Seattle and Detroit would both be tough and have better staffs - heck, Oakland's staff is better too).

I assume our playoff rotation would be Weaver, Shoemaker, Wilson and Santiago. Given the Friday/Saturday, Mon/Tues, Thursday 1st round schedule I don't see Weaver going on 3 days rest. But my point is that absent holding serve in the first 2 games, I wouldn't have a high degree of confidence in Wlson or Santiago getting us to game 5. As odd as this may sound, we may very well have the best recoed in MLB at season's end but I can see us being the underdogs in the first round based on our starters. But there's not much we can do about that - we'll just need to see how that plays out but the offense is going to have to score some runs.

Naf_srekaL · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 9:05 am Post subject:

I agree raffi, especially with how Wilson's been pitching.

Our bullpen will be heavily relied upon. The starters will have very little leeway imo.

raffi · LG Contributor Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 9987

Up 3-0 in the 5th.

raffi · LG Contributor Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 9987

Make that 6-0.

Steve007 · Franchise Player Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 13227

The thought of Wilson pitching in the postseason makes me want to vomit. But can the team really go with less than 4 starters?

LakerFan87 · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 12:41 pm Post subject:

Come on down to Cleveland Town, everyone!
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...in my opinion.

venturalakersfan · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:42 pm Post subject:

It looked like there were a half dozen people at the game today.
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RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.

Naf_srekaL · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 4:10 pm Post subject:

lakersken80 · Retired Number Joined: 12 Aug 2009 Posts: 38791

Oakland, Seattle, and Detroit all fighting for the 2 wildcard spots. The way the A's have been playing they look like the weakest team out of the 3.

Jeffs · Retired Number Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Posts: 25274

raffi · LG Contributor Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 9987

Steve007 · Franchise Player Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 13227

Oakland had a lead in the 9th and found a way to choke again. Wow. The bases were empty, it was a 1-2 count on the hitter in the 9th, Oakland was up by a run, and a couple of pitches later the hitter hits a home run. Okay, with an 8 game lead even I'm starting to feel more comfortable. Maybe Seattle is the bigger threat in the division.

Jeffs · Retired Number Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Posts: 25274

Out of the potential first round match ups, who would everyone prefer? Realistic options are Oakland, Seattle, Detroit, and KC. Cleveland, NYY, and Toronto still have a shot, but they'd need pretty big collapses by two of the teams from the aforementioned list.

Out of the realistic options, I think I'd prefer KC. Oakland is struggling, but I think that's more a reflection of the struggles of the middle of their lineup, combined with several of their pitchers regressing to the mean. The Cespedes trade may have coincided with their decline, but I truly don't believe it caused it. As such, I think they are very much the same team that was dominant for over half the season. While I'd definitely rather see them than Detroit, I am still worried about them returning to form at just the right time. Seattle is a team that the Angels should beat, but they have the pitching to make it a series. They'd be unquestionably the LAST team I would want to face in a one-game playoff, but luckily that appears to no longer be an issue.

All in all, I think I'd rank the teams KC, SEA, OAK, and DET in order of preference. What do you guys think?
_________________
Jeffs

I feel like I just watched someone TRULY give 100%. Not the BS I'm-gonna-give-a-110%-just-like-everyone-else-says platitudes, but someone that went until he just....broke. - GT

rwongega · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 7:57 am Post subject:

Dominator · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 2:13 pm Post subject:

I'd like to get Oakland in the first round. They're stumbling their way to the playoffs and we're in their heads.

TooCool · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 10:59 pm Post subject:

venturalakersfan · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:21 am Post subject:

Naf_srekaL · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:00 pm Post subject:

Another nice win, and another Oakland loss

raffi · LG Contributor Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 9987

Magic # down to 9.