Ok Texas beat the ever living Dung out of us. But the regulars who rested against the Rangers (Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson), most likely will play all three games against the Athletics. Don’t count on them playing every inning but after a few days off they will look to get their timing back and for the Halo’s to get back in form heading into the playoffs.
The pitchers have now been aligned for the first three playoff games and those lingering fans of Fatty (Colon) the rotation will be John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar and Jered Weaver. They will start in Oakland also in that order, and they won't be on pitch counts, though Escobar, who hasn't started since Sept. 17 because of shoulder inflammation, will be watched to make sure his arm is looking good.
The Angels must sweep the A's, the Red Sox must lose their final three games, and the Yankees have to lose at least once for the Angels to gain home field in the first round. But who cares. If they play the way they have for most of the season, showing superb starting pitching, and get back to that lock-down relief, hard line base running, clutch hitting and strong defense, Scioscia likes their chances no matter where they're playing -- even in Fenway Park, where the Angels are 14-22 since 2000.
Players, with question marks entering the final weekend of the season, could hold the key to Angels playoff fortunes.
The pitchers have now been aligned for the first three playoff games and those lingering fans of Fatty (Colon) the rotation will be John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar and Jered Weaver. They will start in Oakland also in that order, and they won't be on pitch counts, though Escobar, who hasn't started since Sept. 17 because of shoulder inflammation, will be watched to make sure his arm is looking good.
The Angels must sweep the A's, the Red Sox must lose their final three games, and the Yankees have to lose at least once for the Angels to gain home field in the first round. But who cares. If they play the way they have for most of the season, showing superb starting pitching, and get back to that lock-down relief, hard line base running, clutch hitting and strong defense, Scioscia likes their chances no matter where they're playing -- even in Fenway Park, where the Angels are 14-22 since 2000.
Players, with question marks entering the final weekend of the season, could hold the key to Angels playoff fortunes.
1. Escobar, who is 17-7 with a 3.46 earned run average, suffers another shoulder setback Saturday, he probably will be replaced in the playoff rotation by either Colon or Joe Saunders.
2. Gary Matthews Jr.: He has missed 10 games in the last month because of a sprained right ankle; then Matthews landed awkwardly on the warning track in center field after flagging down a fly ball by Nelson Cruz in the first inning of the Rangers' 16-2 romp in Arlington irritating his left-knee on Wednesday and is uncertain for this weekend, and hopeful for the playoffs. But if Matthews can't go, Reggie Willits would start in center. Willits is a solid table-setter in the No. 9 spot, but he's nowhere near the defender Matthews is. But some times all you need is a little heart and you came up champs. EX factor did it for us in 2002 Little Reg in 2007?
2. Gary Matthews Jr.: He has missed 10 games in the last month because of a sprained right ankle; then Matthews landed awkwardly on the warning track in center field after flagging down a fly ball by Nelson Cruz in the first inning of the Rangers' 16-2 romp in Arlington irritating his left-knee on Wednesday and is uncertain for this weekend, and hopeful for the playoffs. But if Matthews can't go, Reggie Willits would start in center. Willits is a solid table-setter in the No. 9 spot, but he's nowhere near the defender Matthews is. But some times all you need is a little heart and you came up champs. EX factor did it for us in 2002 Little Reg in 2007?
3. Scot Shields: September has been a month of extremes -- the right-hander has been either dominant or hopeless. He struggled so much in August he was demoted from his setup role. The Halo’s need him to pitch well against Oakland to build momentum for the playoffs.
Playoffs:
Unlike past postseasons, teams have until lineup cards are exchanged before Game 1 to make revisions in the roster, in the event of last-minute developments.
Also, rosters no longer are frozen in a series once play begins. An injury, if documented properly by the medical staff, can lead to a replacement player being selected mid-series.
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