Angels Claim Third Straight AL Western Division Title

The Hunt for Red October is over!!!! Not since 1990 has any team in the American League Western Division performed the 3peat! On Monday, September 28, 2009, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim did just that, by whipping the Texas Rangers in an 11-0 showdown. On Tuesday, they downed the Rangers yet again to ensure a 3rd straight ALDS battle with the Boston Red Sox. Torii Hunter contends that the history between the Angels and the Red Sox means nothing. John Lackey says that the past has nothing to do with today. And, you know what? I agree with both Hunter and Lackey. There is not a pitcher in baseball that these boys in red cannot hit and no batter in the majors that can't be K'd. The Angels' post season nemisis will be ill advised if they go into the ALDS with full confidence that they will triumph.

In all likelyhood, the starting rotation for the Halos will be John Lackey, Jered Weaver, Joe Saunders and Scott Kazmir, while Ervin Santana takes another postseason in the bullpen. The starters for Beantown should be Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buchholz. If we can get on top of Beckett early in game one, we can get to that shaky bullpen of theirs. Will Lackey rise to the occassion? His last 2 starts have been somewhat lack luster at best. John Lackey has the playoff experience and the good stuff to pull off a game one win. He just needs to get his 1st pitch strikes across the place and not aim the ball. A game one victory will set the tone for the rest of the series - 2 wins at home and 1 win at Fenway Park would be ideal.

The Angels lineup is incredibly deep and fierce. Halo players are all over the American League category leaders for hitting stats. Chone Figgins is the best leadoff man in the AL this season leading all batters in runs scored with 114. Figgy is also batting .300 with 181 hits, 101 walks and 42 stolen bases. Kendry Morales tops charts with 34 HRs (6th), 107 RBIs (5th), 43 2Bs (7th), .304 AVG (14th) and a .571 SLG (2nd). As far as offense goes, the Angels will meet the Red Sox pitching contingent with speed and power. Boston fans should be worried, very very worried about what these boys can do once they get on a roll.

The picture of Shane (an Angels batboy) holding Nick Adenhart's jersey during the Halos victory celebration will be etched in my mind for years to come. To those people who think this was a shameful or disrespectful act, I say, "Shame on you! Shame on all of you." Yes, it is very tragic to have lost Adenhart so early in his young career. I see this as a celebration of his life, a celebration of his time, for all eternity, as an Angel. Nick Adenhart will always be an Angel and the boys were celebrating that, including him in their joy. If Nick were here, I can guarantee he would be right there with them. He was right there with them, as far as everyone involved was concerned. His presence is felt every day in the lives of these players and to say their celebration was disrespectful, wow....I say get a clue people. This is just another way of carrying on this young man's legacy, his life and his memory.