Let’s Finish This!

[AngelsWin.com]

By Geoff Stoddart, AngelsWin.com Vice President of Marketing & Communications

It’s Monday morning.  

It’s September 1, 2014.  

It’s Labor Day.  

I’m sitting on my back deck, drinking coffee and staring out west towards the Rocky Mountains.  The sky is blue and there are a handful of puffy white clouds positioned above just perfectly.  Yet, amidst all of this beauty, the only thing I can think of is the amazing weekend of baseball that Angels’ fans just witnessed. 

The Angels just completed a four game sweep of the Oakland A’s, the team we’ve been chasing all year for control of the American League West.  On August 16th, we caught them.  On August 18th, we passed them. And entering this four game series, we held a one game lead.  

The weekend was full of amazing moments …

• The A’s media and fans lost their minds over Angel fans doing the Light Wave.  They claimed it was 1) tacky, 2) cheating and 3) akin to shining a laser-pointer in their player’s eyes.  (Shout out to @CSNAthletics, @brodiebrazilCSN and @OakAsSocksGrl for some top-notch drama.)

• Angel fans who previously hated the Light Wave and thought it was dumb, suddenly loved it because it pissed off the other team’s media and fans.  (Shout out to … ummm … me.)

• A’s players came out and said 1) they didn’t even notice the Light Wave when they were batting and 2) the Light Wave was “actually kind of cool.”  (Shout out to Stephen Vogt and Brandon Moss.)

Of course, there were amazing moments on the field as well.  

• The Angels outscored the A’s 18-4 over the four game series.

• The Angels shutout the A’s two of the four games.

• The Angels pitching staff held the A’s scoreless for 29 consecutive innings.  (The 2nd most in A’s team history.)

• With Garrett Richards out for the rest of the season, the Angels were forced to do a “bullpen start” on Saturday, using a club record 8 pitchers (in a 9 inning game).  Led by Cory Rasmus, the staff shut the A’s down, holding them to just 3 hits.

It was a glorious weekend, and today is a glorious day!  The Halos now hold a 5 game lead over the A’s in the AL West and boast the best record in all of baseball, 83-53.  What could be better?!?!

Well … finishing.  

Finishing could be better. 

I’m keenly aware that many Angel fans don’t have much history with the team prior to 2002.  That’s fine.  Nothing breeds success, interest and an increased fan base like winning, and the 2000’s have been certainly been the golden age of Angels baseball.  (The last four years not withstanding.) 

However, the 1990’s were not as golden.  

On the morning of September 1, 1995, the Angels held a 7.5 game lead in the AL West.  All they had to do was not throw-up on themselves for the final 27 games and they’d make the post-season for the first time since 1986 (another year when finishing was an issue).  

Playing .500 ball that September would have done it.  Instead the team went 11-16, forcing a one game play-in game with Seattle.  Randy Johnson threw a near no hitter, and the Angels lost 9-1.  

In baseball, as in all sports (hell … as in life!), you have to finish!  

It was an amazing weekend of Angels’ baseball, but the job is far from over.  In fact, one could argue that the real work is just beginning.  So let’s get after it! 

Now, I’m not going to go all Karate Kid on you and bust out a “finish him” or “sweep the leg” quote.  That would be too cheesy.  Besides, when Sensei John Kreese uttered those words to his fighter, the guy lost.  

Instead, I’ll wish you all a wonderful Labor Day!  

Enjoy the time off.  Enjoy the afterglow of an amazing weekend of baseball.  Prepare for the home stretch.  

And for heaven’s sakes keep those cellphone batteries charged!  Apparently the Light Wave causes great emotional stress and mental anguish to the other team!  

If not to their players, at least to their media and fans!

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[Chuck]

Good stuff, Geoff. I'm definitely soaking it in today and not scoreboard watching. 

 

The Angels just need to focus on and win OGAAT ... they'll be fine. 

[Bruce Nye]

Well done, Geoff.  Tough 10 game road trip for the team.  I hope for at least 5 - 5.  

[Spirit]

Thanks gents.

[mancini79]

Went to the game on Sat with an A's fan. I made sure to join in the Light Wave just to annoy him. We won, so it obviously works.

[fan_since79]

The Light Wave is very beautiful and actually has a calming effect on me. Nicely counteracts the deafening rock music which drives me up the wall.

[Ohtaniland]

Nice stuff Geoff but see what you caused. The A's fans will be waiting for us........... All 36 of them.

 

[Spirit]

Haha

[mancini79]

It's important to note that the Light Wave did not replace the regular wave. Fans were starting it up while Street was closing the game.

[Ohtaniland]

It's important to note that the Light Wave did not replace the regular wave. Fans were starting it up while Street was closing the game.

 

The wave is a clear indication that many fans don't have any idea what the standings are. They're just happy to be there with their neighbors tickets. 

[Spirit]

Nothing makes me feel better than going to another team's ballpark and seeing their fans doing the wave.  It lets me know we're not the only ones.  

[Adam]

They need to beat the everliv'n out of these crap teams over the next two weeks

[Angel Oracle]

So far, there are only a couple of pitchers on this trip that could be a concern: Gibson and Hughes in Minnesota.

Who knows though who Tejas will throw at us.

Could be Manny, Moe, and Jack for all we know.

[Blarg]

More like Larry, Moe and Curly

http://www.threestooges.net/albums/mlc/Baseball_HT.jpg

Edited September 2, 2014 by Eric Notti

[Waybackman]

I watched the A's game at Oakland yesterday and the ump had to call time out because there was a beach ball in the outfield. This after the A's announcers had denounced Angel's fans in Anaheim for the same thing.

[eligrba]

I watched the A's game at Oakland yesterday and the ump had to call time out because there was a beach ball in the outfield. This after the A's announcers had denounced Angel's fans in Anaheim for the same thing.

 

The A's announcers are clowns...almost as bad as listening to the Oregon Ducks football announcers.  Both sets of announcers distort reality beyond recognition.

[NorCal Halo]

I can see you comments, eligrba, when listening to the radio broadcasters.  However, if you meant the television broadcasters, I have to disagree.  Living in northern California (supposedly in A's territory) I've watched numerous games that were announced by Ray Fosse.  I've found him to be very knowledgeable and very balanced.  if there is a great play by the opposing team, he will give credit where credit is due.  He will also call out hacks and poor sportsmanship as well.  I have found him to be very consistent and even keeled.  He is no Hacksaw or Gubby.

[Spirit]

 Brodie Brazil (A's pre & post game guy) is a complete ass-clown.  

[T.G.]

I like the mentality of knowing that the work isn't done yet.  This past weekend was everything we could hope for and more... It was great all the way around.  The team performed well, Angels fans showed up and were into the game, and the icing on the cake was checking in on mlbnetwork radio to hear A's fans act like the world was ending.  It was beautiful... but it will pale in comparison to the moment this team actually clinches the AL West.

[Spirit]

No.  Really.  Let's finish this.   

 

 

Geeezzzzz.

[Angel Oracle]

Don't expect Houston to do the same thing to Oakland this weekend.

EMBARRASSING!

[Stradling]

They should quit baseball. Clearly the last two games have shown they aren't very good, despite what the previous 130+ games showed.

[Stradling]

Don't expect Houston to do the same thing to Oakland this weekend.

EMBARRASSING!

Yea it's been a couple weeks since Oakland nearly got swept by Houston, can't possibly see that happening again, not the way Oakland is playing.

[Blarg]

Let's start this.

[Stradling]

Yea it's been a couple weeks since Oakland nearly got swept by Houston, can't possibly see that happening again, not the way Oakland is playing.

And by a couple of weeks I mean last week.