We need to find players who can get it done...

[sneaky_flute]

Give it a rest.  That was an Albert Pujols led team with Yadier Molina catching and Chris Carpenter as an ace.  That was no fluke, they had guys who could get it done and mash in October.

Pujols and Carpenter were quite good that year, but Molina and the rest of the team weren't. How does citing the 2006 Cardinals (one of the worst playoff teams of all time) prove your point? 

[mtangelsfan]

Two of the three games the Royals weren't any better than the Angels with runners on base.  Bottom line is that you are trying to judge players on the smallest of sample sizes.  Not only that, what players that excel during the post season are even available next year?

 

its easy to say, not so easy to do.

[QuinlansMinion]

Pujols and Carpenter were quite good that year, but Molina and the rest of the team weren't. How does citing the 2006 Cardinals (one of the worst playoff teams of all time) prove your point? 

I didnt cite them, someone else brought them up.  

The reason I brought up Molina is his outstanding catching skills.  After watching Ianetta botch pitchout attempts, I wish we had him.

[QuinlansMinion]

Two of the three games the Royals weren't any better than the Angels with runners on base.  Bottom line is that you are trying to judge players on the smallest of sample sizes.  Not only that, what players that excel during the post season are even available next year?

 

its easy to say, not so easy to do.

We were one hit away from winning both games 1 and 2.  But every time someone came up in that situation to drive in the go ahead run, they flailed.  Howie, Hamilton, Cron, Ianetta, it didnt matter.  Whoever came up had a terrible at bat.  And thats the result of having guys in the lineup who just cant get it done in October because they dont have the make up of a good hitter.  I dont seem to remember Calhoun coming up in that situation with the RISP.  The one time we had a leadoff runner on first late in the game for Kole, MS asked him to bunt.  The one time Trout came up to win the game, he walked because first base was open.  Pujols at least came up big once to tie the game late.  Everyone else in the lineup, useless.  

[Reveille1984]

Over the past 25 years, 15 different teams have won a world series and 23 teams have been to the world series.  There isn't some magical formula of finding "winning players" to make it to the big dance.

 

We lost because our hitting was cold and streaky, which it has been all year despite the amount of runs we've created.  To criticize a player for 20 PA's during the season is asinine due to sample size, but the same amount of PA's during the playoffs is a telling signal of a weak-minded player?  I just don't buy it.  It is the same as every other cliche people make about players and teams they know nothing about:  "They just didn't want it as much!  They look like they don't even care!  That guy just knows how to win!  They were lazy once they clinched and couldn't live up to the occasion!" 

 

There's a lot of parity in baseball and anyone can win once they get to the playoffs.  Get over it.  People who say a team just has players that "can't get it done" when only one of 30 teams wins the championship every year is a weak argument. 

[DoubleOffTheWall]

We were one hit away from winning both games 1 and 2.  But every time someone came up in that situation to drive in the go ahead run, they flailed.  Howie, Hamilton, Cron, Ianetta, it didnt matter.  Whoever came up had a terrible at bat.  And thats the result of having guys in the lineup who just cant get it done in October because they dont have the make up of a good hitter.  I dont seem to remember Calhoun coming up in that situation with the RISP.  The one time we had a leadoff runner on first late in the game for Kole, MS asked him to bunt.  The one time Trout came up to win the game, he walked because first base was open.  Pujols at least came up big once to tie the game late.  Everyone else in the lineup, useless.  

 

I said Cruz is a bad example because he has failed in October (in the field) and is a known PED user.

 

I agree we need some guys with more attitude and swagger, but that's hard to quantify.

 

What I really think we need is a sense of urgency, which we have routinely lacked to start seasons (our numerous crappy Aprils) and to start October postseason play.

 

Its obvious that under Scioscia the team comes out flat after breaks, and that is just inexcusable. 

 

I'm not saying we need to fire Mike, but they need to try something new so that the team comes out strong to start and finish the season. 

[QuinlansMinion]

Over the past 25 years, 15 different teams have won a world series and 23 teams have been to the world series.  There isn't some magical formula of finding "winning players" to make it to the big dance.

 

We lost because our hitting was cold and streaky, which it has been all year despite the amount of runs we've created.  To criticize a player for 20 PA's during the season is asinine due to sample size, but the same amount of PA's during the playoffs is a telling signal of a weak-minded player?  I just don't buy it.  It is the same as every other cliche people make about players and teams they know nothing about:  "They just didn't want it as much!  They look like they don't even care!  That guy just knows how to win!  They were lazy once they clinched and couldn't live up to the occasion!" 

 

There's a lot of parity in baseball and anyone can win once they get to the playoffs.  Get over it.  People who say a team just has players that "can't get it done" when only one of 30 teams wins the championship every year is a weak argument. 

Have you been reading any of this thread?  Ill just copy and paste one of my previous posts to save time.

 

Hamilton may have an LCS MVP, but his postseason numbers overall have always been bad.  He had a terrible postseason OPS prior to when we signed him, in over 100 at bats.  Hes never proved to be a player that can hit good pitching, he flails at everything and looks awful in any at bat vs a respectable pitcher.  Does that sound like anyone on our team?  Oh yeah, Howie Kendrick, a guy who has been flailing in October for almost a decade.  

 

I thought Pujols was a good signing, and he at least had a couple of good moments for us, certainly better than most of the lineup.  The length of the contract is what kills us.  But this thread isnt about Pujols or his shortcomings.  

Im tired of hearing this postseason is a crap shoot crap.  It clearly isnt.  You would think one of these years we would get lucky and win it.  There is a reason Mike Scioscia led teams continue to perform like this and get humiliated in the playoffs.  You cant tell me the Red Sox, Giants, and Cardinals just get lucky because its a crap shoot.  Its the same damn excuse every year from super fans and its gotten old quickly.  How many more times must we be eliminated to realize there is a correlation between guys who can hit in this so called "Crap shoot," and guys like Howie Kendrick and Josh Hamilton who cant.  

[19HALO71]

Find a 100% guaranteed clutch player in the playoffs and become his agent, you're sure to be rich.

[QuinlansMinion]

Years of watching this team fail in the playoffs and people still think its a crapshoot.

[DoubleOffTheWall]

Years of watching this team fail in the playoffs and people still think its a crapshoot.

 

Most people here are just happy with winning 90 games and then "hoping" things work out in the postseason. 

 

No team has gotten swept as many times in the playoffs as the angels since the beginning of the millennium, that's for sure. 

 

I think the angels were also the first team since 1969 to have the best record and get swept outta the first round. 

 

Look at the Nats today - they had to go to freakin SF and face Bumgarner, and they got it done. The angels just don't do stuff like that. They are a nervous wreck. 

[Lou]

For all of the big money players we have signed/traded for the past several years, how many have even been close to performing to their salary in season? 

Even Pujols, despite the top 5 AL standing in rbis, BARELY surpassed an .800 OPS.    That is NOT what $240 million should get you! 

 

he only made $23M this year

[Stradling]

No, were not happy to just make the playoffs, but to think you can predict what player A will do in the post season is silly. So we trade Howie and get a second baseman who can hit in the playoffs. What happens when he doesn't hit in the playoffs, you know because of a slump or whatever. QM, you have been a fan of baseball long enough to know that there isn't some magical post season player. Albert was one of those guys and he didn't do it this year. Derek Jeter played in a ton of playoff series, but he had ten series where he hit .250 or less and that was when there was more offense in baseball. Reggie Jackson had 6 playoff series where he hit less than .200. David Ortiz had six playoff series where he hit less than .250. Howie has a total of 16 post season games and you give that more value than what he has done over the course of his Angel career.

[Bruce Nye]

How about get a manager, along with a coaching staff, that can have players prepared to play in postseason games.

 

 

Do us a huge favor and give us a lesson in what preparation the manager and coaches should do (as opposed to what they DID do).  

[QuinlansMinion]

No, were not happy to just make the playoffs, but to think you can predict what player A will do in the post season is silly. So we trade Howie and get a second baseman who can hit in the playoffs. What happens when he doesn't hit in the playoffs, you know because of a slump or whatever. QM, you have been a fan of baseball long enough to know that there isn't some magical post season player. Albert was one of those guys and he didn't do it this year. Derek Jeter played in a ton of playoff series, but he had ten series where he hit .250 or less and that was when there was more offense in baseball. Reggie Jackson had 6 playoff series where he hit less than .200. David Ortiz had six playoff series where he hit less than .250. Howie has a total of 16 post season games and you give that more value than what he has done over the course of his Angel career.

Of course anyone can hit a slump.  But its funny you mentioned Jeter and Ortiz hitting .250 or less.  If Howie would have hit .250, we win this series.  

 

You are right that there is no way to predict what someone can do in the postseason, but you can get players that can put together good at bats no matter who the pitcher is.  We all saw how completely outmatched Kendrick, Hamilton, and Cron were.  Calhoun is a tough hitter, he had a good series.  Trout is a tough hitter, he was in a minor slump but he didnt perform that horribly.  Pujols had a couple of moments.  Freese and Ianetta both homered in game 1.  Aybar had a pretty good series.  

 

I dont think we are far away from having a lineup full of tough hitters, who can put together good at bats against good pitching.  Cron, Kendrick, and Hamilton though cost us this series with horrible momentum killing at bats, and for failing miserably with RISP. 

[Stradling]

Hamilton was awful, but Howie had a good season, it was a growing season for him as he drew more walks and had the highest OBP of his career. Aybar had one good game out of three, where he had 4 hits and that was in our elimination game. If any player gets an extra hit or two in the first two games we win this series. You say Trout didn't perform horribly well this is what the stats say about him and Howie:

Trout: 1-12

Howie: 2-13

They both hit like crap.

[QuinlansMinion]

Hamilton was awful, but Howie had a good season, it was a growing season for him as he drew more walks and had the highest OBP of his career. Aybar had one good game out of three, where he had 4 hits and that was in our elimination game. If any player gets an extra hit or two in the first two games we win this series. You say Trout didn't perform horribly well this is what the stats say about him and Howie:

Trout: 1-12

Howie: 2-13

They both hit like crap.

Howie showed some improvement in the regular season.  He actually somehow regressed in the postseason.  Hes always been terrible in October, he just isnt the type of player that can excel in the postseason.  He still has zero plate coverage, discipline, and vision.  He looked more like a Salt Lake Bees player then an all star 2nd basemen.  

 

Trout at least had a home run.  He also drew 3 walks in the series.  

[Stradling]

So they both showed regression, as did everyone on the team, except Aybar and Calhoun.

[JAHV76]

How bout this guy?

[mancini79]

Howie showed some improvement in the regular season.  He actually somehow regressed in the postseason.  Hes always been terrible in October, he just isnt the type of player that can excel in the postseason.  He still has zero plate coverage, discipline, and vision.  He looked more like a Salt Lake Bees player then an all star 2nd basemen.  

 

Trout at least had a home run.  He also drew 3 walks in the series.  

He also lost a ball in the lights which allowed the go ahead run. Angels lost in extras. At the same time Royals D were climbing walls and making catches. Trout had a horrible series.

[TroutCron]

I think most are forgetting that the first two games of the series were winnable with one clutch hit in each. Win those two and this series would have belonged to the Angels. Hitting with RISP was a problem all season. It cost the Angels this series. Wholesale changes are not needed. If anything this team needs is to get younger. Scouting will be key and diving head first into the Latin market and Asia are an absolute necessity. DiPoto needs to make it happen.

[Reveille1984]

Have you been reading any of this thread?  Ill just copy and paste one of my previous posts to save time.

 

Hamilton may have an LCS MVP, but his postseason numbers overall have always been bad.  He had a terrible postseason OPS prior to when we signed him, in over 100 at bats.  Hes never proved to be a player that can hit good pitching, he flails at everything and looks awful in any at bat vs a respectable pitcher.  Does that sound like anyone on our team?  Oh yeah, Howie Kendrick, a guy who has been flailing in October for almost a decade.  

 

I thought Pujols was a good signing, and he at least had a couple of good moments for us, certainly better than most of the lineup.  The length of the contract is what kills us.  But this thread isnt about Pujols or his shortcomings.  

Im tired of hearing this postseason is a crap shoot crap.  It clearly isnt.  You would think one of these years we would get lucky and win it.  There is a reason Mike Scioscia led teams continue to perform like this and get humiliated in the playoffs.  You cant tell me the Red Sox, Giants, and Cardinals just get lucky because its a crap shoot.  Its the same damn excuse every year from super fans and its gotten old quickly.  How many more times must we be eliminated to realize there is a correlation between guys who can hit in this so called "Crap shoot," and guys like Howie Kendrick and Josh Hamilton who cant.  

 

Your posts still shows no reasoning as to why postseason stats are different than the regular season.  Howie had a .826 OPS in the 2009 postseason, but you choose to ignore that for some reason even though that's well above his career average.  Hamilton had nearly an .800 OPS with 5 HR's in the 2010 postseason (nearly 70 AB's), again not that bad.  What a coincidence that players known for being extremely streaky (Hamilton and Kendrick) have huge variations in their small sample size of postseason at bats!

 

What about teams that dominate the ALDS and get crushed in the ALCS?  Same with teams that lose in the World Series?  Did their clutchness suddenly fade from one series to the next?  It just makes no logical sense.  I'm sorry that you're "sick of this crapshoot BS", but if you believe any team has a massive advantage over any other in a five game series in baseball, especially amongst evenly matchted playoff teams, you are delusional.

[Blarg]

Clayton Kershaw's Post Season ERA is 5.20

 

The Dodgers need players that can get it done in the post season.

[Mark68]

Cruz has one talent and that one lonely talent would be largely wasted here. The only free agent who came here and shined was Vlad but what are the chances of getting a HoF talent in his prime?

Torii says hi.

[Mark68]

As much as Chuck tries to repeat the "buzzsaw" mantra, we lost the series because we couldn't hit a bunch of #3 starters. That's it. The offense did not do its job.

 

Oh, and our #3 starter sucks. That was the other reason, however, the series was pretty much over.