Don't underestimate how BIG this win was!

[Coachbulldog]

I haven't posted much this season but the oldtimers here can verify a couple of things about me; I never get carried away with the emotional rollercoaster of baseball and I rarely start a thread. But today's win leads me to do both, get emotional and start a thread because today's win was much bigger than surviving to play another game that matters.

 

For me, the emotions of this game compares to the Royals-A's wild card game last season. Two-thirds of the way through the game the Royals were dead. Then they mount a comeback, win an exciting, emotional game, and go on a run that lasted to the seventh game of the World Series. I will always believe they way Kansas City won the wild card game was part of the reason they had such a great postseason. Today, in similar fashion to the Royals, the Angels had their backs to the wall. Down four in the 9th inning and a loss would have all but eliminated them from the postseason. But they found a way to win in an emotionally charged rally. Hopefully for the Angels, they seize the emotion of today's win like the Royals did in the 2014 Wild Card game and ride it to a successful postseason! 

 

[Jay]

The Angels are playing 1000% better than they did in last year's LDS.

[ettin]

Fully agree coach I was very emotional on this one. Kept thinking that we didn't come this far in the season to just give up two steps before the finish line. As I said in the 'wow' thread this was a tremendous victory and no matter what happens I'm proud of the team for not giving up the fight!

[DMVol]

Really need Dbacks to win tonite....takes any pressure to win off Texas tomorrow....we're all in tomorrow no matter what but it would be nice to see Texas take their foot off the pedal a little....

Edited October 3, 2015 by DMVol

[fan_since79]

We might play better with the Rangers having their foot on the pedal. I'm looking for hyper intensity tomorrow from our guys.

 

But can't Arizona suit up some major league players for their game?? They look awful out there.

[DoubleOffTheWall]

I live in Az. Their team is a total joke aside from Goldy. I wish the stros could have at least played oakland, who always plays it tough.

[Troll Daddy]

Shades of WS game 6 ... great win! My son is still bouncing off the ceiling after that come back.

[Guest]

It's a great win...but where was this team all season? 

 

Sucks how they started to have heart at game #161.

[Mile High Dreams]

The Angels are playing 1000% better than they did in last year's LDS.

Let's leave Brigham's people out of this.

[Mile High Dreams]

Shades of WS game 6 ... great win! My son is still bouncing off the ceiling after that come back.

How is Mathis doing these days?

[Angelsjunky]

I hate to be a buzzkill, but it is a matter of too little too late. The Diamondbacks stink and the Angels really lost their chance with that loss to Oakland.

 

That said, I hope that these last few weeks will invigorate the team for next year, give them a sense of what it is like to play with passion.

[seenoevil]

I think we can underestimate it

[DMVol]

I hate to be a buzzkill, but it is a matter of too little too late. The Diamondbacks stink and the Angels really lost their chance with that loss to Oakland.

 

Hate to single out one game in. a 162 game season but that was just a killer.....

[QuinlansMinion]

Last year, we learned not to blow pur wad too early and not to get complacent in September.

This year, we learned you cant screw around by losing games that you should win.

Next year...?

[nate]

Hopefully a new manager

[Jay]

I hate to be a buzzkill, but it is a matter of too little too late. The Diamondbacks stink and the Angels really lost their chance with that loss to Oakland.

 

That said, I hope that these last few weeks will invigorate the team for next year, give them a sense of what it is like to play with passion.

I was hoping that last year's performance in the LDS would invigorate the team for this year. Not so much.

[DoubleOffTheWall]

Next year we need to learn to play cleaner more efficient baseball. Too many mistakes this year and really over the last few scioscia years.

[Oz27]

I hate to be a buzzkill, but it is a matter of too little too late. The Diamondbacks stink and the Angels really lost their chance with that loss to Oakland.

That said, I hope that these last few weeks will invigorate the team for next year, give them a sense of what it is like to play with passion.

To say the odds are stacked against us now is an understatement. To reach the ALDS we have three consecutive must-win games and the Astros need to lose tomorrow to a team which looks like the 04 Tigers. I actually feel we are a good chance of winning tomorrow, I just have so little faith in the Astros losing. If that happens, that Zito game will sting for a long time.

[stormngt]

You must not have been paying attention the last month.

It's a great win...but where was this team all season?

Sucks how they started to have heart at game #161.

[stormngt]

The street blow up would be worse sting. That was a two game switch. We would be playing for division title and already clichéd tie in WC had street didn't blow the last Houston game.

To say the odds are stacked against us now is an understatement. To reach the ALDS we have three consecutive must-win games and the Astros need to lose tomorrow to a team which looks like the 04 Tigers. I actually feel we are a good chance of winning tomorrow, I just have so little faith in the Astros losing. If that happens, that Zito game will sting for a long time.

[Guest]

You must not have been paying attention the last month.

 

I have, and this team lost plenty of unnecessary games due to boneheaded errors, shitty pitching, etc...

 

Clearly you haven't been paying attention because you continue to exhibit severe signs of delusion and misinformation. 

[Second Base]

Yeah the Zito loss sucked something fierce. But by far, the one that hurt the worst to me was when Street had the Astros down to their last strike and then squandered a three run lead. If we don't make it in, that one was really the back breaker.

Still, we have a decent shot tomorrow. Robbie Ray is no scrub and McCullers can serve up some meat balls, especially in that park vs that offense.

I do think it's too little too late, but at the same time, I've written this team off three times slew aft this season. They just refuse to go quietly and I respect that. It would only make sense if they forced a game 163, had a come from behind victory, came in red hot and smoked the Yankees and Blue Jays.

[Stradling]

Well Scotty we lost that ugly game at home against Houston but in all honesty we kind of got that game back today with the way we won.

[DEVLBAT]

I think all of those games--as much as they hurt--should be filed under "Should-ah, Would-ah, Could-ah." 

 

It'll definitely be a bummer if they don't make it into the postseason this year, but their complete meltdown in August is the most glaring indication for that.

 

However, nobody can take away the fact they battled back and played their asses off this past month with their backs against the wall numerous times.  It's definitely been...anxiety riddled watching them, but fun at the same time.

 

That being said..I hope they murder Texas tomorrow and Arizona finally decides to show up.   

[tomsred]

I don't believe in the pinning of everything on one or even two games thing.  There are so many possibilities for changed outcomes throughout the season it boggles the mind.  The ones you guys are pointing out happened recently, and were dramatic, so they stick out more than some opportunities in April - August.  I believe you play to a certain level, good or bad, and after 162 games you usually pretty much find that level, unless you pack it in or get real lucky.  As you reach the end of the season the games all seem bigger if your team is in it and it's close, and that's because a sharper image of the impact of winning and losing emerges.

 

The Angels were a mid 80's winning team this year, and I seem to remember a lot of people thought that was going to be their level at the beginning of the year.  The part of the equation that sucks is that the Angels have some serious momentum at the moment, but a mid 80's win rate may not be good enough for them to be able to exploit that momentum, i.e. they may just miss qualifying for the off season.  Given the seriousness of the distractions this year, especially the Hamilton and Dipoto situations, they could have easily underachieved, but instead they found a way to show some courage, grit and determination and make a run at the post season.  Well done Angels, well done!

Edited October 4, 2015 by tomsred