Angelfish

It's much easier to turn the page (sorry) after getting swept early than it is losing in a Game Seven in the Series. But years from now, those Royals fans will point to this year with pride and remember the three series they won just to get there. I remember 1979, 1982 and 1986 for all the big wins it took just to get us into the playoffs, beating out the Royals the first two times and the Rangers in 86. I remember beating the A's to make it in 2004 and 2005. I remember beating the Yankees in the first round and KRod racing to the bag to clinch Game Five. I remember playing in New York, Anaheim and Chicago in consecutive days and winning the last two of those. I remember finally beating Boston in a postseason game in 2008 and being SO close to bringing it back home (thanks, Aytard). And of course I remember beating Boston in three games the next year. Playoff losses are cruel, but don't let them erase the big wins you had just to get in that position. Of course, us winning in 2002 makes it much, much easier to do that. I'd hate to be a Vikings, Bills, or Browns fan in football or Cubs fan in baseball.

The Angels lost their ace with six weeks remaining and still went on a tear to nab the best record in baseball. Even before that many were questioning whether we were built for postseason success. My main regret about this past postseason was that Scioscia played Hamilton. Once they won starting Vargas against Weaver I figured we were cooked. The A's, though....the last six weeks were a disaster. They managed to get into the playoffs, and the trades were meant to make them better in the postseason, and for a while it looked like it might pay off. Then they blew the WC game, too. It's like that team comes up with new ways to torture its fans every season.

Not only did they have the best team in baseball (statistically) through the first three months only to watch it implode down the stretch, but they had a four-run lead on the team that is now 8-0 in the postseason with a couple of innings left. Talk about a double whammy gut punch.

Why was he remembered as the one guy who blew that game? Because he was one strike away from ending it? One could just as easily blame Mauch, Witt, Lucas, Wilfong or DeCinces. The article talks about how the Angels counterpunched in the bottom of the ninth and almost won it in the 10th. What no one ever talks about is how the Angels were the first team ever to overcome a three-run deficit in the ninth inning to win a game in the postseason just the night before. That game never happened now. As for Moore, reading this article I don't feel sorry for him any more. I've seen my own mother suffer in a verbally abusive and controlling relationship. No matter how many good things a person has done for you, you never are able to respect them again when you see them pushing someone weaker around.

I think it's a good idea for the Dodgers. They have enough raw talent to win the World Series two times over. They need chemistry. Puig to the A's. You heard it here first.

Josh still has the ability. Look at his start this year, which came after Baylor told us he was going to have a huge year. I was really looking forward to a .300 year with 30 homers and 100 RBIs, minimum, from Josh. What he doesn't have is that moxie/desire/call it what you want that special players have. Any fool can go up there and swing at balls four inches out of the strike zone. High, low, inside, outside, he's not picky. He's not interested in the mental battles it takes to avoid prolonged slumps in this game. He lays down his sword, so to speak. When you sign with a team for 25 million a year, the fans there have every right to expect someone who cares enough to learn where the strike zone is, to study opposing pitchers and what their tendencies are, to do what other players are doing to get better. But Josh is phoning it in. Complaining about poison in his body? Really? Like every other player in the league hasn't done the same thing at some time in their career?

What pisses people off about Josh is simply the potential that's there, and how much he takes it for granted. He doesn't work at his craft. Imagine David Eckstein with Josh Hamilton's talent.

The Cubs won 100 games and got swept a few years ago.

I guess I'm in the minority but I like Iannetta and Freese and would rather see us sign a Max Scherzer than two No. 3-4 starters. We already have a bunch of 3-4 starters. We need an ace because who knows what we're going to get from Richards.

Sosh with the quick hook on Wilson. So why has he given Hamilton so many at bats?

I'm not bagging on Trout. I'm just pointing out the painfully obvious. Pitchers are throwing it right in his wheelhouse on the first pitch knowing he won't swing. This shows a complete lack of fear. Then they have him chasing their pitches the rest of every at bat. I want Trout to figure this out, crush the next first pitch meatball over the fountains in KC, and then watch him take off from there. What we're watching now is painful. We already have one giant gaping hole in the order. We don't need another one in the two spot. And Kendrick is making it three. It's like watching Chone Figgins in the playoffs all over again. Times three.

They're putting it right in the middle of the plate, bottom half every time. That's your crush zone. You are taking so much pressure off the pitcher giving him that first strike it's unbelievable. He locates that first pitch, then goes from there. You are getting yourself out time and again, you idiot.

I agree it was a bad call, but you're paying the guy 20 million plus and he's been a lethal hitter before I can see why you'd play him over the other options available. Just a bad situation for all involved. I worked with a guy last year who had worked with the Rangers in 2012. He said they tried everything to get him to take pitches the second half of the season but he just wouldn't listen. Called him a head case, and this was before Hamilton's awful year last year. He got off to such a great start this year, then hurt himself with that idiotic slide into first. Since then he's been 2013 Josh all over again.

He didn't realize sum ting wong?

This just feels like a playoff season to me.