BOSTON — Look out Yankees, life is about to get a bit more dif ficult.
The Yankees always have had a tough time with the Angels. This Angels team could present even more problems for the Yankees in the ALCS, provided both 2-0 teams move on to the next round.
Two weeks ago, this space pointed out that the Yankees had better start rooting for the Twins to somehow overtake the Tigers, that the Twins are freaked out by the Yankees and just can’t beat them. As strange as it sounds, it’s time the Yan kees start rooting for the Red Sox.
Facing the Red Sox in the ALCS is difficult, but this year, it’s the Angels who clearly are the better team. This Yankees team seems to be up to every challenge this season, and per haps it’s best the Yankees exorcise their playoff de mons against the Angels, but it’s not going to be as easy as beat ing the Twins.
As one scout said, “The An gels are more of a team than the Yankees, they do everything right, they are not just out there trying to hit home runs.”
That scout might be underestimating the Yankees, but he was right about what a team the Angels have become this season. The Angels still have to put away the Red Sox and will have a trying time with the schedule, considering Game 3 today starts at 12:07 p.m.
“That might be the day that I’m going to drink coffee,” said Torii Hunter.
Under his leadership, the Angels have found the secret to playoff success: Play hard. Play defense. Play strong. And have fun.
Just the way Derek Jeter has approached October all these years, and the way that Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez are playing this October. If the Yankees and Angels do match up, this will be one fun series because both truly believe it is their team that is the best team in the American League.
Nevertheless, getting past the Red Sox is always a burden. The Angels still have one gigantic hurdle to leap, a hurdle the Yankees were not able to clear in 2004 and still are paying the price for that fall. The Yankees couldn’t put away the Red Sox when they needed to win just one game in four tries. Now the Angels are pretty much in the same boat, having to win one of three.
They are sending one of the best at defeating the Red Sox to the mound today in Scott Kazmir. The ex-Met loves to beat Boston — and the Yankees. The Angels’ pitching over the first two games has been phenomenal. The Red Sox are hitting .131. They have scored one run. David Ortiz, Mike Lowell and Dustin Pedroia are 1-for-23 with Pedroia getting that only hit, a single.
Kazmir, who will match up against young Clay Buchholz, who surrendered six home runs his last two starts, is 6-4 lifetime at Fenway Park with an impressive 3.05 ERA. Stat sage T.R. Sullivan points out that the only lefty with a better ERA over the last 55 years at Fenway is Sudden Sam McDowell, who posted a 2.67 mark.
If the Angels close out the Red Sox, and put an end to their Red Sox hex, the Angels then will be looking to take care of the other Beast from the East. One way or another, life is going to get a bit more challenging for the Yankees.