So why is this not a matter of concern in Red Sox Nation?
Because the Angels can't beat the Red Sox in October, that's why.
The great Francisco Rodriguez came on to smother the Red Sox in the ninth inning yesterday, picking up his 39th save by getting Manny Ramírez and Mike Lowell to pop up with two. Rodriguez has a championship ring in his pocket and is threatening to shatter the all-time save mark. But we know if this had been the playoffs, Manny would have been standing at home plate, flipping his bat, raising his arms like Arthur Fielder on the Esplanade, and admiring his home run off K-Rod.
That's just what happens when these two meet in the really big games.
In 2004 and again last year, the Sox started championship runs by sweeping the team from Anaheim. Last autumn was particularly embarrassing for the Halos. Boston outscored Los Angeles, 19-4, over three games, finishing with a 9-1 clincher here in the Big A. Curt Schilling blanked the Angels for seven innings with a high school fastball. The wounded, weakened Californians failed to hit a home run in 99 at-bats in the series.
"They kicked our butts last year," said the Angels estimable manager, Mike Scioscia, after yesterday's 4-2 win. "We didn't play well. We played poor baseball. They played great baseball and took it to us. Without taking anything away from the Red Sox, I feel like our team didn't represent as well as we could. Hopefully, we'll keep moving forward and reach our goals this year."
It's always easy to make a case for the Angels. They play aggressively, forcing rival defenses into mistakes. They have a flexible roster of seasoned professionals. They can field two starting outfields. They have a team ERA significantly south of 4.00 and sent three pitchers to the All-Star Game, including Rodriguez. They are 37-19 in games decided by two runs or fewer. They are 38-18 against teams over .500. They are 11-0-2 in their last 13 series against American League opponents.
