Big A Baseball

They've Got That Winning Feeling.

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 07:28:36 +0000

Baseball's a funny game. A beautiful game.

And the really great thing about it is its length. 162 games. The cream rises to the top. The playoffs, sure, anything can happen. Especially in the first round, which is too short. Should be seven games. Come on, after six months of grinding it out, you can be eliminated in the equivalent of a weekend series? Three lousy games? Ridiculous.

But not in the regular season. In the regular season you have to earn it. A hot streak, a hot pitcher, a missed suicide squeeze won't do it for you. You have to gut it out, and be better than the other teams. Period.

Which is why the Angels are back in first place. Finally. Feels like it's been an entire season already.

And hey, there was a moment there when they were sinking and the Texas Rangers were rolling and things could have turned into 2010. This season could have been lost. Still could be, of course. More than half the season to go. But it doesn't feel like it. It feels like finally, the Angels are starting to play like the team that hit the century mark last year. Actually, I hope they're not that team. I hope they're better. Don't want to see another first round exit (would somebody PLEASE beat the Boston Red Sox in the east!)

They're sill iffy on power, despite the recent surge. Still iffy in middle relief. Still a cold spell away from the annual 'fire Hatcher' chant.

But they're playing better.

Lackey looks like himself again. Vladdy seems ready to get hot. Aybar's playing smart. Rivera is ready. Napoli's swinging at pitches down the middle of the plate instead of taking them for strike three. And Fuentes looks pissed off enough on the mound to be a shut down closer. Hell, it's almost time to get giddy (don't though, that always leads to a losing streak...)

Once concern, though. They're tearing it up against the National League, and as I've stated before, the Angels are the best National League team in the American League.

Will the wins, and confidence, carry over to league play?

This time, I think they will.

Samson and Guerrero.

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:38:13 +0000

Okay, so he's not Manny. Manny's hair seems to have infinite amounts of hits in it (of course, we now know what else is in it.) Not Vlad's. His hair had become an albatross. A liability. An anchor.

It had turned a power hitter into David Eckstein.

Fooled me. I actually thought it was because Vlad swung at every pitch like he was on deadline. I thought it was because he was so off balance after every swing, he looked like an ice skater about to fall on their you know what. I thought it was because Vlad seemed to think that adjustments were things only for car mechanics.

But it was the hair. There were no more hits left in the hair.

Who knew? He looked like the old Vladdy. Hair flying, bat wailing. But there was no more pop. No more punch. No more power. Vlad was one step away from batting behind Aybar in the line-up. Teams were walking Hunter just to get to Vlad.

The man tied with Lou Gehrig for most consecutive seasons batting .300 with 25 or more homers was being welcomed at the plate like an automatic out. He was worse than that. He was TWO automatic outs. Vlad hit into so many double plays, you could start heading to the refrigerator as soon as he came to the plate.

But no more. Now the anchor has been lifted. The smile is back. The power has returned.

The hair is gone. And hopefully, so is the rest of the American League West.

A win, but not a total victory.

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 07:41:09 +0000

A win always feels good. It often covers up the problems. But when you've had as many blunders as the Angels have had lately, the problems are worth mentioning, even after a nice 11-6 clubbing of the Padres (sorry Buddy Black, wish it weren't you.)

On the plus side, great hitting, both situational and with runners in scoring position. Guys were taking pitches, working the count, going after their pitch. Mostly.

Some good aggressive base running. And Palmer was solid, if not spectacular. It shows he never should have been taken out of the rotation.

On the 'did they not get the message from Scioscia yesterday' front: Vladdy. What to do about the Vladdy problem. And yes, right now it is a problem. He is the weak link in the line-up. He continues to defy logic by swinging at pitches so far off the plate they were probably meant to be set-up pitches for anyone else. His power numbers are nonexistent, which is to be expected when you swing at pitches that knock you off balance. And then he goes and commits a base running blunder. If this team needs to get cleaned up, it has to start with Vladdy.

Napoli. I'm not sure what he was thinking when he took strike three with a runner in scoring position RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE PLATE. He was waiting on a curveball? Well, whatever he was thinking he thought it again his next time up, when he took strike three again. Of course, the alternative is worse. Mathis looks like a little leaguer at the plate.

It was a nice win. A needed win. But right now, simply put, this team feels like a team riding on reputation. And a reputation has rarely won a World Series.

More Q&A on the Angels.

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:53:41 +0000

Hey, Angel fans, Mark from Fantasy Baseball Hot Stove asked me to do some more Q&A on the Angels for FBHS. I wanted to share the questions and my answers (BAB) with you. You can check out Mark's site at:
http://fantasybaseballhotstove.blogspot.com/2009/06/leave-chip-on-ervin-magic-santanas.html

FBHS: Magic Santana looked terrific last time out. Ok he didn't "look" terrific because I didn't see the game, but I'm hoping you did. Did you notice anything different compared to the two outings he had before the most recent start?
BAB: One thing that has become clear about Ervin 'don't get too happy' Santana - he needs to be pushed to succeed. When everyone is praising him and there is a sense that he is destined for greatness simply by showing up on the mound, he smiles and laughs... and loses. Not enough drive, not enough focus. When he is demoted to the minors and people question his ability, he gets tight-lipped, edgy... and better. That's the case again this year. After those two horrendous performances, many (myself included) were calling for him to be removed from the rotation. Ervin got upset, and set out to prove everyone wrong. Which he did. He seems to be someone who needs to have a bit of a chip on his shoulders to push himself to his potential. I have questioned his mental toughness in the past. I think his future lies between his ears even more than in his right arm.

FBHS: I drafted Howie Kendrick a couple years ago and thought he had a chance not to win a batting title, but to hit above .300. It's not working out right now, so what are your thoughts on Sean Rodriguez? Can he take success at the lower levels and translate it to the big club instead of leaving it behind like Kendrick did?
BAB: First off, I do like Sean Rodriguez. He impressed me when he got significant playing time with the Angels. I would say he's a better fielder than Kendrick, and he improved at the plate the more AB's he got. I think he can be a solid major league second baseman. That said, I think it's premature to dismiss Howie. He has hit in the bigs, and the man averaged .350 in the minors. Howie's issue, as with Santana, seem to be more mental than physical. He needs to stay back at the plate, be patient, not lunge, have a plan for his at bats. If he can find that focus, and Tori Hunter's influence should help, he can get his average back up and start smacking the ball the way he needs to. But, and this is a big but, if he can't get it together soon, the team can't risk a playoff run waiting on him. It would be worth giving Rodriguez a shot. If nothing else, it might be the thing that pushes Howie back on track.

FBHS: Brian Fuentes is on pace for 45 saves and with 22 strikeouts compared to 7 walks it looks as though all the panic with this guy is dead. Still the WHIP is awful high for a closer. Do you think he will still be closing games in July and August? If not, then who would take over?
BAB: I actually don't think the panic is dead. Personally, I panic every time he comes in. I think he's okay, but no better than that. He is a league leader in saves for the same reason K-Rod set the record last year. No one plays in more tight games than the Angels. They give their closer an unusual amount of save opportunities. But Fuentes is not lights out the way K-Rod was. He has already blown three saves, which puts him on track to blow about ten or so. Too many for an elite closer. And too many for a team that relies on its pen to the extent the Angels do. Which, of course, is a problem this year, considering the pen's pathetic showing as a whole. I doubt that Fuentes will be replaced this year, he seems good enough to hold his job, but if he loses too many games, the only option would be to put Escobar in the closer role and Palmer back in the rotation.

A Man Without A Plan.

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:34:26 +0000

Vladimir Guerrero. Probably no more needs to be said. All one hsa to do is watch Vladdy up there flailing away at any pitch this side of the universe, and it's obvious. Vladdy goes up to the plate with one thing in mind: see the ball, hit the ball. Which is great in T-ball. But major league pitchers have a funny habit of throwing it where they want it - not where you do.

Friday's game, June 8. A great win - that almost got away due to a wasted opportunity in the 8th inning. You know the moment. First and third, one out, the man Vladdy at the plate. Perfect situation. Star hitter, game on the line. This is what Vladdy is paid those millions for. First pitch, up and in, no chance to hit it, the perfect chance to go up in the count, except for one problem... Vladdy swung. Weak grounder, double play. With two strikes, protecting the plate, okay, sure, swing at the pitcher's pitch. First pitch of the count... uh, no.

Saturday's game. Down 2-1. 9th inning. Vladdy up there, chance to be a hero, or at least start a rally. First pitch, swing. Okay, almost a strike. Progress. Second pitch, so far outside the catcher had to stretch. Swing again? If you're Vladdy, sure, why not. See the ball, swing at the ball. Then swing at the ball again. Why wait for YOUR pitch when you can swing at the pitcher's pitch?

When Vladdy hits it hard, no one hits it better. And we all know about the toes to nose thing. But it's getting tiring watching Vladdy give at bats away. The team's run production, as predicted, has gone down since his return. Vladdy needs to adjust to the situation once in a while. Sometimes the best thing Vladdy can do for the team is to not swing. Take a pitch. Wait for yours. Then hit it. Hit it hard.

But it might be too much to ask.

A Walk In The Park.

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:58:03 +0000

A few quick thoughts after a two and four homestand.

A walk never felt so good. Kudos to Rivera for understanding the situation and not trying to be a hero. It just goes to show how a little patience can pay off big time (hello, Vladdy?)

Santana to the bullpen until he finds himself, Palmer stays in the rotation. Palmer looked great his last start (thanks for nothing, Fuentes.) Moving the ball on both sides of the plate, changing speeds, working it.

Escobar in the rotation, but at the ready to take over the closer role. Fuentes is okay, but Escobar is lights out. He'd put that bullpen back in order in a hurry. Problem is, with Santana looking like 2007, they need Escobar back in the rotation, too.

Keep Kendrick as far away from Vladdy in the line-up as possible. Kendrick gets in his own head faster than a psychiatrist. He's his own worst enemy. There's no question the guy has natural talent. But sports is a game of results, not potential. You deliver or you don't. Howie needs to get it together, and soon. But if he sees Vladdy swinging at everything, Howie tends to do it as well. Be aggressive on YOUR pitch, not the PITCHER'S.

The Vladdy question. Love him. Who doesn't? But as I've stated before, when he plays like this, the team is better off without him. Vladdy has come back from his injury as if he wants to get all those missed at bats back in a second. He's playing like he's on brain lock. He not only swings at pitches off the plate, he swings at pitches in front of it. If I'm a pitcher right now and I see Vladdy coming up, I act like home plate's not even there. When Vladdy shows even the least amount of patience, he kills it. But right now, it looks like he's made up his mind to swing before the pitcher's even in his windup. Sure, he's got four hits since he's back. But three singles and a bloop are not what the team needs from their clean-up hitter. Especially in a line-up that's filled with singles hitters.

Why we like Mike. When the bullpen was crashing and burning on a regular basis recently (still is, but not quite as much), I thought to myself, the only cure for this is to let the starters go longer. Get past some of the weak spots in the pen. I was sure it's wouldn't happen, though. Mike loves the hook. Loves the strategy. Loves making moves. Lo and behold, he starts leaving starters in. Complete games happen as if we've rolled back the clock. I got to hand it to Mike. The man knows how to change. And not all managers do.

A last word on Nolan Ryan. Even though I want the Texas Rangers to tank, even though it kind of bugs me that Ryan's running a division foe, I love the fact that he's pushing his pitchers to do what pitchers used to do - finish games. Pitch out of trouble, go deep in games, stop complaining and just pitch. I hope the mentality rubs off on all teams.

I hope the mentality rubs off on all sports.

A Big Sigh Of Relief.

Fri, 22 May 2009 08:04:52 +0000

Back on track. That's what it feels like. Sure, they lose 1-0. But then Saunders does what we knew he would do after his last outing, and throws smoke and mirrors. Shields starts to protect leads again. And Fuentes does what he got signed to do.

In other words, we're primed for another October disappointment.

Sorry to be the buzz kill. No one is happier than me that the Angels are playing better. The question is, better than what? Better than earlier in the season? Yes. Better than last year? Not even close. And we know how last year ended up.

The Angels play like the only National league team in the American league - which would be great if they were in the National League. But this is Earl Weaver's league. This the Boston Red Sox's league. This is the league of the three-run homer. The Angels require three hits to score a run. Which means everything has to go right, or else it all goes wrong.

They score just enough to scratch out close victories in the regular season, which is why their closers get so many chances to save games.

But it's also why it's so easy for them to go into deep scoring slumps. Two hits in an inning? Not enough for them to score. Ten singles a game. Sure, but how many runs does that get you?

I know, I shouldn't put the cart before the horse. The Angels might not even make the playoffs. Oakland could get hot (not this year.) Seattle could catch fire again (again, not this year.) Texas could keep pitching like this all the way to September (let me know when I can stop laughing.)

But if the Angels DO make the playoffs, they're going to have to score more than three or four runs a game. They're going to have to stop pretending that little ball is going to come up big in the playoffs. It won't. We've seen that.

So while I'm happy they're starting to jell, I wish that they could start scoring in clumps. It is possible with this line-up. Morales looks good. Hunter looks great. And... oh, right, that's it for the power.

Of course Vlade is coming back. That could change everything. The question is, in which direction?

Do Over

Mon, 11 May 2009 06:44:40 +0000

Well, I'm glad that's over. Let's just forget the whole thing ever happened. Not the Nick Adenhart tragedy, of course. No one can forget that, especially not his family. But the baseball season up to this point. Forgettable. And finished. The season starts here.

What has turned things around? Why are the Angels playing so much better? I have a theory, although no one's going to like it. I don't even like it. But I have to say it. The return of Oliver? Nope, although it's helped. Palmer? No, starting pitching hasn't been the problem.

Vlade getting hurt. That's right. I'm saying Vlade's injury has made the team better. Before you boo me out of the building, just hear me out. I love Vlade. He's great. Special. A good guy. Clean. Never makes trouble. Sets the tone for the team.

And that's the problem. Vlade's a free swinger, and when he's going after every pitch known to man, the players around him tend to do the same. I've seen it with Kendrick, with Aybar, even with Hunter last year.

If Vlade would change his toes to nose (thanks, Hud) approach he'd hit .350. But he can't. He doesn't want to. And it's the one thing that drives me crazy about him. When he forces the pitcher to throw his pitch, he's unstoppable. But he constantly goes after their pitch. Or actually no one's pitch. The toes to nose thing again.

And I think the reason the Angels are scoring more runs now is because they're working the count, swinging at good pitches, taking their walks and putting pressure on the pitcher. It's a team thing. It's what made the 2002 champs so strong.

So that's my theory. I think it's one reason they haven't advanced in the playoffs lately (that and the hated Boston Red Sox.) Vlade puts extra pressure on himself in the playoffs, and he starts swing so wildly, pitchers don't need to throw him strikes.

I hope Vlade proves me wrong. I hope he comes back and goes on a tear that lasts until the World Series. And I hope everyone on the team pays notice to Abreu's four walks in today's finale against K.C. Now THAT'S waiting for your pitch.

How Much To Get K-Rod Back?

Sat, 02 May 2009 06:46:15 +0000

Okay, that was ugly. For those of you who suffered through it - and even for those of you who didn't - the Angels bullpen just disintegrated. Again. Blew a game. Again. Broke the hearts of Angel fans everywhere. Again. 10-9 to the Yankees. A 9-4 lead in the 8th. Are you kidding me? The Angels used to torture the Yankees, not get tortured by them. Teams without bullpens are teams without championshiops. We were spoiled for so many years. From Percy to K-Rod, we expected perfection and nearly got it. Now we've got Fuentes. And it stinks.

Even worse are the guys in front of Fuentes. Other teams probably start popping champagne when the Angels go to their pen. This season is sinking faster than an Escobar slider.

Quite frankly, Scioscia is not a guy who can manage without a strong bullpen. Not many can. But he especially is quick with the hook, no matter how well a starter is doing. He loves his strategies, his roles for relievers, and will stick to them like glue. Pretty soon, though, the only chance the Angels will have to win is for the starters to go deep enough in a game to keep that stinkpot pen on the pine.

How many will Fuentes blow this season? How many did K-Rod blow the last THREE seasons combined? Okay, that's not a fair comparison. K-Rod is special, Fuentes is, well, not.

And for the moment, neither is this season.

How Much To Get K-Rod Back?

Sat, 02 May 2009 06:46:15 +0000

Even worse are the guys in front of Fuentes. Other teams probably start popping champagne when the Angels go to their pen. This season is sinking faster than an Escobar slider.

How many will Fuentes blow this season? How many did K-Rod blow the last THREE seasons combined? Okay, that's not a fair comparison. K-Rod is special, Fuentes is, well, not.

And for the moment, neither is this season.

Some Q&A on the Angels

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 06:37:51 +0000

Hey, Angel fans, thought I'd pass this along for those of you who might be interested.

Mark at http://fantasybaseballhotstove.blogspot.com/2009/04/fresh-out-of-oven-la-angels.html recently asked me some interesting questions about the Angels. His questions and my responses (BAB) are below.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Fresh Out of the Oven: LA Angels

Tough season so far for the Angels on the field, but even tougher off the field. The team is still grieving as Steve from the Big A Baseballblog discusses.

FBHS: In one of your recent posts you mentioned a Torii Hunter quote that referenced how the Angels are clearly still grieving and it takes it's toll on the field. Obviously you can't put yourself in the minds of the players and the team, but looking at what they are saying in the papers and how they are conducting themselves on the field have you noticed a change from the Red Sox series to the Tigers series in their demeanor?

BAB: This season is especially tough, for obvious reasons. But in keeping our thoughts between the lines as best as possible, the Angels have not looked sharp. They came out inspired right after the Adenhart tragedy and won. Then they went flat and lost. And lost again. Emotionally deflated? Probably. They were so driven in that first game back, so jacked up, there was no way to sustain it. And they bottomed out. But does that explain away the 1-5 trip? I don't think so. I think the problem lies not only in their emotions, but in their abilities and decision making as well. This is the same team, after all, that has gone into MASSIVE hitting slumps in past years. No power, runners left on base, low scoring games. How have they corrected the problem? They haven't. It continually amazes me how teams with the same issues year after year are unable or unwilling to address them. The Texas Rangers have bats, no arms, the Angels have arms, no bats. Year after year. The Angels' problems this year can't even be attributed to injuries. Yes, they have three all-star starters on the DL. But their starters have not been the problem. They have a punch and Judy line-up that is more Judy than punch. If they think they're going to win 3-2 every night like last year, well, say hello to third place. Figgins should be a .300 hitter but is not. Why? He hits the ball in the air too often for someone who relies on speed (and despite misconceptions that he has great hands, he is an average fielder at best.)Kendrick is potentially great, but is still young and tends to get impatient at the plate when feeling the pressure of an underperforming line-up. Abreu and Hunter are solid, but Napoli has holes in his swing as large as his body, Morales is unproven, Aybar spotty, and Vladegone. This is a very young line-up for a team that considers itself a World Series contender. I love Scioscia, but he is stubborn in his approach to small ball, despite the fact that the approach is becoming an automatic one and done in the playoffs. Let's not forget that the team that won the World Series in 2002 was NOT put together by him. They had big bats throughout the line-up, and solid contact hitting. So in answer to the question, no, I haven't seen a huge change in their demeanor. They still seem flat, distracted, and inconsistent. I'm sure they're still hurting deeply. How could they not be? But I think the problem with their play goes beyond that.

FBHS: As of April 21st it's no surprise to see that Chone Figgins is leading the Majors in steals. It is a little surprising to see Bobby Abreu tied with Figgins. Has he just been getting good situations to run or is Scioscia just acting like himself with this?

BAB: The way the Angels have been hitting - or not hitting - has forced them to try and create situations. This is likely one reason they're running a lot. Rather than require two hits to get a runner home from first, they're trying to get in position to get it done with one - which for the Angels right now is no easy feat. Also, the guys in front of Abreu haven't been on base much, so he's had room to run. And he's always had good speed. I think the team's lack of hitting, and Scioscia looking for ways to manufacture runs, is why Abreu is so high on the stolen base list.

FBHS: Take your pick. Kelvim Escobar, John Lackey or Ervin Magic Santana?

BAB: Tough, of course. Quality arms, all of them. Santana is the first to go - cute nickname by the way, but a disservice to Magic. I'm still on the fence about Santana. I didn't think he had the mental toughness to make it in the bigs. Too much smiling on the mound and in the dugout. Seemed like a great guy, but winning is not about making friends. He surprised us all last year, of course. But he needs to do it again, and again, and again. Maybe then he'll merit a Magic reference. That leaves Lackey and Escobar. Both great. Both tough. Both winners. But by the slimmest of margins, I'll take Escobar - when he's healthy. His injuries have kept him from elite status, but not his talent. Unbelievable what he can do on the mound. He was lights out when the Angels needed him out of the pen, and when he starts, he's got it all - the pitches, the demeanor, the control.

A Season In Dog Years

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 05:52:12 +0000

I wonder if this is what it feels like when you climb Mount Everest. Each step feels like a day. Every day feels like forever.

With the Nick Adenhart tragedy, it's hard to talk about the season in baseball terms. But like Tony Reagins said after Adenhart's memorial, the games must go on.

Which means we will cheer, analyze, and sometimes (often) criticize the way the team plays.

I was tempted to write some critical comments after the 11-3 loss. Such as how the Angels are already missing K-Rod. How their newly taught patience at the plate is already showing itself as the same impatience of seasons past. And how this season was starting to feel out of whack not only outside the lines, but inside as well.

Then Tori Hunter reminded us that this team is not to be judged so simply. Human emotions, which we rarely take into account when analyzing a baseball game, are seriously in play at this point in the season.

Of course, the other teams are not going to accommodate the Angels' emotional state, and if the Angels don't find their rhythm soon they will spend the rest of the season chasing their Western Division opponents.

And there are some obvious problems on this team. K-Rod IS missed. More than I thought he'd be. I was not that bothered by his departure. For one, K-Rod was open about chasing personal records. And there was the way Ortiz and Manny manhandled him in the playoffs.

But he did provide a security blanket for Shields. When Shields was all over the place or grooving pitches, K-Rod was there to bail him out. K-Rod was lights out when he needed to be.

Fuentes is not. He feels like he's just a tad better than average. I wonder if Shields is feeling the same thing. There's more pressure on him now. More pressure on everyone. And they're showing it. I've always felt that Shields was over-rated. When he's good, he's very good. But he goes bad - very bad - far too often. We're not talking an occasional missed pitch. We're talking serious slumps that cost games.

Okay, it's early. Ridiculously early. And maybe Nap's big hit in the Seattle game has woken up the offense. But now Vlade's hurt, Matthews is where we least want him - playing - and the back end of the Angels' bullpen is not shortening games, it's blowing them.

Of course, it is just baseball after all. And if there's ever been a season that has managed to put that in perspective in a short amount of time, it's this one.

Fallen Angel

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 02:22:15 +0000

Some things are unexplainable. The Angels have had more than their share of tragedies. I mentioned in an earlier blog about the tragic accidents that had befallen the team in the past. I never thought it would happen again now. Too many. Too often.

A good kid, three of them, destroyed by a drunk driver with a history of drunk driving. He survives, and they go down. Life is not fair.

This on top of the news that a fan was killed in the Angels home opener. What is going on?

So sorry for Nick Adenhart, so sorry for his family. There can be nothing worse.

At some point, the issue of how this affects the rotation will have to be discussed. But not now. Not today. Today is a dark day in Angel land.

Let's Light-up The Halo

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:30:00 +0000

So I am wearing my trusted Angels hat today. In fact, I wore an Angels jersey on Saturday, but the problem is that I have been down in So. Cal... I still can't gather the balls to wear Angels gear freely in the East Bay. Anyways, the season is here and I swear the first day back in No. Cal., and Oakland will see a 5'10", 140 lb. savage all flared out with Angels garb.

It is nice being back home for now. I have been posting bets, wagering against all the pathetic N.L. fans down here. It was nice to see the Angels squeeze a few out against the Padres, as for the Dodgers... gross. Escobar looked great, what else can I say (I like to focus on the positive)?

I can't wait to get back to No. Cal., Angels head-to-toe!

Here we go!

P.S. Michael Bolton did not get the call this year, EXCELLENT!

LA vs LA. It Matters.

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 09:34:24 +0000

Okay, round one went to the Dodgers. I know, it was only a spring training game, but it still MATTERS. Why, you might ask? Aren't many Dodgers fans also Angels fans, and vice versa? Well, yes, and I wish they weren't. I for one want the Angels to beat the Dodgers until they're blue in the face. Every time.

Do Mets fans root for the Yankees? Do Cubs fans root for the White Sox? No. They pick one, and root for their team.

Enough of this 'I like both teams' nonsense. If you like both teams, you like neither. Too harsh? Okay, then let me just say this. If your gut tightens a little every time your team loses, then how on earth can you root for another team? And if your gut doesn't tighten, well, I envy you. I know I care too much. It's just baseball. I'm not the one getting paid to play.

But I do care. And because I care I can't root for another team, especially one so close by.

Unless, of course, there's a chance at a Freeway World Series. Then I'll root for the Dodgers to win the pennant... just so the Angels can kick their you know what.