I know Greg or Mike might want to do something like this in the coming days, and I know Game 1 isn't until Friday, but I'd like to preview the AL Championship Series between the Yanks and the Angels.
The Yankees, as you know, are coming off a great ALDS against the Twins, as they swept Minnesota in 3 games to advance to the Championship Series for the first time since 2004. All 3 games were exciting and all of them included big hits by Alex Rodriguez, who hit .455 with 2 homers and 6 RBIs in the ALDS. CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettitte all pitched great, as did the bullpen. The Twins were just no match for the Yanks, and that is what got the Yankees a chance for their 40th A.L. Pennant.
The Angels are coming off a very big sweep of the Boston Red Sox as they scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th off Jonathan Papelbum to give LA a big 7-6 win, to send the Red Sox home and give the Angels their first ALCS appearance since 2005. Their strong rotation and their running game were big factors in eliminating the Sox, and even former Yank Bobby Abreu had a great series against Boston, so the Angels are riding high into the ALCS, as are the Yanks.
When the 2 teams faced each other in the regular season, the Yankees and Angels split 10 games, each winning 5, obviously. The Angels actually swept the Yankees in 3 games before the All-Star Break, and that was a very deflating series for the Yankees, as they ended the first half with a sour taste in their mouths. But last month, the Yankees played 4 games against the Halos, and the Yankees took 3 of those games, one of them securing a playoff berth for the Bombers at Angel Stadium. That proved that the Yankees can beat the Angels in Anaheim, and if you look at the final 4 games between the teams, the Yankees have the edge.
Both pitching rotations are strong, as both teams have reliable 1, 2, and 3 starters. CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettitte are the Yankees trio, while John Lackey, Jered Weaver, and Scott Kazmir are the Angels'. Lackey is in the final year of his contract and will become a free-agent this offseason. He missed the first month and a half or so, but ended up going 11-8 with a 3.83 ERA. Weaver went 16-8 with a 3.75 ERA, and Kazmir went a combined 10-9 with a 4.89 ERA with the Rays and Angels. I believe the Yankees rotation just beats out the Angels' rotation.
Advantage: Yankees
The Yankees and Angels' offenses are very different. The Yankees are a powerhouse team and score most of their runs by the long ball, as they hit a team-record 244 home runs in the regular season. They scored 915 runs and allowed only 753 runs to their opponents.
The Angels offense has guys with power, but not as much as the Yankees. As you know, the Angels rely heavily on their running game, and do the little things to get runs across. The addition of former Yankee Bobby Abreu and a great season by Kendry Morales were really key in the regular season and the ALDS. They scored 883 runs and allowed 761 to their opponents.
I'm gonna give the Yankees the edge here, because, not trying to be repetitive, but their entire lineup can hit and they average about 6 runs a game. Plus, with the amazing postseason A-Rod is having, there seems no stopping him and the Yankee lineup The Angels' lineup ain't bad either, but when you're facing a powerhouse team like the Yankees, stealing bases won't be enough.
Advantage: Yankees
Now let's get to the bullpens. Both teams' bullpens struggled at the beginning of the year, and were giving up hits and runs like there was no tomorrow. But as the season progressed, both the Angels and Yankees' pens improved, and they both became a real strength of the team.
Let's start with LA. Besides the loss of closer Francisco Rodriguez to the Mets over the offseason and the addition of Brian Fuentes, the bullpen pretty much stayed the same. And at the beginning of the season, that didn't look like it was a good idea, as Fuentes struggled and the Angels were struggling to stay above the .500 mark. But Fuentes then got hot, as did the bullpen, and by the end of the year the Angels' bullpen was one of the best in the league, as Fuentes picked up 48 saves and the Angels' pen became one of the strengths of the team once again.
The Yankees pen kinda had the same story. They started out slow, Mariano Rivera blew 2 saves in April, and the Yankees desperately relied on their starters to go 6 or 7 strong every outing. But then Mariano Rivera got hot, converting 38 straight saves all the way through the all-star break, and Phil Hughes emerged as the star setup man and the Yankees' pen became one of, if not the, best bullpen in the American League.
I'm going to give the edge to the Yankees here too. When it comes to the closers, Mariano Rivera has much more experience in the playoffs than Brian Fuentes, plus, Mariano Rivera is just too good. The Angels really don't have a definite setup man, and the Yankees have a dominant one in Phil Hughes. Throw in Joba Chamberlain pumping 95 on the gun in the 7th, and the Yankee bullpen can beat any team.
Advantage: Yankees
Now, let's get to the managers. Joe Girardi and Mike Scioscia have each done great jobs this year for the Yankees and Angels, and both should get some votes for AL Manager Of The Year. But I believe the edge here would go to the Angels. Scioscia is in his 10th year managing the Angels, and he's grabbed 5 division titles (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009) and a World Championship (2002) to Los Angeles, and he has much more experience in the playoffs. Sure, Joe may have played in a lot of playoff games, but when it comes to managing, it's a whole new ballgame.
Advantage: Angels
And finally, let's talk about the teams in general. Offensive, defensive, and pitching staff wise, they're pretty much even. But when you really look into it with detail, the Yankees have a slight edge in all the categories, except, as you can see above, when it comes to the managers.
My final prediction: Yankees in 6
I think this ALCS is going to be very exciting and will have many exciting and memorable moments for both teams, but in the end, I except the Yankees to come away with the AL Pennant and a trip to the World Series.
And hopefully I'm right.
