Tagged: LA Angels
10/9 MLB Tonight – ALDS Previews
We have plenty to talk about on today’s show. Both AL series will be played tonight so we’ll break those down as well as look back to yesterday’s games with the big story taking place at Dodger Stadium.
It’s going to be very tough now for the Cardinals to come back and beat the Dodgers being down 0-2 and losing both of the games Carpenter and Wainwright pitched. It should be 1-1 and then you’d like the Cardinals chances of possibly winning this series. If they don’t come back and win it’s going to be a long off-season for Matt Holliday. There are a few reasons as to why he didn’t catch that ball yesterday. It could have been the white towels, the lights or the time of day, but when he didn’t make the catch it started to unravel for St. Louis and they may not be able to recover.
Yankees-Twins will be interesting to watch tonight. Joe Girardi has given A.J. Burnett his wish as Jose Molina will be his catcher. Will this work for Girardi or backfire? It’s important to make your pitcher comfortable so I think he’s making the right decision here. We’ll find out.
After Yankees-Twins tonight we’ll have Angels-Red Sox as LA looks to go up 2-0. The Angels haven’t been able to beat the Red Sox in the postseason in recent years, but this may be the year they get it done. They’re as healthy as they’ve ever been, while the Red Sox are not. We’ll have to see which Josh Beckett shows up tonight.
We’re on at 5 tonight and then we’ll be on after both game so make sure you tune into MLB Nework all postseason.-Dan Plesac
10/8 MLB Tonight – Red Sox-Angels Preview
We’re going to talk today about the only series that’s not underway yet and that’s Red Sox-Angels. There’s a lot of history between these clubs in recent years. This is their 4th postseason meeting since 2004 with the Red Sox winning the previous 3 times. Who will win this series? I’ll let you know by the end of this blog.
I think this is the best chance for the Angels to finally beat the Red Sox. Torii Hunter is in his 2nd year with the Angels and he is clearly now the leader of this team. He’s been a great signing by the Angels. You throw in the additions of Bobby Abreu and Scott Kazmir who were not part of any of the previous losses to the Red Sox and they may be able to win this series.
The pitching and hitting is pretty even. Both clubs have a balanced attack. However, I think this series is going to come down to the bullpens and I have to give the edge to the Red Sox. They can throw Bard, Okajima, Wagner, and Papelbon. That’s tough and makes a lot of these games 6 inning affairs for the Boston starters.
As I said earlier I think this is the best chance the Angels have to beat the Red Sox in the playoffs and I think this series will go 5 games, but in the end I think the Red Sox will find a way to advance once again.-Kevin Millar
9/22 MLB Tonight Pre-Show Meeting
One of our main themes tonight will be who will be the 3rd starter for some of these teams that could make the postseason? We’ll begin that discussion in the first hour with former Twin and current broadcaster Bert Blyleven. If the Twins make it they’ll start with Scott Baker and Carl Pavano, but who do you go to after that? Is it Nick Blackburn after his performance last night or is it rookie Brian Duensing who is 4-1 since being called up from the minors.
Another pitcher with an important start tonight is Ervin Santana of the Angels. Right now the Angels are set with John Lackey, Jered Weaver, and Scott Kazmir. Can Santana change Scioscia’s mind and get a start in the postseason? He also has to think about Joe Saunders who pitched well last night.
How about the Phillies? Is your number 3 Joe Blanton or Pedro Martinez behind Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels? What about Jaime Moyer who has 12 wins?
Another interesting team is the Rockies. They’ll begin with Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Marquis, but who do they go to after that? Is it Jorge De La Rosa or Aaron Cook?
Finally, what do the Cardinals do? We know Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright are a given, but is Joel Pineiro definitely their number 3? What about John Smoltz or Kyle Lohse?
This is some of the things we’ll be talking about tonight starting at 6. -Greg Amsinger
MLB Network 