What are the odds of being the best team in a given sport and the front runner to win the league's championship when...
-The team's best player is having his worst season
-The team's best pitcher missed 1/3 of the season
-The team's second best pitcher last season hasn't thrown a pitch due to injury
-No player on the team hits .300
-No player on the team hits 30 home runs
-No player on the team has 100 RBIs
-No pitcher on the team has 18 wins
It is pretty amazing that the Angels have played this well. Cruising to a division title allows the Angels to set up their rotation, get healthy and prepare for the Rays or Red Sox ALDS match-up. This team resembles a slightly lesser version (statistically) and frighteningly similar team (mentally - they are scrappy with good pitching, timely hitting and always put pressure on their opponents.) to the 1998 Yankees. Just like the '98 Yankees, the Angels love to play for their manager and both teams have dominated the American League. Congrats on the division!
Yaros
no one can argue that they're having a gr8 season but statistically teams in their division have the greatest chance on making the playoffs (b/c of the 4 teams). also this shows the importance of a cohesive team v a few great players.
ReplyDeleteEverything you wrote can practucally describe TB too:
ReplyDeleteNo one hitting over .280
their 2 best hitters missing the past month, one won't be back
Their top power hitter from last year is hitting under .250 and didn't start hitting homers until midseason
Their CF catalyst is having an awful year
Their ace starter missed the first 1/4 season, and their #3 starter spent time on the DL
their closer has had i believe 3 DL stints.
MOst of all: they've been winning games with a starting lineup of Akinori Iwamura, BJ Upton, Carlos Pena, Cliff Floyd, Willy Aybar, Eric Hinske, Dioner Navarro, Gabe Gross and Jason Bartlett.