Tuesday, September 27, 2005 |
Clinch Mob: Angels 4, A's 3
Plate discipline isn't just about drawing walks. It's about having quality at-bats, all the time, but especially in high-leverage situations. Swinging at the first pitch can fit right in with plate discipline, but the swings have to be good ones. Chavez swing at a ball up in his eyes and popped the ball up for an easy out. Kotsay hit a two-hopper to the second baseman. Those are wasted at-bats for a team that wasted too many last night, and will likely now end up with all winter to think about them.Chavez was almost a non-factor in this game, going 1-4 with a single run batted in, but that was a testament to Angels pitching as much as it was Chavez having weak at bats, save for his RBI double.
Tonight's game had so many parts worthy of praise: Santana's brilliant six and two thirds, Scot Shields' key out in the seventh that killed a two-on, two-out A's rally, and Frankie making his outs -- home run notwithstanding. The Angels -- let's be honest -- got lucky when Macha decided to go with the struggling Joe Kennedy, because they didn't score a single run on any other reliever. Bengie -- well, everybody owes you a big thank you.
And now it's my turn to be relieved. Congratulations, boys. First team to clinch in the AL. Three years in four -- and both of the last two on Team Moneyball's turf. Sweet, sweet days.
Update: how annoyed must ESPN be that they are nationally broadcasting a throwaway game now that the Angels have clinched?
Update 2: Speaking of TV, as Jim Alexander of the Press-Enterprise points out, how dumb does KCAL 9's deal with the Dodgers look now? While I disagree with him over the merits of Tracy, I do believe the Dodgers becoming a "Wait 'Til 2007" team is pretty accurate, if the farm is what's supposed to save them. Or maybe that's 2008. Or 2009. They'll figure it out one year, I'm sure.
Newer› ‹Older
 |
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.