A Different Shade of Red

Even before the season started, experts and fans already had their picks on who will make it through to the World Series. Some chose the New York Yankees. Some rooted for the Dodgers. Others hoped for a repeat from the Phillies. But, who would have thunk that the Los Angeles Angels would be the one of the last four standing? It's a new shade of red this year. Step aside, Red Sox. Nice try, Cardinals. It's an Angel kind of red this postseason.

After losing Mark Teixeira, whom they will face in Game 1 of the ALCS against New York,  to the free agent market, they lost rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart to a fatal car crash. Added to these key losses were the struggles of power hitter of Vladimir Guerrero at the plate. It looked like the Angels were going downhill. But, rallying behind their fallen teammate Adenhart, the team from Anaheim won 97 games to reign atop the AL West Division. 

In the playoffs, they were counted out again, pegged to bow to the Red Sox after 4 games. After all, in the past three years, they've only managed two wins in 3 series against the Fenway boys. A team with no ace pitchers, who relied on small ball and smart baserunning was up against one of the most celebrated teams of the decade, the Boston Red Sox. This was a team anchored by clutch pitcher Josh Beckett and youngsters Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, both with a no-hitter game under their belt. They were up against David Ortiz who, however slumpy, could turn red hot in the blink of an eye. They had their backs against the wall even before the series started. But, just as they battled adversity all season, they faced this challenge head on.

No ace pitching? John Lackey and Jered Weaver became instant ace pitchers, surrendering a total of 1 run in two games. No clutch hitting? Vladimir Guerrero, who swung at every pitch silly even if it were a 100 miles away, drove in two runs with a single. In the 9th inning. Against Boston's Iron Fortress Jonathan Papelbon, no less. It's as heroic as 9th-inning heroics could get. They clobbered Jon Lester in Game 1 with 5 runs, while Josh Beckett suffered the same fate allowing four runs before he left. And, with a draw against the Yankees, the cards are finally falling into place for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Managing to win 5 of 10 games against the Yankees this year, the Angels will look to run and gun against New York and execute their baserunning and small ball play to perfection, something that Minnesota failed to do in the Division Series against the Yankees. All eyes are on Alex Rodriguez and the gazillion-dollar New York cast. The pressure's on them. That would prove to be an advantage to the Angels, pegged as the underdog team in the Final Four. If you're waving your hand dismissively and saying New York would have it easy, I'm gonna laugh at you, brother (or father,mother,sister too..).

Because, after the long wait, the Angels have finally got a grip on their wings.

And, by making an example of Boston, it seems they're just getting started.