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Originally Posted by Gander
Royals played the Red Sox very tough. The Sox swept em but won 3 games by a total of 4 runs. 2 of the games finished 1-0.
Look for the Royals to make a huge run at the wildcard, LOL!
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"Buddy, your Angels are doing you no favors losing two in a row to the Royals."
Hittin' me when I am on the deck huh? O.K., OVER 2 MONTHS TO GO.A team that has had a tough year(and goes on a winning streak,)is never really sure that they won't return to doing the things that hurt them.It's there in the back of their minds,and the 1st bad start from their ace pitcher(their leader)can put that fear and pressure on the next starter,and the pressure is passed on each day to the next starter in line.Three poor starting pitching performances(all caused by Lackey melting in the heat of a day game on Wednesday.)Santana is no leader.Colon is no leader.They were each expected to beat K.C...,but they are not stoppers.I can say the same thing for the offense(they are followers..if the pitchin' is good,they will hit...)Make no mistake,this team begins and ends with one,John Lackey,and they may not win again until he pitches a big game on Monday night.Sure this fat guy for K.C. PITCHED a gem on Friday,but Wednesday and Thursday's opposing pitching was only adequate,and the Angels did what losing teams do..leave men on base etc.Garrett Anderson has hurt this team very badly(If you can ask why this team is only .500 this year, I can tell you that this guy has been a huge lead weight that they are having to drag around.) Cabrera is a good hitter,but is under a great deal of pressure(trying to make up for the dead weight of Anderson.)The last 3 days he has pressed,and started to swing at stuff he wasn't swinging at the previous 2 weeks.Swinging very,very hard too. The team has struggled with bad defense all year(something I believe is somewhat due to their defensive leader-Erstad- being hurt.)Let me ask you,how they won,and why they lost in the playoffs last year? They beat a very good Yankee team how? After a poor performance in game 1,LACKEY GAVE UP 5 HITS AND JUST 2 RUNS IN GAME 2.Randy Johnson gave them game 3.In game 4,Lackey gave up just 2 hits and one run in 5 innings.They lost the game,but their ace(their leader)pitched very well.What happened in game 5? Santana struggled,but never quite gave up,and they took the series.Keep going.Where do you see the collapse?No not in the 1st game against the Chisox,and not in the 2nd game.3 losses to that point.How many runs had they given up in those losses? 4,3,and 2.So,where is the breakdown? Gee lets see.Game 3 against the Chisox.LACKEY goes out in the 1st inning and has nothing:
S Podsednik singled to right. 0 0
T Iguchi sacrificed to third, S Podsednik to second. 0 0
J Dye doubled to deep center, S Podsednik scored. 1 0
P Konerko homered to left center, J Dye scored. 3 0
C Everett grounded out to second. 3 0
A Rowand flied out to right. 3 0
3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors
The series was over after the leader of the club did this.Why? Santana goes as Lackey leads.In game 4 ,what did he go to the mound and do:
S Podsednik walked. 0 0
T Iguchi hit by pitch, S Podsednik to second. 0 0
J Dye flied out to center, S Podsednik to third, T Iguchi to second. 0 0
P Konerko homered to left center, S Podsednik and T Iguchi scored. 3 0
C Everett flied out to right. 3 0
A Rowand struck out swinging. 3 0
3 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
In game 5,although Byrd pitched o.k.,the Angel offense had given up way back in game 3(after their leader came to the mound with nothing.)This team will win when Lackey leads,and will lose when he struggles.Biggest game of the year (for them) is Monday Night at Tampa Bay.If Lackey comes out there ready to go,then they have a chance,because they will fight if he fights.They will give up if he doesn't have it.He is their only real leader.There are 3 winners on this team.Lackey,Erstad(hurt,)and KROD.Possibly Young Weaver,but not enough experience yet under pennant chase pressure(to know.)That is it.The others don't lead,and will accept losing.This is how they went from winning 8 in a row,to losing 3 in a row(their leader went to the mound with nothing.)Sure,I would like to see Escobar go out there tonite and pitch well.Same for baby Weaver tomorrow,but I know the game of the year is Monday Night in Tampa Bay.It is all on the line,and Lackey needs to go take that mound,and dominate all night long.That is gunna right this team,and it wont be right until he does it.
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