PRELIMINARY ROUND
Series #120
2008 Los Angeles Angels (100-62) vs 1908 New York Highlanders (51-103)
Mike Scioscia seemingly had the Angels in the mix of a pennant every season in the early part of the decade. The 2008 club was special for winning 100 games but couldn't get over the hump in the postseason despite being favorites. Now Los Angeles gets an excellent draw with a 100 loss team as an opponent, in any case however, don't expect Scoiscia to have his side take anyone lightly. At 33 years old Vladimir Guerrero was still the main attraction of the offense hitting over .300 with 91 RBI and an .886 OPS, not to mention his still elite right field play. Speaking of great defense, Torri Hunter was the man in center hitting 21 home runs with 85 runs scored and 37 doubles. Garrett Anderson was 36 years of age but the Angels legend hit .293 with 84 RBI and even seven steals not to mention is ability to get the big hit when needed. Chone Figgins stole 34 bases at third but was strickly leadoff and his on base skills were drifting, not to mention he played in only 116 games. Howie Kendrick was a .306 hitter at second base with 26 doubles and 11 steals and obviously had alot of future potential. Mark Teixeira was the main man at 1st base hitting .358 when he came in from Atlanta but played in only 54 games as Casey Kotchman was the primary first baseman with a 102 OPS+ and only 12 dingers. Jeff Mathis couldnt get over .200 and was strickly a defensive catcher with Mike Napoli hitting 20 home runs in the role while also working in at DH. The regular DH was Juan Rivera but he struggled mightily hitting only .249. Gary Mattews Jr was an important piece especially for his defense while Eric Aybar and Maicer Izturis platooned at short stop with both producing about the same WAR level; they were good defensive players. Ervin Santana had a great season gaining respect throughout the league going 16-7 with a 3.49 ERA and an impressive 8.8 K per 9. Joe Saunders was even better going 17-7 with a 3.41 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. while Jon Garland pitched in 196 innings but was slipping a bit with a 4.90 ERA and a 1.5 WHIP. Jared Weaver went 11-10 with a 3.90 FIP making him the likely dependable number three for the rotation and finally John Lackey made 24 starts to very good effect with a 3.75 ERA and all the intensity any opponent could ever ask for. Francisco Rodriguez maybe had the greatest season ever by a closer, saving 64 games with a 2.24 ERA and a 10 K per nine innings, he was simply lights out. Darren Oliver and Scot Shields were also great in setup as one of the strengths of this team was its use and effectiveness late in games. One would think that the Anegls will have no problem in this series, but at the very least the 100 year difference in eras should be of some concern.
The 1908 Highlanders of New York were in a tough market to say the least with the very popular New York and Brooklyn teams of the NL, the American League Highlanders couldn't compete especially with a lack of a real good home ball park. To overcome this, management looked for names would draw fan interest and in the process sacrificed the plan to build the best team, a 103 loss season was the result. Manager Clark Griffin didnt have much to work with and his frustration saw him fired in midseason, but that would solve very little. The famous Willie Keeler was now 36 years old and hitting only .263 playing in just 91 games as a stellar career was winding down. Wid Conroy was the everyday third baseman but hit only .237 with 44 runs despite leading the team in doubles with 22. Jake Stahl had a .663 OPS which was good for the era while Charlie Hemphill was likely the most exciting player stealing 42 bases with 152 hits and 62 runs, his OPS+ was 137. Harry Niles and Neal Ball were the duo up the middle and were not very memorable as the club rarely turned the double play and each of these players hit in the .240's with minimal effect although both of them could run combining for 50 steals between them. Then there was Hal Chase at first base, maybe the most gifted defensive first base men in the game, Chase had a .591 OPS but remained one of the most popular players. The issue with Chase was his links off the field and the questions if he was really on the up and up. Red Kleinlow and Walter Blair were the catchers and neither could hit themselves out of a paper bag. Young George Moriarty was the best prospect on the bench and pinched in for Keeler where needed. Frank Delahanty brought nothing more then his familly name and and Frank Laporte was a place holder on the infield. Jack Chesbro wasnt the pitcher he used to be but still the relative ace of this staff. He lost 20 games but had a 2.93 ERA with 3 shutouts. Joe Lake was likely the unluckiest pitcher around losing 22 games with a respectable ERA of 3.17 in 2.69 innings of work. Rube Manning went 13-16 with 19 complete games with a 2.66 FIP and even some work as a reliever. Al Orth was another veteran arm that was searching for the fountain of youth but was a terrible 2-13 with a high 3.42 ERA and not much confidence left. Bill Hogg and Doc Newton also had their share of starts but followed the script going 8-21 between them. Slow Joe Doyle was the most prominent reliever left but went only 48 innings and the rest of the roster were underused arms we wont be seeing. The Pre Yankees have alot of work to do and should find life very hard against the much more talented Angels.
Game 1 At Angel Stadium
Partly cloudy 61
1908 Highlanders...................5
2008 Angels...........................6
WP: E. Santana (1-0) LP: D. Newton (0-1) S: F. Rodriguez (1)
HR: G. Matthews Jr (1), W. Conroy (1)
POG: Ervin Santana
2008 Angels lead series 1-0
Francisco Rodriguez closed the door in the ninth as the Angels came through with a one run win in the opener. Ervin Santana went 8 innings and walked six while allowing 11 hits but still found a way to hold his teams lead. Vladrimir Guerrero drove in two and Gary Matthews went deep as the Angels built a lead late and were able to hold on in a tight one.
Game 2 At Angels Stadium
Partly cloudy 60
1908 Highlanders................0
2008 Angels........................4
WP: J. Weaver (1-0) LP: J. Warhop (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Jered Weaver
2008 Angels lead series 2-0
Jered Weaver spun a gem in game two to lift the Angels to a clear advantage in the series. Weaver allowed only 5 hits while striking out six and walking one for his complete game shutout of 125 pitches. Mike Napoli went 2-3 with 2 RBI and Chone Figgins added two more hits and is batting .561 in two games from the top. It has been a great start for Mike Scioscia and his side.
Game 3 At Hilltop Stadium
Partly cloudy 54
2008 Angels..................3
1908 Highlanders..........6
WP: P. Wilson (1-0) LP: J. Saunders (0-1) S: J. Chesbro (1)
HR: W. Blair (1)
POG: Pete Wilson
2008 Angels lead series 2-1
Wid Conroy had a bases clearing double in the bottom of the first inning and the margin would prove to be the difference as the Highlanders get back into the series. Pete Wilson controlled the Angels in the much different conditions at Hilltop Stadium and only Howie Kendrick really did much damage with three hits, The New York pen closed the deal with Jack Chesbro the new anointed closer for Charlie Griffin.
Game 4 At Hilltop Stadium
Cloudy 49
2008 Angels.....................8
1908 Highlanders.............3
WP: J. Lackey (1-0) LP: R. Manning (0-1)
HR: M. Napoli (1), M. Teixiera (1)
POG: John Lackey
2008 Angels lead series 3-1
Two big home runs at the old ballpark helped set up John Lackey as the Angels had no intention in seeing New York tie the series. Mike Napoli hit a 2 run home run off of Rube Manning and much later in the 8th inning Mark Teixeira slammed a three run shot. Lackey surely wanted to finish this start but he was pulled in the ninth having struck out six and allowing seven hits. Los Angeles will hope to end the series in New York in game five.
Game 5 At Highland Park
Clear 50
2008 Angels.......................7
1908 Highlanders...............5
WP: E. Santana (2-0) LP: D. Newton (0-2) S: F. Rodriguez (2)
HR: V. Guerrero (1)
POG: Vladimir Guerrero
Vladimir Guerrero hit his first home run of the series with a man on in the third inning to put the Angels up by three and the lead would hold behind Ervin Santana who struck out six and pitched well until the 9th. In the 9th the Highlanders rallied as their last hope plating three runs before Francisco Rodriguez closed them down to end the series. Each club had 11 hits but in the end there was really no space for the Highlanders who also showed us some questionable decisions like not to start Jack Chesbro.
2008 Los Angeles Angels Win Series 4 Games To 1
Series MVP:
Chone Figgins
(.455, 1 RBI, 3 R, 3 SB, 10 H)