We interviewed Chuck Richter, the executive editor of Angelswin.com, for his take on the ALDS.
(Chuck @ Angelswin.com) – I’m cautiously confident. Confident in the sense that he can be dominant at any given time, especially after stinking up the joint in his previous start. On the 16th of September he struggled against the 4-A Athletics, giving up 5 runs in 5.1 innings, but got knocked around at the tune of 9 hits, when even his outs were hit hard. Then in Lackey’s next start against the heavy hitting Texas Rangers, he hurled 6 scoreless innings, giving up just 2 hits, while fanning 12 Rangers. This season, Lackey is 2-0 against the Red Sox in 2 starts with a 2.81 ERA. In one of those starts he nearly threw a no no in Boston, but ended up giving up 2 runs on 2 hits in the 9th. Be that as it may, Lackey has not been himself in the 2nd half of the season causing some fans to be concerned.
FW: How much better is this year’s Angel’s team than last year?
(Chuck @ Angelswin.com) – Much better! Two reasons: Mark Teixeira & Health! The Angels were in bad shape in 2007 against the Red Sox in the ALDS. To sum it up, at one point Reggie Willits was our cleanup hitter as GA was hitting with one eye shut,. Plus, it didn’t help that Vladimir Guerrero had no protection and rookies’ Casey Kotchman & Howie Kendrick were simply overmatched.
FW: How do you think Teixeira will do in his first playoff appearance for the Angels? Will he be back next year?
(Chuck @ Angelswin.com) – I believe he’ll do well if he doesn’t try to do too much, but with Vladimir Guerrero hitting behind him, he won’t have to be the savior so I’m sure he’ll be relaxed and thus productive. As far as signing him in the off-season, I think we’d have to be considered Teixeira’s #1 choice, especially if we get to the big dance. I believe this Angels ball club has all of the components to not only get there, but to win their 2nd World Series ring in the last 6 years.
FW: Who do you think was the MVP for the Angels this season?
(Chuck @ Angelswin.com) – This is a tough one considering we only had Teixeira since late July, otherwise he’d be the easy choice. I’m going to give this one to both Ervin Santana & Joe Saunders. Without these two dominating early on and solid throughout the season, who knows where the Angels would be at season end? Our starting rotation with Lackey missing the first 6 weeks of the season and not as dominating as he was in ’07. Escobar missing the entire season and Jon Garland throwing beach balls for the majority of his starts -this would have been disastrous for a team that was unable to land the “big bat” in the off-season, a team that relied on good pitching and defense entering the 2008 season.
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