11/05/24
July 04, 2005
The Angels Could Take It All: At the half way mark, it looks like the Angels could take it all this year. What other team can claim the following statistics: "The Angels rank third in the major leagues with a 3.55 earned-run average, third in the league with a .275 batting average and lead the major leagues with a .318 average with runners in scoring position. They've gone 13 games without committing an error and rank second in the league with a .986 fielding percentage."
posted by tommysands to baseball at 11:46 AM - 44 comments
You're absolutely right: out of all the major league teams, only the Angels rank third in ERA. What are the chances?
posted by DrJohnEvans at 12:46 PM on July 04, 2005
I don't want to piss on your parade tommy, but there's always those pesky 2nd half of the season collapses to deal with. /Cubs fan
posted by NoMich at 01:05 PM on July 04, 2005
Oh hush, guys, he's just trying to point out that the Angels are balanced as division leaders. Sometimes build a big lead by bashing the crap out of the ball, some do it through exceptional pitching, starting or relief or both, and some do it through amazing glovework that leads to better pitching than the staff has reason to expect. That said, at the half-way point, I think our little friend "regression to the mean" could rear its ugly head for more than a few teams (and that could mean that teams we're writing off could have a resurgence in the second half).
posted by hincandenza at 01:10 PM on July 04, 2005
Wow, way to sneak in on preview and steal my thunder, NoMich! :(
posted by hincandenza at 01:10 PM on July 04, 2005
I still have my money on America's Team, the Royals. You're lucky it rained yesterday Angels - they were only down by 5 runs. Sure they suck, but they're only 28 games out in the AL Central. Look out Detroit, they're coming hard...
posted by smithnyiu at 01:51 PM on July 04, 2005
we're not even at the ASG break yet...
posted by jerseygirl at 01:56 PM on July 04, 2005
Which makes it a perfect time for mis-season predictions! ... I'll do a little more looking around before I stick my foot in my mouth. Though, I don't think it's too early to announce that it is unlikely the Yankees are making the playoffs. I don't think they can play at a high enough level to catch either the wild card (Twins) or Boston.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 02:08 PM on July 04, 2005
OK,OK, I understand that it's only the half way mark, so that means we have at least 50% or more of the games left to play. And, Hal, I'm not sure that you are allowed to use terms like "regression to the mean" on the Sports Fileter. After all, this is a family oriented site.
posted by tommysands at 02:34 PM on July 04, 2005
I understand that it's only the half way mark, so that means we have at least 50% or more of the games left to play. Another stunningly true statement. How does he do it?
posted by DrJohnEvans at 02:58 PM on July 04, 2005
My Dear Dr., I do it the same way I get my cash, which I'm sure you know, is the same as money.
posted by tommysands at 03:04 PM on July 04, 2005
My Dear Dr., I do it the same way I get my cash, which I'm sure you know, is the same as money. Who borrowed my babelfish? This signal isn't coming through.
posted by dfleming at 07:09 PM on July 04, 2005
Well folks, I've come to a major fork in the road and I guess I'll just have to take it.
posted by tommysands at 07:40 PM on July 04, 2005
Somewhere in NH, Robert Frost cries.
posted by yerfatma at 11:26 PM on July 04, 2005
sorry guys but the cleveland indians will be this years AL wildcard.
posted by gregy606 at 01:58 AM on July 05, 2005
The Wildcard will come from the AL Central---My heart says the Twins but it could be the Tribe.
posted by daddisamm at 07:26 AM on July 05, 2005
Angels look like the best team in baseball. Period! They have it all and in droves. They almost always score first and still can come form behind when needed. Thay have an excellent coach and staff. They play in a great faciltiy with an awesome owner who puts his money where his mouth is. Vladimir Guerro is the best player in the game and the biggest threat at the plate and he is followed by another steady longballer in Garrett Anderson. Couple that with speed from Figgins and Erstad, and who can beat then 4 out of 7 games in the playoffs? Who, I ask?
posted by bluekarma at 10:31 AM on July 05, 2005
They are pretty good, yes. But what does good mean at the halfway mark? Not much. They were good, dare I say great, last year and got rolled over in the playoffs. You can never tell what's going to happen for sure and it's usually always too soon to count the chickens before they hatch.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:50 AM on July 05, 2005
put the angels in the AL central and they're just another team eating chisox dust, and the white sox haven't hit all year!!!!! all they have is good pitching. baseball is a funny game and its not just about the numbers and the white sox are proving it by being one of the worst offensive teams, but still being the best team in baseball right now. they are just finding a way to win, and thats what counts!!
posted by gregy606 at 01:33 PM on July 05, 2005
But what does good mean at the halfway mark? Not much. Good means 50 wins and climbing.
posted by tommysands at 02:18 PM on July 05, 2005
Okay. Enjoy the other half of the season.
posted by jerseygirl at 02:44 PM on July 05, 2005
Okay. Enjoy the other half of the season. And pray they are up by more than 11 games come August 1st, otherwise bad things might happen...
posted by grum@work at 03:02 PM on July 05, 2005
Cardinals: .778 OPS, 3.55 ERA Angels: .745 OPS, 3.60 ERA Park factors are comparable: 99 for LAAA, 97 for STL.
posted by mbd1 at 04:10 PM on July 05, 2005
Park factors are comparable: 99 for LAAA, 97 for STL. OK, the 02 difference in PF has about as much significance as the 01 difference in the number of letters you use to designate the two teams. Neat sports site, though.
posted by tommysands at 04:23 PM on July 05, 2005
OK, the 02 difference in PF has about as much significance as the 01 difference in the number of letters you use to designate the two teams. So then the Cards will take it all? I'm confused.
posted by qbert72 at 04:52 PM on July 05, 2005
So then the Cards will take it all? I'm confused. My dear "q", don't be confused...what I mean is that a 2 point difference in Park Factor is really insignificant. Have you ever seen the formula for PF?
posted by tommysands at 05:10 PM on July 05, 2005
Sit back and watch the twins rule !!!!
posted by TwinsRuleIndiansSuck at 08:04 PM on July 05, 2005
all right...
posted by jerseygirl at 08:11 PM on July 05, 2005
the twins are just about to fall apart and your about to see the indians come back to power, they have the best farm system in baseball, and you just can't hold them down.
posted by gregy606 at 11:13 PM on July 05, 2005
Sit back and watch the twins rule !!!! I just sat back and saw the Angels beat the Twins 2 to 1.
posted by tommysands at 12:12 AM on July 06, 2005
tommysands: what I mean is that a 2 point difference in Park Factor is really insignificant. I got that the first time mbd1 said it, thank you. You still haven't addressed his point though. In your post you asked: "What other team can claim the following statistics" and mbd1 has provided you with one. What makes the Angels superior to the Cardinals?
posted by qbert72 at 08:31 AM on July 06, 2005
Watch out for the White Sox!!!!
posted by HOE.O.K. at 09:59 AM on July 06, 2005
I am firmly of the opinion that my team is morally superior to yours. Care to debate?
posted by DrJohnEvans at 10:07 AM on July 06, 2005
My dear "Dr" and "bert", it's obvious why the LAA are a better team than STL but I'm willing to debate if you can define "is" and "morally superior".
posted by tommysands at 11:04 AM on July 06, 2005
it's obvious why the LAA are a better team than STL OK then. It's settled.
posted by qbert72 at 05:35 PM on July 06, 2005
Glad the short bus finally arrived. Duh.
posted by yerfatma at 05:42 PM on July 06, 2005
OK then. It's settled. Thank's "bert". And, the short bus finally arrived, BTW "fat", the "bus" plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
posted by tommysands at 05:58 PM on July 06, 2005
glad that's settled, "mys"
posted by jerseygirl at 06:15 PM on July 06, 2005
Sit back and watch the twins rule !!!! X 2: I just can't resist, "TwinsRule", the Angels just did it to the Twins again...!! 7-6 to win the series 2-1. And, "girl from jersey", at the risk of being stupid, what's "mys"?
posted by tommysands at 06:29 PM on July 06, 2005
Well, you took "qbert72" and turned it into "bert". She took "tommysands" and turned it into "mys". That seems fair.
posted by grum@work at 06:38 PM on July 06, 2005
WATCH OUT FOR THE CLAP!!ONE!
posted by lilnemo at 06:39 PM on July 06, 2005
I am firmly of the opinion that my team is morally superior to yours. Care to debate? Yes. THAT IS THE THING ABOUT WHICH I AM TALKING ABOUT!! THROW YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR AS IF THERE WERE NO REPERCUSSIONS!!
posted by lilnemo at 06:46 PM on July 06, 2005
Thanks for the explanation, "grum". Those women, always mysterious!
posted by tommysands at 06:55 PM on July 06, 2005
those 423 line breaks you were looking for just showed up.
posted by yerfatma at 08:07 PM on July 06, 2005
This seems awfully familiar... It should also be pointed out that they are 9th in OBP in the AL, 6th in SLG and 6th in total OPS, so hitting isn't really what's doing the job. What has done it for them is their pitching (just like the Chicago White Sox). They are 2nd in the AL for ERA and 1st in the AL in K/9. And even though they are 10 games back, it's a little early to be counting out the Oakland A's. They've done this "come-from-behind" thing a couple of times already.