Major League Baseball

Angels pose biggest threat to Yankees

Published Aug. 21, 2009 5:58 a.m. ET

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The Yankees have the best record in baseball. They looked like a World Series team when they swept the Red Sox earlier this month. That label remains current some two weeks later.

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But great regular season teams are routinely bounced early in the playoffs. It happened to the 2008 Angels. They set a franchise record — and led the majors — with 100 victories. But they lost to Boston in the American League Division Series. Again.

Since winning their championship in 2002, the Angels have lost four of five postseason series. It's hard to mention that without sounding like a cynic, or maybe a Dodgers fan, because plenty of players would love to know the sting of October defeats.

And we know this about the Angels: They have a great manager, a deep lineup, an admirable organization-wide ethic, and no fear of playing the Yankees once the leaves turn brown.

For those reasons, among others, they represent the biggest threat to the Pinstripes this October.

To clarify: I'm talking about both leagues.

Since we love postseason subplots, let's get this one out there nice and early: The person most responsible for the Angels' tireless offense was the Yankees' everyday right fielder at this time last year: Bobby Abreu.

"It's fun, the way we play," said Abreu, batting .311 this season with 11 home runs. "We're so aggressive on the bases. We have speed, power, guys who can hit. It's a very solid lineup."

Abreu has helped the Angels achieve something that few could have expected: They lead the league in runs scored and batting average despite having lost Mark Teixeira, an AL Most Valuable Player candidate, to the Yankees via free agency.

And Abreu has done it as one of the best free-agent bargains in baseball: one year, $5 million.

Abreu said Thursday that he'd like to return next season.

"I hope so," he said. "I want to. They treat you good, let you play the game and enjoy it. When you feel comfortable in one place, you want to stay."

Abreu has driven in 81 runs this season, tying him for the team lead with Kendry Morales, a full-season regular for the first time and Teixeira's replacement at first base.

Like his predecessor, Morales, 26, is a switch hitter. And while he doesn't quite have the same offensive presence, Morales has hit 27 home runs, only four fewer than Teixeira.

"The kid can hit," Abreu said. "He's got power."

"This guy isn't scared up here," hitting coach Mickey Hatcher said. "He's proven to everybody that he should be here."

Hatcher believes that Abreu's patient approach has been a positive influence on Morales. Other hitters have benefited, too. Torii Hunter, a two-time All-Star with more than 10 years of major league service, also said he's quizzed Abreu about plate discipline.

Hunter batted .278 last year. He's hitting .307 now.

"I'm a lot more patient, after I've talked to Bobby," Hunter said. "That's why I'm hitting .300 this year."

The Angels are a selfless team, a trait at least partially attributable to manager Mike Scioscia. Hitters have confidence in The Next Guy, because The Next Guy is probably pretty good.

After Tuesday's victory over Cleveland, all nine hitters in the lineup had batting averages of .300 or better. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 1934 Detroit Tigers were the last team to achieve that at least 100 games into a season.

There are statistics, and then there are statistics that tell you something. Well, this nine-man .300 Club isn't a trifling thing. The Los Angeles lineup is more balanced than the one that produced six extra-base hits in four postseason games last year.