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What are some problems that cause the Angels to "choke" in the playoffs after their 2002 world title?

I am an Angel fan and like many others I am tired how hard the Angels make it for themselves each time the make the playoffs after they won the world series. They look great during regular seasons, but they disappear in the post season!! What do you think are their problems and what do changes do they need to make (core, role players, infielders, etc.)? Thanks.

Public Comments

1. I feel your pain as a fellow Angels fan...for one, they need a new closer- I like Frankie, he's great but he's iffy in the playoffs...I think Arredondo is the right guy for the post-season...they also need to try and keep Teixera and Vlad together...and trade Matthews Jr.- the outfield is WAY too crowded and Matthews Jr. is not as effective as a backup...
2. Well. they have to find a better hitter .. a one who can it long ball..
3. Well, since 2002, they've faced the Red Sox 3 times in the playoffs... and are 1-9 against them in the playoffs since their last World Series win. It seems like everytime they face them, they have a weakness that the Red Sox find and take advantage of. I'd definitely say that looking back and finding what weaknesses of their teams would definitely be key. One way to look at it would be to look at would be: How did the Angels beat the Red Sox in the regular season. What are the Angels/Red Sox doing differently, and how should the Angels react to that? What can they do to become the better team and advance? The reason why the Angels won many of their games was because of the little things: getting runners on, the ability to move runners, good defense. That's all they need to do in the playoffs. They have a very good, young, team. Great pitching, good defense (especially in Teixeira and Hunter now), and a more than decent bullpen (Shields, K-Rod). They just need to take that to the playoffs and keep doing what they did in the regular season.
4. They are cursed for having the Los Angeles name.
5. they didn't choke. they are a very good team that got beat by a better team in a short series. one major reason for that was not being able to figure out lester.
6. Every game was a tough fight. The Angels were on the short end of the stick. No matter how good players you have it really comes down to a play or two that will decide the fate of the series. There really is no equation to winning it all in the postseason.
7. vlad isnt clutch, the only time he is televised nationally, he stinks.
8. Angels just didn't hit with runners on base.Call it choking or whatever else but that's the fact.
9. Angels could not hit ,That's why they lost.
10. they were better off playing the Rays..Boston owns them,its a mental edge...
11. Basically they haven't been playing the Yankees... Some teams just get into another team's "head"...The Angels got into the Yankees' and now the Sox are in the Angels. On the field, the Angels' success has been largely due to daring on the basepaths and timely hitting. They always go for the extra base and try to force the other team into making mistakes. The Sox are one of the most fundamentally sound teams, however, and don't make as many mistakes. So during the year you forget about Vladdy's baserunning blunders because you remember the big games where he took third because of a gutsy play. In a short series, Vlad makes one mistake and is killed for it. That makes everyone else a bit more gun-shy. They take fewer risks....which puts more pressure on the hitters. The Angels are at their best when they can string together a bunch of singles and doubles...it's the Law of baseball that when you're trying to force the big hit, it'll never come. They say that a 7-game series ensures that the best team eventually wins. I think a 5-game series really exposes mistakes (look at the Cubs), so the loser faces the stigma of "choking."
12. as a fan, i personally dont think they need to change anything. I think they lost last year because offensively they werent as good and the pitching wasnt as good. This year they just faced John Lester who is absolutely amazing. Not a run in 2 games, there is your answer. Good pitching beats good hitting everytime I believe.