No love for L.A.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, formerly the Anaheim Angels and the California Angels and the Los Angeles Angels, have always had an identity issue.
Like the White Sox in Chicago and NBA's L.A. Clippers, the Angels are rarely the most popular team in town. But unlike the Clippers, they deserve a lot better. That's especially true this year, as the Angels are surging with the best record in baseball, coming off a home sweep of the Boston Red Sox over the weekend.
Nevertheless, in a new Harris Poll, the Angels are one of the least popular teams in baseball. Only the Toronto Blue Jays are less popular nationally.
And then, Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Glove poured salt in the wound in a column published Sunday.
"So why is [the series sweep] not a matter of concern in Red Sox Nation?
Because the Angels can't beat the Red Sox in October, that's why.
The great Francisco Rodriguez came on to smother the Red Sox in the ninth inning yesterday, picking up his 39th save by getting Manny Ramírez and Mike Lowell to pop up with two. Rodriguez has a championship ring in his pocket and is threatening to shatter the all-time save mark. But we know if this had been the playoffs, Manny would have been standing at home plate, flipping his bat, raising his arms like Arthur Fielder on the Esplanade, and admiring his home run off K-Rod.
That's just what happens when these two meet in the really big games."
It's an interesting take for the end of July, calling out the Angels for repeatedly fading against their nemesis Red Sox in the playoffs (the Angels lost to Boston in 1986, 2004 and again last season). But every baseball season is a new one, and the Angels seem to have the goods to get over the hump this season. As Orange County Register columnist Jeff Miller responded:
"So, Danny boy, you’re 100-percent correct. See you in October. I’ll be sure to point out then which team is the Angels, since you and your dated perspective won’t recognize them."Photo: Francisco Rodriguez of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches in the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox on the way to his 39th save of the season on July 19 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images)
Comments
The “identity crisis” doesn’t come from name changes, but from playing in the same market as the Dodgers, a team with a history, for so many years. The Los Angeles Angels is the original name of the team. And it come from a PCL team that preceded it. The Angels played their first few seasons using Dodger Stadium as their home field before moving to Anaheim. That’s when they became the California Angels. But with Oakland, another AL team in the state it wasn’t exactly fair to claim that title. Disney’s ownership brought the name Anaheim Angels, and new owner Artie Moreno has restored the original name… adding “of Anaheim” as a suffix.
As for Red Sox Nation… it looks like the Angels need to be more concerned about meeting Tampa Bay in the playoffs this year.