Anaheim Angels’ ALDS Roster

Mike Scioscia released his postseason roster on Sunday, giving fans even more to feast on as the postseason nears. The team will consist of 15 position players and 10 pitchers. Position Players Catchers (3) Primary: Mike Napoli Reserves (2): Jeff Mathis, Bobby Wilson While Napoli is the Angels' primary catcher, Mathis will begin the series catching Lackey - much to the Sox' benefit. Mathis is a very poor hitter (.211/.288/.308), so his free at-bats will kill any rallies when he limps to the plate. Wilson, the team's #3 catcher, will provide depth and late-inning roster flexibility.

Sizing Up the Angels: The Hitters

Now that the Magic Number is down to zero (special thanks go to Texas for their Heimlich Maneuver on the Red Sox choke job), the Sox can safely prepare for the Anaheim Angels.

Make no mistake, this is not the Angels teams of past years, who had been thoroughly cooked by the Sox and served on a platter. They have a lot of advantages over the Boston club: they are healthier, have a deeper rotation (though not as top heavy), and they have momentum from four straight wins and a recent division clincher over the Rangers.

Still, with a new sworn enemy for the next two weeks, let's remove the veil from the Angels and find out who this team really is.

Where to start? Hmm... how about the sluggers?

The Sluggers

1B Kendry Morales: This guy has had one of the biggest turnaround seasons in recent memory. It looked like he was headed straight for the former-prospect label after three lackluster stints with the big club. He's been a completely different hitter in 2009, however, as he's added power and learned how to hit major league off-speed and breaking pitches (particularly the change-up and curve). He has had problems making contact this season though, which is probably the only part of his game that has regressed...

LAA 4, BOS 3: Halos enjoy resurrection over Red Sox

The Los Angeles Angels didn't want to leave Fenway without at least one win for the trip home, as the AL West leaders beat the Red Sox, 4-3.

A wild pitch in the seventh tarnished an otherwise solid start for Josh Beckett. Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Bay brought the lumber, but to no avail, as the Sox fall to the AL West leading Angels.

Sizing Up the Competition

With just under three weeks left in the regular season, the field is almost done filling out, with just five teams holding real hopes of reaching the post season: Boston, New York, Detroit, Minnesota, and Los Angeles.

Anaheim is up 6 in the West, Detroit is up 4 on Minnesota in the Central, the Red Sox are up 6 ½ in the Wild Card and the Yanks are about to clinch the East, up 6.5 games.

So, how do these teams stack up?

9/17: It’s Beckett Time

GAME NOTES: Josh Beckett looks like he's coming out of that funk he was mired in for a couple weeks. He'll do it against Ervin Santana, who has had a bad year after busting through last year. I'll be at the game, so let's hope we see a good one!

BOS 9, LAA 8: A-Gonz and Done It Again

It's not everyday that Red Sox fans get to see Alex Gonzalez at the bottom of a walk-off pig-pile. It's even more rare to see him take a walk. But last night, he did both, leading the Red Sox past the Los Angeles Angels, 9-8.

Both Paul Byrd and Angels' starter Joe Saunders pitched some uninspired baseball, but it was the quick feet and quick thinking of the Red Sox that brought home the seventh win in eight days for Boston.

9/16: The Byrd flies with the Angels

GAME NOTES: Paul Byrd makes what could be his final start for the Red Sox, as Tim Wakefield is due back shortly. Byrd has been a nice arm for the Sox so far. Can he shut down that offense?

BOS 4, LAA 1: Dice is Nice

In his first game back since June 19, Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched a surprisingly decent an unagitating outing, as the Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of California of the United States of North America, 4-1. The multi-million dollar man notched over six shutout innings, giving up only three hits. Unfortunately, he walked just as many batters, but the five strikeouts on 93 pitches were certainly a step in the right direction.

6/15: ALDS Preview… again?

GAME NOTES: The Angels come to town. We'll probably be facing them in the ALDS again -- the Angels could use a strong showing at Fenway Park to give them confidence going into the playoff series. The Angels aren't the pitching club they used to be, but boy, they can rake now. It's important, I think, to show them that their struggles at Fenway Park will continue. Oh, and Dice-K returns.

5/14: Matinee Performance

With Buchholz putting on the pressure, every Penny start is either an audition for the Red Sox or potential trade partners. Let's lock down another series.