Angels are a team that runs right at you
ARLINGTON, Texas - During the second game of a three-game Angels-Rangers series last week, the local TV feed was constantly focusing on Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia. A tug of the ear here. A touch of the cap there. Signals coming from the chest, mouth, nose, face, everywhere. Scioscia could sneeze or cough a signal. There probably isn't a manager in baseball who is more hands-on and more tuned in with the style of his team than Scioscia.
The Angels, who face the Red Sox in the Division Series beginning tomorrow, like to move. They rarely sit still. Scioscia has his runners on the go a lot. He never will be confused with Earl Weaver, who sat back and waited for the three-run homer.
"We do it that way because we have to," said Scioscia. "It's our style because it matches that talent in that room. If we had a team where we were hitting home runs and doing things more dramatically as far as slugging percentage, we'd probably slip a little bit out of our situational running game and sit back and swing the bat.
"Right now, the talent that's in that room really dictates what we have to do offensively. We have to be an aggressive offense on the bases as far as hit-and-run, run-and-hit situations because that's the only way we're going to press the action."
Scioscia isn't complaining, because his AL West champions have a lot going for them. They won the World Series in 2002 with a similar team, though not as young as this one, and they hope with some skill, youthful exuberance, and even luck they can capture the pennant again.
Scioscia has some power in Vladimir Guerrero (27 homers), and it seems every year the Angels are rumored to be going after this big bat or that big bat, someone who can protect Guerrerro. But it hasn't happened. In fact, last offseason, general manager Bill Stoneman spent his money on center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., who added defense and more speed and wound up second on the team with 18 homers.
"We're like old-fashioned, National League, St. Louis Cardinals-type ball," said veteran lefthander Darren Oliver, who pitched for the Red Sox in 2002. "It's never a dull day around here. We've always got a lot going on. It's fun, It's really fun."
Scioscia understands that baseball purists love to see a team playing small ball and manufacturing runs, but Sparky Anderson's Big Red Machine method would work just fine for him, too.
"If we had a lineup that had six-plus guys who hit over 25 homers, there'd be a lot less hitting and running," he said. "We could just sit back and swing the bat.
"So we haven't forced anything onto this team. They can hit and they can run the bases. They can scrap. Winning is fun. I think it's a fun game to watch. But a lot of fans like teams that drive the ball out of the park, too."
One nugget produced by Stats Inc. illustrates the Angels' style precisely: They went from first to third on a single 122 times, which was 15 more than second-best Minnesota. (The Red Sox finished in a three-way tie for last with the White Sox and Orioles, only 76 times). It also helps explain why the Angels led the majors in sacrifice flies with 64.
The Angels attempted 194 steals, second in the majors to the Mets, who attempted 246. The Angels were successful on 139 steals, which was second to the Orioles, who swiped 144 to end the Halos' three-year reign as the league's stolen base champion.
Chone Figgins and Orlando Cabrera at the top of the order can get on base and run. Howie Kendrick can handle the bat. Garret Anderson always has been a good hitter who can come up with big hits and drive the ball. Rookie outfielder Reggie Willits can work pitchers and get on base.
Figgins led the team with 41 steals, followed by Willits with 27, Cabrera with 20, and Matthews with 18, but it's more than steals. It's good, aggressive baserunning, coupled with good starting pitching and a decent bullpen and superb closer. It's playing the game soundly.
The Angels had more steals (139) than homers (129).
"Let me be honest," said Matthews. "It would be great if I could hit 30-50 home runs, but that's not what I am and it's not what this team has. We do a really good job of recognizing what we do well and what we need to do consistently.
"We're good at what we do, and that's enjoyable. When you're having success and you know that you're maximizing what you do have, that's exciting.
"It seems that all of the teams you see winning the playoffs are those types of teams that play fundamental baseball. Very rarely do you see a team that mashes its way to the playoffs. It's pitching and defense and good fundamental baseball."
Scioscia feels the Angels are ready, even with their youth at key positions and some nagging injuries. Figgins's left wrist is bothering him, Guerrero has been limited to DHing because of sore triceps muscles, and Matthews is looking questionable for the Division Series with left knee tendinitis.
"We're much younger now than we've been in any other time when we've taken a team to the playoffs, but our depth is very strong and that's something that plays well in the playoffs," Scioscia said.
With youth comes more mistakes, but Scioscia is quick to add, "More plays, too. There'll be the occasional mistake but a lot of times when you see a mistake, it's offset by a terrific athletic play, so more great plays are made and a few more mistakes. That's a tradeoff you'll take."
Asked whether he'll have to monitor his young players for nerves, Scioscia said, "These guys haven't been nervous so far, so we hope not. Why would they be nervous now?
During the final week, Scioscia wrestled with trying to keep the home field advantage and trying to keep his players healthy. The best record in the league would have been important to a team that plays so well at home (54-27) and ended the season one game below .500 (40-41) on the road.
But the more he thought about it, the more he realized, "It doesn't mean much if you have a team that's really beat up and has home field as opposed to a team that's recharged and healthy and playing on the road."
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com.
