LFR Sports

Traveling Angels Are Still Sky-High

Every national media outlet has trumped up the Angels sleep deprivation as evidence, proof positive, of an advantage to Chicago in the American League Championship Series, tonight.

The advantage is highly overrated and dubious. This is typical of the cadre of television talking heads and out-of-town journalists that follow stories with a collective single-mindedness.

The Angels are, in fact, not at a disadvantage--at least--during Game 1 at U.S. Cellular Field. The Angels, today, are as sky-high as were the White Sox last Friday after trouncing the Red Sox. They are the team with the advantage in a game that covets the daily routine. Chicago has been away from playoff competition for three days. An entire on three-days rest is completely different than pitching your ace pitcher on that many days.

Where the Angels are at a disadvantage is in their starting pitching. The junk-balling, Paul Byrd, should do fine with his maleable arm on three days rest, but the rest of the staff is in near shambles. Game 2 starter, Jarrod Washburn, was under the weather with a throat infection over the weekend, ace Bartolo Colon is out for ALCS and Game 5 hero, Ervin Santana pitched 5 1/3 hard-fought innings last night.

As The T, said last week, pitcher John Lackey is the key to Los Angeles' success. For that to happen now, Santana will need to showcase a playoff coming out party similar to Francisco Rodriguez's rookie performance in 2002.