[dime]

82 California (#1) vs 85 California (#4)

The first edition of Angels postseason heartbreak was in 1982, when Gene Mauch's club won 93 games, not including the first 2 of a best-of-5 ALCS vs Milwaukee. The Halos dropped the next 3, however, and missed out on what would have been their first World Series appearance. A veteran lineup led the AL in OBP and was 2nd in slugging, bopping 186 home runs. Reggie Jackson (.275, 39, 101), Doug DeCinces (.301, 31, 97) and Brian Downing (.281, 28, 84) exemplified this. The pitching was not nearly as impressive, but Geoff Zahn (3.73) won 18 games. A shaky bullpen totaled just 27 saves, as Mauch opted to let Zahn and Ken Forsch (13-11) finish their starts instead.

The 85 Angels (90-72) finished 2nd to eventual champion Kansas City, providing momentum for a more memorable season to follow. The rocking chair offense (with regulars aged 39, 37, 36, 34, 34, and 39) hit just .251 as a team but led the AL in base on balls, and four players hit at least twenty homers. Some young bloods on the mound (Mike Witt, 15-9 and Ron Romanick, 14-9) helped balance things out. Stew Cliburn (9-3, 2.09) and Donnie Moore (1.92, 31 sv) were superb in relief.

Prediction:
The 85 Angels overachieved, as their pythagorean record was just 84-78. The 82 club has too much power and patience for a nice, but less-than-impressive 85 California staff to handle. 82 California's achilles heel bullpen will not be a factor in this series. 82 California in a 4 game sweep.


86 California (#2) vs 89 California (#3)

Lost in the Boston bellyaching regarding 1986 was a similar nightmare that played out in Anaheim; one with darker undertones. Closer Donnie Moore (2.97, 21 sv) surrendered a 2-out, go-ahead home run to Boston's Dave Henderson in the 9th inning of game 5 of the ALCS. The Angels (92-70) proceeded to lose that game in 11 innings and were listless in Boston, losing games six and seven to drop the series. Moore later committed suicide, and while his issues may not have been related to his baseball, the act has colored the memory of this team.

Wally Joyner (.290, 22, 100) was a much-needed infusion of youth to an effective, but very old attack. At just 23, future mainstay Dick Schofield (.249, 13, 57, 23 sb) had his finest season. Mike Witt (2.84, 18-10) was the ace, with Kirk McCaskill (3.36, 17-10) also pitching very well for a staff finishing the top of the AL in every major statistical category.

Winning 91 games but finishing 3rd in a top-heavy AL West, the 1989 Angels are notable for their fantastic pitching. With a team ERA of 3.28, California led the league in complete games (32) and shutouts (12). Only a mediocre year from vanguard Mike Witt (9-15, 4.54) marred a sterling rotation featuring Bert Blyleven (17-5, 2.73), Kirk McCaskill (15-10, 2.93), Chuck Finley (16-9, 2.57) and rookie Jim Abbott (12-12, 3.92). The offense quietly led the AL in home runs, topped by Chili Davis (.271) and his modest 22 long balls. The Angels hit just .256 as a team and had a lowly .311 OBP, whiffing a league-worst 1011 times.

Prediction:
The electronic 86 Angels may be doomed to suffer heartbreak in dramatic fashion, but it won't be against a team whose offense consists of solo home runs. 86 California, 4 games to 1.