The goal of Unearned Run Cost (URC) is to show how many extra runs a team gives up due to their errors or how successful the team is in not allowing those errors to cost them on the scoreboard.
Albert Pujols, Tim Lincecum and Roy Halladay were amongst baseball's best players again in 2009, but also joining them were Zack Greinke, Justin Verlander, Joe Mauer, Prince Fielder and Felix Hernandez.
Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez believes that his relationship with Madonna will allow him to bring a championship to the Bronx in 2009.
RealGM Search
Brian Reynolds
The Angels will face Boston for the fourth time in the ALDS in the last six seasons.? In the previous three, they have been out-pitched, out-hit, and out-coached.? Why should 2009 be any different?
?
The biggest reason (and it?s been well documented) is that this is a different type of Angels offense.? They score a lot of runs.? In fact, they touched home plate 883 times during the regular season, second to only the New York Yankees in all of the major leagues.? It all starts at the top of the order with the pesky Chone Figgins.? He gets on base almost 40% of the time because he knows how to draw walks.? To give you an idea, Figgins walked only 14 times fewer than the best hitter of today?s generation, Albert Pujols.? This not only allows guys like Bobby Abreu, Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter, and Kendry Morales to see more pitches from the dugout, but it absolutely wears down the opposing pitchers.? Especially since Figgins is more of a pain on base than he is in the batter?s box.?
?
Outside of Figgins, the Angels are very strong.? Morales is one of the biggest surprises of the year.? He drove in 108 Runs and hit 34 homers.? Guerrero was injured for a lot the year and despite not hitting at least .300 (he hit .295) for the first time in his career, he is still a frightening hitter to face.? The Angels lineup really doesn?t have a weakness.? Hunter, Abreu, Napoli, Kendrick, Aybar, Iztruis ? they can all hit for average and some pop as well.?
?
Now, Boston?s offense may be just as prolific.? After all, they scored the third most runs of any team in the regular season and Jacoby Ellsbury led all of baseball with 70 stolen bases. However, the Angels are a lot better defensively behind the plate than the Sox are.? Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis have allowed a combined 126 stolen bases, but have thrown out 39.? Jason Varitek and Victor Martinez have allowed a combined 164 stolen bases and have only thrown out 25 potential would-be basestealers.? The Angels will straight steal and hit and run all day on Boston, because that is how they play the game and the Red Sox simply will not be able to stop it.
?
A lot has also been mentioned of the power arms of Boston?s starting rotation.? They will likely throw Jon Lester in Game 1, Josh Beckett in Game 2 and Clay Buchholz in Game 3.? That is as dominant as a starting rotation as there is.? Keep in mind though that the Angels counter-parts are no slouches either.? John Lackey won a Game 7 in the World Series as a Rookie.? Jered Weaver was tremendous all season long for the Angels and Scott Kazmir has a familiarity and a confidence in pitching at Fenway Park that the Angels have not had before.? It?s not as lopsided as people are making it out to be.
?
The Angels only won one game in the previous four series with Boston.? The dominance ends now and the rivalry begins next year.? The Angels will rally around the tragic loss of their teammate Nick Adenhart and finally beat Boston.
?
Prediction: Angels In 4.
