For MAKE PLAYS' MLB playoff preview, we decided to gaze into our crystal balls to see what every one of the eight postseason teams would need to do to take home the World Series. Here, Rorabaugh discusses how the AL West Champion Angels could win the title.
All year long, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim rallied around one teammate, one friend. Now they can celebrate in his memory.
Following the death of rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart in April, the Angels rallied to win the AL West, the AL pennant and, after Wednesday night's win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, the 2009 World Series.
Anaheim won Game 6 off a strong outing by Ervin Santana, who provided half of the one-two punch with ace John Lackey at the top of the Angels' rotation. Throughout the playoffs, Lackey and Santana led the way, going 6-0 with a combined ERA of 2.03.
But it was another pitcher that remained in the hearts of the Anaheim dugout. The No. 34 jersey of Adenhart, who was killed by drunk driver just hours after pitching in his major-league debut April 8, hung in the dugout all season long. The players took turns patting the jersey after celebrating in the clubhouse after the win.
At the start of the season, the loss of All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez was thought to mean the decline of the Angels' bullpen. But newcomer Brian Fuentes proved enough to hold the team's playoff leads, going 5-for-6 in save situations and recording a 1.76 ERA.
The Angels' offense -- led by Kendry Morales, Chone Figgins and veterans Torii Hunter and Bobby Abreu -- manufactured runs throughout the postseason. Anaheim beat the Boston Red Sox in four games by averaging about four runs per game, and upset the New York Yankees by putting up 4.6 runs per game over the six-game series.
The Angels' pitching did the rest of the work, holding teams to an average of 3.2 runs per game.
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