Any way we look at it, the Halos have something that no other team has. The motivation that will give them the type of drive that no manager, no amount of money, or no superstition would be able to do. Two words: Nick Adenhart. Nick Adenhart was a 22 year old pitcher for the Angels who had a promising career. During his first major league baseball game, he pitched six shutout innings against the A’s. That night, he was killed in a car accident. This horrific incident has changed the way the Angels look at the game of baseball. With their first 13 games after the accident, the Angels lost 9 of them. Around mid-April is when the entire organization turned around. They held a memorial service for Nick Adenhart one morning which seemed to be a spark for their success. They are playing for more than a ring, a trophy, or bragging rights . . . they’re playing for their teammate Adenhart.

So with a very rocky early season, the Angels have proven time and time again that they can rise above adversity. They have found the “it factor” for the season. The “it factor” being the driving force behind their triumph thus far, playing for Nick Adenhart.

The Angels won the American League West, with competition that seemed to be hopeful near the beginning of the season. The Texas Rangers came out fierce, as did the Seattle Mariners. The Angels were dealing with a tragic loss of a teammate, and their ace, John Lackey not being able to pitch for the first six weeks. However, when John Lackey was finally able to stand on the mound after a strained forearm injury, he was ejected after throwing only two pitches. He threw a ball behind batter, Ian Kinsler from the Texas Rangers, and the very next pitch he hit him. Kinsler hit two homeruns the night before against the Angels, and umpire Bob Davidson thought it was intentional and the two teams had built animosity against each other. Davidson did not issue a warning against Lackey after the first pitch . . . some people say it was unfair and others agree with the call. Whichever way we look at it, the Angels star pitcher was going to have an uphill climb the entire season.

This season the Angels seemed to have the bats swinging hard with the help of their key hitters: Kendry Morales, Juan Rivera, Bobby Abreu and of course Chone Figgins. As for the pitching lineup, they needed a lot of work. John Lackey was dealing with trying to get back into the groove of things, while Brian Fuentes seemed to have lost that “closing feeling.” The pitching staff needed work, and lots of it. Arte Moreno, the owner of the Angels, always has his eye on the playoffs, and he will make changes for the good of the team. He recently picked up Scott Kazmir from the Tampa Bay Rays, and gave up one of their top prospects, middle infielder, Sean Rodriguez. Although, Rodriguez has immense potential in the major leagues, the Angels had to make an immediate and much needed decision with the playoffs on their way.

Let’s begin with the breakdown of what makes the Angels “World Series worthy”:

Starting Pitchers:

John Lackey – Has been in the MLB since 2002, so he has the experience to deal with the pressure of facing off against Red Sox star pitcher Jon Lester. At 6’6” and 245 pounds, he has the power to man handle any batter who approaches the plate. This season he is 11-8 with an ERA of 3.83, has only given up 17 homeruns compared to 26 last season. Remember, Lackey helped pitch the Angels to a World Series Title against the Giants as a rookie. He is going to come out strong against the Red Sox . . . but be ready for an intense and exciting pitcher duel.

Jered Weaver – Right hander who made his debut in 2006 has been a consistent pitcher. He is 16-8 with an ERA of 3.75. With the amount of confidence Weaver has paired with his “even keel” attitude, he will most likely be successful in the playoffs this season against the Sox. Nick Adenhart was one of his best friends, in fact, he was planning on moving in with Weaver and becoming roommates, so you can bet that Weaver is going to be coming out strong and will have a little more determination backing him up.

Scott Kazmir – Left hander who got traded from the Rays to the Angels for top prospect Sean Rodriguez. In 2009 with Tampa Bay he was 8-7 with an ERA of 5.92. Now with the Angels he has pitched six games and is 2-2 with two no decisions and an ERA of 1.73. Against the A’s on Saturday October 3rd he pitched a shutout with three strikeouts in five innings, only gave up three hits and one walk. This was his 10th win of the season. Seems like a great way to end the regular season and enter the ALDS. The late season acquisition, was not only because he is an effective pitcher, but particularly, his track record against the Red Sox is strong.

Joe Saunders – Left hander who started his career with the Angels back in 2005, is now seeing much more playing time. He is 15-7 with an ERA of 4.62. During Spring Training he was experiencing shoulder issues, but he felt obligated to pitch since John Lackey and Ervin Santana were also experiencing arm problems. Saunders is a strong competitor who never gives up. He will be fun to watch during the match up against Red Sox.

Relievers:

Darren Oliver – The best reliever the Angels have this season. He has an ERA of 2.67, and is 16-17 in hold opportunities. Although he seems to be under the radar, this will be a secret weapon that will give the Angels a better chance facing off against the Red Sox.

Jason Bulger – He is 6-1 with an ERA of 3.56. He recently had a shoulder issue, but he seems to have recovered pretty efficiently from it. Manager Mike Scioscia likes the way the bullpen is coming together. Scioscia will most likely limit him to 30 pitches a game. This means Bulger must come out of the bullpen ready for battle if he is going to be successful in this role.

Matt Palmer – With an MLB debut in 2008, one can say he doesn’t have much experience. However, with the Angels this season he is 11-2 with an ERA of 3.93. September 30th against the Rangers, Palmer had five shutout innings allowing only one hit and two walks.

Ervin Santana – Sent down to the minors since the organization thought it would be able to help him get back on track. He debuted with the Angels in 2005. I have always liked Santana, and enjoyed watching him pitch, but he just needs to learn how to relax on the mound. He was a starting pitcher with the Angels; however, just got moved to be a reliever. Good decision. As of now with an ERA of 5.10 and who is 8-8, he might not be starter-worthy. Just give him some time, and he will bounce back to become what he was made out to be, a starter.

Sean O’Sullivan – Born in 1987, and just debuted with the Angels this season, he has a 5.92 ERA and is 4-2. Although young, he can bring the power behind that 6’2” 230 body of his. It will be interesting to see how he handles his first ever playoff jitters.

Brian Fuentes (closer) – Traded from the Rockies, Fuentes has had a semi-rocky season with the Angels. With a few poor outings this season, he is going to place all of those times behind him and concentrate on the now. Even though he has a higher than usual ERA of 3.93 for a closer, he has had 48 saves this season. I have more confidence in Fuentes this post season than I did with Francisco Rodriguez last season.

Lineup:

Chone Figgins – The quickest player the Angels have on their roster. If Chone Figgins is able to get on base, he is more than likely to make an impact on the game. This season he has 182 hits, 101 walks, and 30 doubles. His batting average is just under.300. Figgins is surely a game changer.

Howie Kendrick - A second baseman who shares positions with Maicer Izturis. This will be a toss up as to who starts. Kendrick has 109 hits, 61 runs, 61 RBIs and has a batting average of .295. He just hit his 10th homerun against the Rangers on September 20th.

Bobby Abreu – Bats lefty and has a batting average of .295 with 165 hits, 96 runs, 102 RBIs, and 15 homeruns. This Venezuelan comes equipped with all the power and patience a third spot batter needs to be successful in the playoffs.

Vladimir Guerrero – Eight-time All Star, Vlad has the experience and the biggest strike zone that I believe, will benefit him during the playoffs. Even though, he is getting older and slowing down, he still has a heck of a swing that can reach half a foot outside of the strike zone in the dirt or up high. He just needs to realize that not every ball thrown towards the ground is hittable. With a batting average of .295, 113 hits, 59 runs, 15 homeruns, and 50 RBIs seems to be a sign this is a downward fall in his career. We just need him to bring everything he’s got when it comes playoff time.

Torii Hunter – Hit a slump in September, but hopefully he’ll be able to find the Torii we know he is capable of being. He has a batting average of .295, 73 runs, 134 hits, 22 homeruns, and 25 doubles. He is the leader of this team, if and when his bat starts to wake up, the Red Sox will have a lot to worry about.

Kendry Morales – He is one of my favorite players to watch on this team. He was riding the pine when Casey Kotchman was playing and when Mark Teixeira was traded to the Angels. Not only does this show he loves the game of baseball, he knows he can help the team win, in any way possible. His biggest attribute is patience. This switch hitter is powerful, packed with finesse and has a batting average of .306 with 86 runs, 172 hits, 34 homeruns, and 107 RBIs he is a major factor for the Angels success . . . Teixeira who?

Juan Rivera – Another Venezuelan who can hit extremely well. Sometimes he gets overlooked for his big hitting capabilities. He has a batting average of .287 with 72 runs, 151 hits, 25 homeruns, and 88 RBIs. Rivera is consistent and will help the Angels stay calm and collective.

Erick Aybar – Debuted with the Angels in 2006. He is quick and can usually find a way to get on base. As a switch hitter he has a batting average of .307 with 69 runs, 154 hits, 23 doubles, and 58 RBIs. His speed is going to stir things up around the bases.

Jeff Mathis – Shares position with catcher Mike Napoli. The reason I think Mathis is going to start over Napoli, is because Mathis is a better defensive catcher. Although his hitting is somewhat slacking with a batting average of .213, has 26 runs, 50 hits, 5 homeruns, and 28 RBIs. I will give him the benefit of the doubt and say the reason he has such a low average is because he was not a consistent starter. With his confidence high going into the playoffs, this can improve his hitting (that is, if the Angels let him hit).

The Angels defense is packed with talent. With Erick Aybar making near to impossible plays at shortstop and Torii Hunter stealing homeruns from his opponents, the Angels have nothing to worry about regarding defense. Chone Figgins, although not the biggest player on the field, plays huge. His arm is unbelievable and his speed is remarkable to watch. Kendry Morales is a great defensive first baseman; he’s got the reach, the versatility and the determination to always look for that double play opportunity. Whether it be Howie Kendrick or Maicer Izturis at second, both are extreme athletes and can get the job done. Defense is the least of my worries for the Halos beating the Red Sox.

The powerful duo of owner Arte Moreno and Manager Mike Scioscia makes the Angels one of the best organizations to be a part of. They are respected amongst their players and will make risky decisions that are season changing. Scioscia keeps a close eye on his players because he is truly concerned about their well-being and their future success. Gary Matthews Jr. is starter-worthy in the outfield, except he is not playing. We haven’t heard an outburst or any negative media coverage from him about his lack of playing time. Scioscia has taught his players to play as a team, even if that means to swallow their pride.

The Angels have a history of bad luck in the playoffs. (Except in 2002 when they won the World Series, of course.) They have made a post season appearance four out of the last five years. The Red Sox have been their archenemy for years. Dating back to 1986, the Red Sox have won eleven consecutive playoff games against the Angels. It just seems as though the Angels fall apart in the playoffs. However, this might be the year to snap the losing streak. A few Red Sox players are battling injuries: Josh Beckett (back), Jon Lester (knee), Kevin Youkilis (back), and Mike Lowell (hip). The Sox are entering the playoffs having been swept by the Yankees in New York, and also by the Blue Jays at Fenway. Great news for the Angels. The Angels have a very powerful offense; they are first in batting average, second in runs and second in hits. The only thing that has me second guessing myself is the Angels pitching. They have had 14 different players start games this year. Brian Fuentes leads the American League with 48 saves this season; however more importantly, he has blown seven saves. Pitching is going to be the key aspect as to which team will continue on during post season.

This is the Angels year to conquer the past demons with the Boston Red Sox and to win the World Series. They have a prevailing purpose to win, which lies in the heart of the entire team. As center fielder Torii Hunter stated when asked about Nick Adenhart’s memorial, “We had a little closure. We realized Nick was a competitor, and he would want us to win. We started getting better, and now look at us. We carry his jersey wherever we go, we kept his locker intact. We never forgot him. We just chose to play with him” (latimes.com). I truly believe this is their year. They’ve got the motivation, the heart and the passion to win the World Series; not just for the organization, but for their dear friend Nick Adenhart. Nick, this one’s for you buddy.

Angels celebration dedicated to Adenhart.