These days with the Angels playoff spot as secure at $4 per gallon gas prices fans might start letting their interests head elsewhere until October.  My suggestion is to ignore all of the distractions, no matter how sweet they are (ahem, USC Football) and soak up this Halos squad, because they are embarking on quite possibly the best record in team history.
   
In that magic year of 2002, the Angels set the team record for wins in a season with 99.  This year with 76 W’s already in the bag, the Angels are on pace to break that record by winning 102 games.  This record, on top of Francisco Rodriguez’s attempt to set the Major League Baseball Saves record for the season should make for an interesting final six weeks of the season.  
   
Want more to watch for?  How about that the Angels youth movement is in full effect and that they have players with two years or less of big league experience at three of their starting positions (Erick Aybar, SS, Howie Kendrick, 2B, Jeff Mathis/ Mike Napoli, C).  How about that the Angels are marching out the deadliest heart of the lineup that they have ever had (Teixeira, Guerrero, Hunter, Anderson)?

Or that the Angels have 3 potential CY Young Candidates this season (Lackey, Saunders, Santana)?  What about the fact that the Angels have had 42 multi-run innings in the 22 games since the All-Star break?  Or how about Garrett Anderson and his 20 game hitting streak (the longest of any Angel this season)?   Or that future hall-of-famer (yes, he is) Mark Teixeira is denting the ball each night hitting .383 in an Angel uniform with 4 HR’s and 15 RBI in just 60 at-bats?

Besides, what’s so bad about wrapping up the AL West Championship so early?  Remember in years’ past (2004, 2005) when it seemed like the Angels had to win every game in September to keep Oakland off their heels?  Sure they pulled it off, but I must have gone through 3 remote controls (my apologies to the wall behind my TV) in those finals weeks as I watch their lead dwindle.  Well, I think that’s enough question marks for a team that really doesn’t have many.    

–    Juan Rivera has 8 home runs in 162 at-bats this season.  Gary Matthews Jr. (who Rivera replaced) had 7 home runs in 339 at bats before Scioscia benched him

–    “It could be. But we don’t want to do the Manny-Papi thing. We want to do a Tex-Vladdy thing.” said Angels OF Torii Hunter on the Angels’ Mark Teixeira and Vladimir Guerrero replacing David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez as the best 1-2 punch in an American League lineup.  

–    Macier Izturis will miss the rest of the season after an MRI revealed a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his thumb.  Izturis originally hurt the thumb on a great diving play against the Yankees in New York and re-aggravated on Wednesday against the Mariners.  Although Aybar is a better defensive shortstop than Izturis, Izturis’ clutch hitting and veteran leadership will be sorely missed in the playoffs.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the Angels made a move to pick up another veteran infielder (David Eckstein anyone?)

–    Ok, so Mark Teixeira is gonna cost the Angels an arm, a leg and perhaps the naming rights to the stadium this off season (Teixeira Stadium of Anaheim has a nice ring to it), but if for some reason the Angels aren’t able to re-sign him, not all is lost.  Not only will the Angels inherit the first round pick of the team that signs him, but they will also get a supplemental draft pick (in between Rounds 1 and 2) but they will be able to give the Cuban-Bomber, Kendry Morales a full-time gig at first base.  As of Saturday (when the Angels called Morales up from AAA) Morales was hitting .338 with 15 home runs at AAA.

–    I got an iPhone over the weekend.  Yes, they are as cool as advertised.

–    Vlad on the driving range facing off against Ryan Howard.  This has got to be good.  Or if you prefer the good, old fashion power display, see below.