Because this has been a foregone conclusion bereft of any suspense for a while, now, I'm pretty well psychologically prepared to say the following:
Congratulations to the Angels, a very well-run organization from top to bottom that deserves to be where it is. They're the best team in the division by a comfortable margin, and, thanks to a strong system and a reasonably young Major League core, stand to have targets on their backs for the next several years. I don't like them, but I respect them, because they do a lot of things well, and serve as a pretty good model of how one should go about building a successful and self-sustainable franchise. As much as we joke about Darin Erstad, Reggie Willits, and some of the things they value in a player, I don't think there's a single one of us who doesn't wish our front office were even half as competent.
I'm not going to wish the Angels the best of luck in the playoffs, because I hope they lose, and I hope they lose quick. Should they go on to win the Series, though, it won't be an accident. With their topheavy rotation, awesome closer, and contact-driven lineup, they're built right to go a long way. Don't let the Boston/New York hype fool you - the team that the Angels are taking into October is plenty good enough to beat anyone else before they even know what hit them. When (I dunno) Scot Shields or Gary Matthews Jr. are your biggest question marks going into the postseason, you know you're sitting pretty.
It's a good time to be an Angels fan. It's a good time to be an Angel.
Biggest Contribution: Ben Broussard, +11.7%
Biggest Suckfest: Sean Green, -14.4%
Most Important AB: Broussard double, +11.4%
Most Important Pitch: Izturis homer, -13.5%
Total Contribution by Pitcher(s): -26.9%
Total Contribution by Hitters: -26.5%
Total Contribution by Opposition: +3.4%
Walks aside, Sean Green has to be the unluckiest son of a bitch I've ever seen.