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Angels designated hitter watches the video replay of a double play that ended the sixth inning against the Yankees on Sunday night in Game 6 of the ALCS. (Justin Lane / EPA) |
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Reporting from New York -
Vladimir Guerrero went down swinging in what might have been his final game as an Angel, and he made sure to land a few verbal jabs too.
The normally keep-to-himself slugger had three hits and twice jawed at home plate umpire Dale Scott over disputed strike calls during the Angels' season-ending 5-2 loss Sunday night at Yankee Stadium in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.
Guerrero first complained after taking a called third strike leading off the fourth inning. He protested again after Andy Pettitte's first pitch to him in the sixth inning was called a strike.
"Maybe the second at-bat, there was a pitch that I asked about," Guerrero said through an interpreter. "But it's over with. I really didn't want that to take over my mind the rest of the night and it didn't."
Guerrero eventually reached out and lined a pitch a few inches off the plate into right field for a double to put runners on second and third with two out, but Kendry Morales grounded back to Pettitte to end the inning.
The enduring image of possibly Guerrero's last game as an Angel -- his six-year, $85-million contract expires at the end of this season -- might have been a baserunning blunder in the second inning that quickly erased the momentum generated by his leadoff single.
When Morales lofted a fly ball to shallow right field, Guerrero ventured too far toward second base as second baseman Robinson Cano retreated into the outfield.
"I thought for sure it was going to drop," Guerrero said.
It didn't. Right fielder Nick Swisher made the catch and fired to first baseman Mark Teixeira before Guerrero could return to the base for a double play.
Guerrero also prematurely jogged toward first base in the eighth inning after Yankees closer Mariano Rivera threw him a ball on a 2-and-2 count. Guerrero made it about halfway up the first base line before heading back to the plate.
The designated hitter eventually singled through the right side of the infield to drive in Chone Figgins with the Angels' second run.
"Thank God I was able to pull through and get that base hit," said Guerrero, who hit .370 with one home run and five runs batted in in the ALCS.
Guerrero now heads into free agency after a season in which his production dipped dramatically after he missed 56 games because of a torn chest muscle and a strained right hamstring. Asked if he wanted to remain an Angel, the 2004 AL most valuable player said, "Of course."
The decision isn't entirely his, of course. Guerrero will turn 35 in February and is coming off a season in which he hit only 15 homers and drove in 50 runs -- his lowest totals since 1997. He also said it was "very important" to show he could play in the outfield again after his injuries limited him to designated hitter for all but two games.
"I'm not thinking so much about the uncertainty, but I'm thinking about my mom and how comfortable she feels in Anaheim," Guerrero said. "That's always one thing that I'm going to think about regarding free agency.
"It would be very gratifying to continue to play with the guys I've known here and have gotten used to."
From bad to worse
Figgins won a World Series with the Angels and developed into one of the best leadoff hitters in the American League.
But he put together one of the worst postseasons imaginable in 2009, hitting .086 and generating little momentum atop the batting order. He had an on-base percentage of .200.
Trying to get something started in the sixth inning, Figgins laid down a bunt and raced toward first base. He might have beaten it out had the ball not bounced off his foot, prompting Scott to immediately rule Figgins out.
The normally keep-to-himself slugger had three hits and twice jawed at home plate umpire Dale Scott over disputed strike calls during the Angels' season-ending 5-2 loss Sunday night at Yankee Stadium in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.
Guerrero first complained after taking a called third strike leading off the fourth inning. He protested again after Andy Pettitte's first pitch to him in the sixth inning was called a strike.
"Maybe the second at-bat, there was a pitch that I asked about," Guerrero said through an interpreter. "But it's over with. I really didn't want that to take over my mind the rest of the night and it didn't."
Guerrero eventually reached out and lined a pitch a few inches off the plate into right field for a double to put runners on second and third with two out, but Kendry Morales grounded back to Pettitte to end the inning.
The enduring image of possibly Guerrero's last game as an Angel -- his six-year, $85-million contract expires at the end of this season -- might have been a baserunning blunder in the second inning that quickly erased the momentum generated by his leadoff single.
When Morales lofted a fly ball to shallow right field, Guerrero ventured too far toward second base as second baseman Robinson Cano retreated into the outfield.
"I thought for sure it was going to drop," Guerrero said.
It didn't. Right fielder Nick Swisher made the catch and fired to first baseman Mark Teixeira before Guerrero could return to the base for a double play.
Guerrero also prematurely jogged toward first base in the eighth inning after Yankees closer Mariano Rivera threw him a ball on a 2-and-2 count. Guerrero made it about halfway up the first base line before heading back to the plate.
The designated hitter eventually singled through the right side of the infield to drive in Chone Figgins with the Angels' second run.
"Thank God I was able to pull through and get that base hit," said Guerrero, who hit .370 with one home run and five runs batted in in the ALCS.
Guerrero now heads into free agency after a season in which his production dipped dramatically after he missed 56 games because of a torn chest muscle and a strained right hamstring. Asked if he wanted to remain an Angel, the 2004 AL most valuable player said, "Of course."
The decision isn't entirely his, of course. Guerrero will turn 35 in February and is coming off a season in which he hit only 15 homers and drove in 50 runs -- his lowest totals since 1997. He also said it was "very important" to show he could play in the outfield again after his injuries limited him to designated hitter for all but two games.
"I'm not thinking so much about the uncertainty, but I'm thinking about my mom and how comfortable she feels in Anaheim," Guerrero said. "That's always one thing that I'm going to think about regarding free agency.
"It would be very gratifying to continue to play with the guys I've known here and have gotten used to."
From bad to worse
Figgins won a World Series with the Angels and developed into one of the best leadoff hitters in the American League.
But he put together one of the worst postseasons imaginable in 2009, hitting .086 and generating little momentum atop the batting order. He had an on-base percentage of .200.
Trying to get something started in the sixth inning, Figgins laid down a bunt and raced toward first base. He might have beaten it out had the ball not bounced off his foot, prompting Scott to immediately rule Figgins out.
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