For the Angels, There Is No Comparison in L.A.

Los Angeles didn’t want them.

Fans ripped them. Politicians disavowed them. Commentators ridiculed them.

When the Angels acted like any ambitious Orange County business this winter and annexed their northern neighbors, they were greeted like an infectious disease.

Anybody worried about catching that fever now?

The name was changed again Tuesday, and maybe those who loathe them will realize how lucky they are to have them.

The 2005 American League West Division champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

The only baseball team in town that will play in October ... again.

You say intruder, we say illuminator.

Long after the Dodger cap is packed away, the letters “LA” will remain in national headlines and on flat screens after the Angels advanced to the postseason Tuesday with a 4-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

It was a typical closing sprint -- 10 victories in their last 11 games.

It was a typical closing moment -- bullets from the mound, bloops from the plate, and K-Rod in the end.

That was reliever Frankie Rodriguez pumping his fist at the ground after Juan Rivera squeezed Bobby Kielty’s fly ball in left field to end it.

That was catcher Bengie Molina wrapping Rodriguez in his giant arms as the Angels streamed on to the McAfee Coliseum field like dozens of red ants.

And that was owner Arte Moreno standing on the foul line hugging them all.

Afterward, in the Korbel-soaked clubhouse, the owner was momentarily swallowed by the chugging, spraying, howling masses.

“Hey, I’m right here!” he shouted, appearing in soaking wet clothes and holding a bottle of champagne. “Here, you have to drink!”

It is Moreno who is responsible for this team’s consistency of vision. It was Moreno who couldn’t seem to get the bubbly out of his eyes.

“When we took over after 2002, we wanted to capture that feeling in a bottle, and keep it going, and we’ve done that,” Moreno said.

It is the type of feeling not seen around these parts in many seasons.

They became the first Los Angeles baseball team in nearly 30 years to win consecutive division championships.

They became the first Los Angeles baseball team in 40 years to make the playoffs three times in four seasons,.

No, no, no, we’re not here to compare the Angels to the Dodgers.

There is no longer any comparison.

It’s no longer even close.

These Angels win with the two values the Dodgers have slashed along with their budget: continuity and character.

“That’s everything,” said Jarrod Washburn. “That’s what makes our team a team.”

Start with continuity.

Nine of 13 players who participated in Tuesday’s win are homegrown or have been with the organization since the 2000 season.

The Angels have had the same manager and coaching staff since the 2000 season.

They all know the rules. They all know their roles.

“To be able to walk into the same clubhouse every day for six years and know exactly what to expect for six years, that’s really rare in this business,” Adam Kennedy said. “It’s amazing when one player stays in one place. But to have all these players and coaching staff together? That makes a difference.”

Then there’s character.

The clubhouse is filled with various ethnicities and languages that nonetheless fit perfectly under one halo.

The manager speaks Spanish. The Latino players try to speak English. Nobody speaks impulsively.

“When we have our organizational meetings, we don’t just talk about numbers, we talk about agenda,” said Joe Maddon, bench coach in his 12th season on the big-league staff. “About each player, we ask, what is his agenda? Is it himself, or the team?”

The moment a player shows any ego, he is summoned into Manager Mike Scioscia’s office. Too many of those moments, and he is gone.

Translated: After last year’s water bottle incident, the Dodgers’ Milton Bradley would have never, ever worn an Angel uniform again.

“You look at our superstars and you would never know they are superstars,” Washburn said. “That doesn’t happen by accident.”

It was this continuity and character that helped the Angels survive what Scioscia calls his era’s “toughest year yet.”

Continuity and character and, of course, the best talent that the American League’s third-highest payroll can provide.

All of which were needed during what everyone admits has been the most difficult year of the Scioscia regime.

“This was, by far, the hardest for all of us,” Darin Erstad said. “We had to fight through so many things.”

Throughout the year there were questions. But always, there were answers.

Injuries to Kennedy and Dallas McPherson? It meant regular playing time for Chone Figgins, who became baseball’s best player without a position.

Injury to starter Kelvim Escobar? Hello, Ervin Santana, one of baseball’s best young starters.

Weariness in the bullpen? Hello, Escobar.

No offensive pop with the loss of Troy Glaus and struggles of Steve Finley? Would you believe that this ungainly looking bunch leads the league in stolen bases?

Throughout the rocky journey, Scioscia deftly doused one brush fire after another.

He stuck with Finley long enough that, when Finley was finally benched, he never stopped working. And guess who had two big homers in the last couple of days?

His support of John Lackey resulted in a revival of 2002. His trust in Bartolo Colon could help lead to a Cy Young.

He dealt with a first-year closer who this year suffered a game-costing meltdown in Oakland.

That same kid was on the mound to end Tuesday’s game, Rodriguez converting his 16th consecutive save.

His joy, his teammates’ laughter, the occasional tear, it almost reminded you of the world champion of 2002 and ...

“No, I don’t want this to feel like 2002,” protested Erstad. “I want to create new memories. This is a new team. We are doing it a new way.”

New, in many ways.

Some familiar faces will be playing baseball in Southern California in October again, only this time, they will be carrying the banner of an entire region.

The 2005 American League West Division champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Somebody should be able to fit that on a welcome mat.