Angels’ fall a power-point demonstration

There is power in numbers, a point the Boston Red Sox hammered home during their American League division series sweep of the Angels.

David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, the most prolific one-two punch in baseball, each hit two home runs in the series, one of them Ramirez’s three-run, walk-off moon shot off closer Francisco Rodriguez to win Game 2, and the Red Sox outscored the Angels, 19-4, in three games.

The Angels have a premier slugger in Vladimir Guerrero, but with an eye infection reducing cleanup batter Garret Anderson to a shell of the hitter who drove in 65 runs after the All-Star break, Guerrero didn’t get many choice pitches to hit and was held to two singles and no RBIs in 10 at-bats.

A pair of jacks whipped one-of-a-kind, and as much as the Angels maximized their offense to win the AL West -- they ranked 12th in the league in home runs and fourth in runs, a testament to their clutch hitting and aggressive baserunning -- the Angels may need a stronger offensive hand to reach the World Series.

“It’s no secret we need a right-handed power hitter to protect our big guy, Vladdy,” pitcher Kelvim Escobar said Monday in the Angels clubhouse, where several players and coaches packed up their belongings before heading home for the winter.

Maicer Izturis “was our fifth hitter at the end of the year, and he did a good job, but Izzy is a little guy compared with other guys, and it’s not the same,” Escobar said. “But maybe, hopefully, we can get a power right-handed guy to hit behind Vladdy. That’s what we need.”

This has been a familiar refrain for three years now. The Angels made a strong run at Ramirez and Paul Konerko after 2005, at Miguel Tejada, Alfonso Soriano and Todd Helton in 2006, and at Mark Teixeira this past July. Many swings, many misses.

This winter, the best hitter in baseball could be available, and the Angels, at least their players, are practically drooling. Despite public comments that he wants to stay in New York, Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez is expected to opt out of the remaining three years and $91 million on his contract and become a free agent in November.

“He’s the best player in the league right now,” Escobar said. “I wish I could have Alex on my team.”

Who wouldn’t? All the 32-year-old third baseman did this season was hit .314 with a major league-leading 54 home runs and 156 runs batted in.

“A-Rod doesn’t grow on trees,” said center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., who missed the division series because of a knee injury. “Manny and Ortiz don’t grow on trees.”

Many believe Arte Moreno’s money grows on trees. The Angels owner has publicly balked at the idea of paying a player $25 million a year, but he is one of only a few owners who could meet A-Rod’s expected asking price, in the eight-year, $200-million range.

The Angels have a strong nucleus of young position players, including first baseman Casey Kotchman, second baseman Howie Kendrick and catchers Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis, veterans in their prime such as Guerrero, Matthews, shortstop Orlando Cabrera and utility player Chone Figgins, and a strong pitching staff.

Alex Rodriguez, though, could turn the Angels from perennial division contenders to perennial World Series contenders.

“There’s a need” for a big bat, Manager Mike Scioscia said. “It’s tough to say if it’s as glaring [as it was after 2005]. Not that we can’t get it done other ways, but I think at some point our slugging percentage [.417 this season, ninth in the league] is something you need to address.”

If Rodriguez costs too much, the Angels could pursue free-agent third baseman Mike Lowell, who hit .324 with 21 homers and 120 RBIs for Boston. The Angels are a little concerned about Lowell’s age (34 next season) and his home/road splits; he hit .370 with 14 homers and 73 RBIs in Fenway Park, .276 with seven homers and 47 RBIs on the road.

The one upside: At least the Angels would have someone who hit well in Fenway, where they are 14-25, including three playoff losses, since 2000.

There’s also another power hitter available, a home run king who has a home in Los Angeles and goes by the name of Barry Bonds. While Moreno and General Manager Bill Stoneman have scoffed at the idea of signing the controversial and aging slugger, Scioscia seems open to the idea, if the price (meaning very low) is right.

“Let’s put all the options on the table and see where it is,” Scioscia said. “Barry’s still a terrific offensive player. But there’s a lot of other things that are going to be on the table besides Barry, so I don’t think you’d rule it out. I think you’d have to look at a ton of things and see what’s going to make you a better club.”

Wouldn’t a manager for whom clubhouse chemistry is important be concerned about the potential distraction Bonds would cause?

“Guys know Barry and the talent he brings,” Scioscia said. “I don’t think anything about that that would be an issue.”

Kotchman, who missed Sunday’s game because of severe flu-like symptoms, was discharged from Anaheim Memorial Hospital early Sunday evening after a 30-hour stay during which he received five bags of intravenous fluids.

Kotchman’s father, Tom, said Casey was vomiting so violently Saturday he passed out briefly. Doctors did blood work and took cultures but were not sure whether Kotchman had a virus or food poisoning.

“He’s feeling better now,” the elder Kotchman said Monday.

Third base prospect Brandon Wood, who has shown excellent power and a propensity for strikeouts, will play winter ball in Mexico so he can learn to hit breaking and off-speed pitches better. . . . Both Matthews and Escobar, who have patellar tendinitis in their left knees, have opted for winter rehabilitation programs rather than surgery, but Escobar plans to visit a knee specialist this month for a second opinion.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com