Jose Bautista - it's all part of the game

Bautista's 7th inning home run theatrics in Game 5 of the American League Division Series was another example of a player needing to be a heel to show that there is a lot at riding in the postseason - maybe Bautista's bat flip was excessive and wasn't called for, but maybe he was just relieved to come through.

The Texas Rangers had gone up 3-2 in the top half of the 7th inning because Toronto Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin got a little lazy when throwing the ball back to the pitcher - but by hitting a 3-run shot to put his team up 6-3, Bautista was able to let out all his frustrations, effectively saying to his teammates and the Blue Jays fans know that their team wasn't about to go out like some punk itch.

Now Bautista and his team move on to the face the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series - while Josh Hamilton and the Rangers can go into the off-season and do their thing, even if Hamilton is doing so on Angels owner Arte Moreno's dime.

2010 American League Division Series preview

American League Division Series preview - my Halos are out of it, but I'm still a baseball fan and interested in the playoffs in 2010.

New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins
The Twins will be facing a tough task in trying to upended the Yankees - a banged up Joe Mauer is going to need to come up big, especially with Twins first baseman Justin Morneau out and when Mauer is viewed as the Twins' franchise guy.

The Yankees' lineup will be too much for the Twins to overcome - the Yankees have Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, Jorge Posada, some guy named A-Rod, et al to make up for some of the pitching deficiences the Yankees might have past C.C. Sabathia.

The Yankees outclassed the Twins last year and it will be much of the same this year - the Yankees are not invincible, but their hitters are so much better, even when Derek Jeter suffers through an off-year.

Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays are solid all-around and they've had some playoff experience - Rays manager Joe Maddon maybe the key as far as making sure the Rays players maintain a one game at a time focus instead of playing ahead of themselves.

Star third baseman Evan Longoria's health may prevent him from having a big series - but the team is solid all-around.

If Vladdy, Josh Hamilton, Michael Young, Nelson Cruz and the rest of the Rangers' hitters are up to the task - the pitching should come on strong.

Starter Cliff Lee basically legitimizes the Rangers' starting pitching staff and gives them a chance in the series - if Lee bests the Rays No. 1 starter David Price.

The Rays won the American League East outright -it will be a massive disappointment to show any let down, now they are in the playoffs. Under Maddon, a choke job isn't going to happen.

Enjoying the ride

I'm relieved the Angels were able to dispose of the Boston Red Sox in three games in the American League Division Series - I honestly felt like the Boston Red Sox were going to win at least one game and if the Angels lost Game 3, then the series gets to be more prolonged.

Now, the Angels look to battle the New York Yankees in the American League Championship series - for the right to play the National League pennant champion in this little round of games called the World Series.

In rooting for my team, I'd better show some guts - it is going to be an epic battle between the class of the American League West and the class of the American League East.

The Angels surely showed some nuts in the Division Series clinching 7-6 win in Game 3 - when it looked like the Red Sox were going to win at least a game.

I was asleep on couch with the TV on most of Sunday morning - Angels were down, but was still cautiously optimistic, when I started rising out my slumber.

Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz, who once stole 29 laptops at the high school his mother worked at and once dated a men's magazine Pet of the Year - had actually pitched better than his Halo counterpart Scott Kazmir.

I didn't get to watch the earlier parts of the game, but Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbum had picked off Reggie Willits at first base to end the eighth inning - what happened there?

In the ninth inning - as a fan I'll share what was going on in my mind.

Erick Aybar singles - little dude has been a player, coming up big all-season and he comes through with a hit. A rally has to start somewhere, though with Maicer Izturis and Gary Matthews Jr. making outs already.

Chone Figgins walked - keep wondering if the Angels could keep it going. The worst thing for the Angels would be to give up an at-bat by hacking away or looking at strike three. Thankfully Figgy got on-base.

Bobby Abreu opposite field double off the wall - all I heard was he was a stat padder, a neglible figure in Philadelphia and a guy who did everything well, but was afraid of laying out on the line. However, the bargain of the off-season, came through with another professional at-bat and really changed his image in one season in Anaheim this year.

Was there an opportunity where Figgins could have scored - when Bay fielded Abreu's hit and threw the ball in with no cut-off man.

Torii Hunter - he is up at the plate to swing the bat, but he knows how to hit in situations and unscientifically speaking, maybe the Angels equivalent to Derek Jeter as far as having a quality at-bat in pressure situations.

With the way he has come through, he might have been dangerous - but he was intentionally walked.

The Red Sox walked Hunter to get to Vladdy - square something up; his bat had slowed, but then Papelbum gave him a fat pitch and Vladdy drove it to centerfield. At the moment, I thought Jacoby Ellsbury was going to catch it, but he was playing pretty deep.

After the events unfolded, I was quiet but was clapping and telling myself to calm down - any other years, I would have been loud, jumping up-and-down infront of the TV. However, the Angels still had to get through the bottom of the ninth inning.

Brian Fuentes came in the bottom of the ninth to shut the door down - the Angels had to prove something in the last several years against the Boston Red Sox and I'm as glad as anyone, the Angels were able to really do something.

Thinking of all the success the Angels have enjoyed this decade - I am reminded of what once former Red Sox great Mo Vaughn said about playing for the Angels.

"They ain't got no flags hanging at friggin' Edison Field [now Angel Stadium], so the hell with them."