AL West Champions

No secret, but we clinched the division against the Yankees the other day. I read in the paper that is was the earliest any AL West team had clinched. We're definitely not used to getting it done this early. We have usually clinched the last week of the season so it was sweet to get it done early now guys can get healed up and we can be full strength when its go time. It was a pretty sweet celebration, especially to see guys like Torii and Teixeira so excited. They are part of our family now and it was nice to lock down a divisional title with them. Now that we knocked off one goal we are shooting for the best record in baseball now and of course one more save for Frankie to break the record. But most important is locking down home field throughout the playoffs. Gotta keep it rollin' and how about Nap coming up with the big jack last night.

Add Comment

• Diana said September 13, 2008

  I'm in favor of anyone beating the Yankees at any time. Good work.

  Reply

  
• lightitup said September 13, 2008

  Three more celebrations, Big John! Let's go Angels!
  
  By the way, John... what do you think about GA in that 2 hole? I like having his experience there and hope he stays right there through the playoffs.
  
  GO Angels!

  Reply

  
• jjackflash said September 13, 2008

  John, thanks again for keeping in touch with the fans through this blog. Congrats on the division title, but the celebration I really want to see you guys enjoy is one in late October! I hope the little fracas the other night w/the Yankees didn't hurt your wallet too much!

  Reply

  
• orions said September 13, 2008

  Congrats Mr. Lackey...and I echo Diana's post exactly...great job this year

  Reply

  
• brettwb1 said September 13, 2008

  You guys are luckily getting hot right now unlike last year when the team seemed to crumble near the end, Wood and S-Rod are starting to pick it up. I knew Napoli was going to homer, just had a feeling, if he played a full season he could hit 30-40 homers. Nothing personal against Mathis but I'd much rather have Napoli play just about every game in the playoffs. You just can't play a guy who is hitting 190. You're having a great year, and I think you'll win the Cy Young next year, you'd be in contention this year if it wasn't for the injuries.

  Reply

  
• Angelsfan0110 said September 13, 2008

  Keep it up Big John Angel Nation is all behind you.

  Reply

  
• palisader said September 13, 2008

  Congratulations on another trip to the playoffs, It sure is looking a lot like Arredondo is going to be a Franky of 2002,
  I thought that was funny to hear Brandon Wood say that "when there's a fight on the field, I just want to be sure to stay close to Big John"
  Go Angels!!!!

  Reply

  
• Back_In_Time said September 13, 2008

  Well it didn't take long for Rodriguez to get his save. Congrats K-ROD!!!

  Reply

  
• soxdynasty said September 14, 2008

  Great regular season as usual John! I like the Sox to repeat but Tampa looks tough. The Angels are terrible in the post season. Get out of Anaheim J. L. Division winner is getting tired. Go Sox!!!

  Reply

  
• GrichFan said September 17, 2008

  Great job on getting it done early, Big John.
  Now it's time to go out and wrap up the best record in the MLB and clinch home-field throughout the playoffs!

  Reply

  
• chenlizhenca said September 22, 2008

  Torii Hunter seems like a total riot. Is he really that funny, or is he just averagely funny but gets all his best stuff onto TV and radio?

  Reply

  
• lightitup said September 28, 2008

  Hey, Big John... gotta apologize for the fans who booed you Friday night. They're the minority. Most of us appreciate all you've done over the years and understand that everyone has a bad night from time to time. Add in that it was a meaningless game and there was simply no excuse for their reaction.
  
  Best of luck in the playoffs. We'll be out there cheering you on regardless the outcome!

  Reply

  
  • palisader replied September 29, 2008

    It was great what Jim Abbott said about you John, He said "watch out for Lackey in his next start, he will be totally focused".
    As far as the fans booing, it was a bunch of clueless people that paid 3 bucks to see the Angels win #100, when they saw that it wasn't going to happen that night they took their frustration out on you.
    
    Big John, You are the nucleous of our rotation, just go out there and do what you do, Have fun!!!
    
    GO ANGELS!!!!!!!!!!!!
• HaloHOF said September 27, 2008

  John, I want to apologize for the classless booing you received tonight. They were "fans" that do not follow the game and showed up for $3 ticket night. You got bombed but it happens to everyone, big freakin deal. Now go out there and shut these muther red soxers out! See you on Wednesday.

  Reply

  
• reagins44 said September 27, 2008

  John, check out your support at the Angels online community recognized by the Halo org itself:
  www.angelswin.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=11121&posts=26&start=1

  Reply

  
  • lightitup replied September 29, 2008

    Real Angel fans on all the message boards were talking about the classless bandwagon fans who decided to boo Big John. The message board on the official website was no exception.
    www.forums.mlb.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=ml-angels&msg=95698.1&ctx=0
    • LIU_butte_hurt replied September 30, 2008

      OMG, LIU! LOL! Seriously, you got all bent out of shape on angelswin.com and are trying put it down. Let it go. We are all Halo fanatics. Truth is that angelswin.com is recognized by the Angels front office as THE place for fans to chat. Tim Mead (and others) met with members at spring training, our tailgate at Angels Stadium. Terry Smith even joined us at a bar after a game once. To top it off Tony Reagins even came to chat with us in ST.
      • Baseballmom replied October 01, 2008

        Whoever you are, you are not helping. The battle of the message boards is stupid.
• officegrandma said September 28, 2008

  I'm a senior citizen, latecomer to Major League Sports. Lived 50+ years in Montana where there were none. We love the Angels and you all feel like family. We can not believe that the fans acted the way that they did on your last start. We are shamed and disgusted with the fans for their actions and words!!! You deserve MUCH better! Hear! Hear! to Jeff Miller, OC Register, on his fan slap down in Sunday, Oct 28 paper! Best of luck---from an all day, everyday fan, Office Grandma

  Reply

  
• Baseballmom said September 28, 2008

  I agree with officegrandma....I can only conclude that many of those ignorant fans bought the $3 tickets and didn't know squat about baseball....Without John Lackey, the Angels have no World Series Championship. I will see you on Wednesday when you kick some Red Sox rear end!!

  Reply

  
• offtohavasu said September 30, 2008

  Hey John! I was at the game Friday night and I must say that I'm flat out embarrassed that I was a fan sharing seats with some of those present. They were flat out WRONG for booing! They're not fans, just people spending $3 for entertainment. I know I'm reiterating what has already been mentioned, but being a fan there that night I'm embarrassed.
  Keep up the outstanding job you have been doing all season and on Wednesday night against the Sox, show those "booing fans" what your made of!
  Good luck in the post season!

  Reply