Angels can't squeeze out Teixeira

Angels versus Boston Red Sox, tie score, ninth inning, one out, a player standing 90 feet from home, greatness up for grabs.

It's happening again.

The dramatic scene that occurred on the Fenway Park diamond in October is happening around the hottest of stoves this very moment.

The Angels with one chance to overcome the Red Sox intimidation. The Angels with one shot to break the Red Sox spell.

The prize then was the Commissioner's Trophy.

The prize now is Mark Teixeira.

The Angels want him, the Red Sox want him, it's the final moment of his final decision, and I would like to offer the Angels just this one little bit of advice.

Don't squeeze. Not again. Not now. Please no.

Playing little ball didn't work in October, with Erick Aybar infamously missing the bunt, Reggie Willits being tagged out at third base, and the Red Sox scoring in the bottom of the ninth to knock the Angels out of the playoffs again.

Didn't work then, won't work now, a squeeze again being downright suicidal.

Arte Moreno needs to swing away, swing big, swing with the power of more than $160 million, swing with the strength of eight years, swing for those fans who have lived with six years of failed October bunts.

As the Southland's two most prominent baseball players have been peddled from town to town this winter in boorish (or is that Boras?) fashion, everyone has focused on the damage that would be inflicted upon the Dodgers if they do not sign Manny Ramirez.

Well, the Angels will be hurting a lot worse without Teixeira.

After arriving here last summer in a trade, the first baseman was the perfect Angel -- huge on the field, and invisible off it.

Lost in all the Ramirez noise at Dodger Stadium was a steady Teixeira din from down south, day after day, leading the Angels to a better record than Ramirez with the Dodgers, hitting only four fewer homers with only 10 fewer runs batted in.

He was the powerful bat they had long coveted. He was the great fielder they long required. He was the careful clubhouse guy that Manager Mike Scioscia demands.

Teixeira was the prototypical Angel in all but one aspect -- he was actually a clutch hitter in the playoffs, batting .467 against the Red Sox.

If the Dodgers do not sign Ramirez, they can find another outfielder who will work in their system, someone like Bobby Abreu.

If the Angels do not sign Teixeira, well, for them, there is nobody like him.