There would be no shame in losing to the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series.
They are, quite simply, the best team money can buy, with a $200-million payroll, superstar-filled lineup, dominant starting pitching and the best closer of all time.
But there would be little honor in going down the way the Angels have in three of the first four games in this best-of-seven series, which resumes with Game 5 tonight at Angel Stadium, where Angels ace John Lackey will oppose Yankees right-hander A.J. Burnett.
"This is not us," pitcher Joe Saunders said. "It's hard watching a game that you played so well all season, and then you come into the playoffs, and it's almost like the whole team is in a panic.
"We played great baseball against Boston," he said, referring to the division series, "we looked like our normal selves, but there's something about this series . . . we haven't been our normal selves."
After sweeping the Red Sox in the first round, the Angels trail the Yankees, 3-1, in the ALCS. Only 11 of 69 teams have overcome 3-1 deficits to win seven-game series, the last being the 2007 Red Sox against Cleveland.
But it will be almost impossible for the Angels to win one game, let alone three straight, if they don't play up to their capabilities.
The Angels led the major leagues with a .285 average this season; they are batting .201 (30 for 149) in the ALCS. They put constant pressure on opponents all summer; they have held the lead for only three of 42 innings against the Yankees.
The Angels set a franchise record by hitting .297 with runners in scoring position; they are four for 29 (.138) with runners in scoring position in the ALCS. They ranked second in the major leagues with 148 stolen bases; they have two stolen bases in the ALCS.
The Angels went first to third on singles 119 times, most in the majors; only once in this ALCS have the Angels even hit a single with a runner on first, and that runner stopped at second.
The Angels set a club record for fewest errors, with 85; they committed five errors in the first two games, losses in New York.
"I don't know what it is, and you can't put a finger on one thing, whether it's situational hitting, pitchers getting behind hitters and not being aggressive," said Saunders, who gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings of a Game 2 loss.
