Angels get time off for panicky behavior

Now is not the time to panic, Angels fans.

Take deep breaths. Find a comfortable chair and pour yourself a cold beverage. Meditation is a good idea. Try that. Try to think positive thoughts. Such as:

-- Josh Beckett will only pitch once more this series, max.

-- Only two more game at Fenway Park till 2008, max.

-- Boston’s Game 2 starter, Daisuke Matsuzaka, has never beaten the Angels.

(He’s never lost to them, either. In fact, he’s never pitched against them. But this is glass-half-full time, remember.)

-- The 2002 Angels lost Game 1 in the ALDS, ALCS and World Series and still won it all.

-- Garret Anderson, Chone Figgins, John Lackey and Francisco Rodriguez were there in 2002. More importantly, so was Mike Scioscia.

OK.

All right.

That’s good.

Now you can panic.

Beckett’s four-hit 4-0 shutout Wednesday night can be written off as the postseason’s best starting pitcher getting in an unstoppable groove in front of the home crowd and against a banged-up opponent. Wipe the slate clean, Angels, and hand the ball to Kelvim Escobar. Except . . .

-- The Angels started a shaky outfield defense with rookie Reggie Willits (one previous Fenway career starts) in center field and Figgins (three) in right field -- and neither was a factor. Willits had one ball hit to him, Mike Lowell’s third-inning single, and Figgins did not have a put-out until he replaced Willits in center in the eighth inning.

-- All of the Angels’ top three power threats are ailing. Gary Matthews Jr. is out with knee tendinitis. Anderson has an eye infection that him look like a better roster fit for the Pirates. Vladimir Guerrero has one of the best throwing arms in baseball, but it’s hurting him, limiting him to DH duty. Defensively, that didn’t hinder the Angels in Game 1, unless Guerrero had been assigned to find the baseballs Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz hit for home runs and relay them back to the dugout.

-- After Guerrero, who had two singles in four at-bats, the Angels’ most dangerous-looking hitter was Figgins, who had one single in four at-bats and is now 1 for his last 26.

-- Every member of the Red Sox bullpen enjoyed a leisurely Wednesday night off.

This has the look over a very short series, very possibly a repeat of Boston’s three-game sweep in 2004. On the bright side for the Angels, unless there is rain on Friday, they will able to get out of Boston in a matter of hours, and probably won’t be required to return for months.

christine.daniels@latimes.com

Comments

[jeff]

I HATE THOSE GUY"S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Never quit, Never giveup!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's go ANGELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!