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Texas Rangers  (95-66) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (86-75)

Pitching Probables: TEX – Matt Harrison (14-9, 3.46 ERA)  LAA – Garrett Richards (0-2, 8.00 ERA)

Game Info: 5:05 PM PT; TV - Fox Sports West; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

Well, it's been a great season guys, it could have been better but I can't complain with how surprisingly competitive this team has been this season. It's been a frustrating season, but it's also given us a lot to look forward to, even if one of those things is the Texas Rangers in the playoffs. Hopefully not for long though, I would hate to see them win it all and come back next year full of arrogance. Where would those Rangers be without the Angels to guide them to the playoffs? Napoli, Oliver, O'Day? Probably where we are right now.

Now that the Angels' season is almost over, there is no time like the present to wallow in the misery of hindsight.  Let's just get this over with and review the biggest "what if" scenarios of the Angels' 2011 season that could've created a much different result.

The September 28th, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including Kendrick sprains his wrist, Morales making progress (finally) in his recovery, Weaver and Santana shutdown for the season and much more...

The Story: Howie Kendrick left last night's game with a sprained wrist.

The Monkey Says: Clearly it isn't serious, if it is anything at all.  There is zero chance Kendrick plays today, but that was probably the case anyway judging by the way Scioscia was putting the lineup together last night.

The Story: Kendrys Morales is making progress in his recovery from ankle surgery.

The Monkey Says: It is about damn time we got an update on Morales.  His walking boot is off, so that is good, but it only just came off, so he really has a long way to go before we will know if/when he will be ready to play in 2012.  As we learned all too well this season, there is no predicting how his recovery will go, but at least we are getting updates again.

The Angels got their butts kicked by the Rangers.  Two days ago this would have made me commit hari-kiri, but tonight... whatever.

Rangers 10, Angels 3

Seriously, I don't care.  I've spent so much time and energy caring about this team that I literally have a patch of gray hair now.  Say what you want about playing for pride or to be a spoiler, I know I am better off just not giving a crap about the results of a meaningless game.  Judging by the lineup Scioscia ran out there tonight, I'm guessing he decided to stop caring too.

So, yeah, congrats, Rangers.

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Texas Rangers (94-66) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (86-74)

Pitching Probables: TEX – Colby Lewis (13-10, 4.45 ERA)  LAA – Tyler Chatwood (6-10, 4.59 ERA)

Game Info: 7:05 PM PT; TV - Fox Sports West; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

Just because the Angels have been officially eliminated from post-season contention, that doesn't mean they don't have anything left to play for.  It may not be much, but the Angels do have an opportunity to play spoiler these next two games to try and cost the Rangers home field advantage in the post-season.

I mean, if we are really going to be forced to suffer through another playoffs featuring the Texas Rangers, the least the Halos could do for us fans is try and put even a slight damped on their chances of winning a World Series.  God, can you imagine how insufferable Texas will be if they win the whole thing?  C'mon, Angels, do us all a solid and take these final two games.

Oh, wait, nevermind.  It looks like the Angels are probably going to raise the white flag and start a Triple-A lineup tonight after replacing Ervin Santana with Tyler Chatwood as the starting pitcher.  So much for spoiling.

Due to some time constraints I'm going to have to make this one a little short, plus I'm not sure if I'm ready to open the fresh wounds of this past season yet. Well, maybe if I don't think too much about it while I'm writing it won't hurt so much.

Rangers 4 Angels 3

Dearly beloved, thank you for being with me here today as we gather to mourn the end of the Angels' 2011 season.

I think I speak for us all when I say we knew that this day was coming.  I do, though, take solace in the fact that the untimely death of this year's championship dream took so long to come to pass.

It seems like only yesterday that many of us were writing the Angels off before the season even began.  We bemoaned the weak lineup.  We questioned the lack of depth in the bullpen.  We chastised Tony Reagins for all of his off-season bumblings.  A division title or a playoff berth seemed like a pipe dream back then.

Yet here we stand today, just two games away from the end of the Major League Baseball regular season.  I don't know about the rest of you, but I never would have guessed that Angels would have remained in contention for so long.  Considering where we all started, this should be cause for celebration, so why does this official elimination hurt so much?