The Angels believe that this is their year, and they may just be right

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Torii Hunter (48) and Bobby Abreu (53) are two big pieces on a fabulous Angels offense. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Jonah Freedman's Mailbag Submit a comment or question for Jonah. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND Follow Jonah Freedman on Twitter

More than a few Los Angeles Angels were glued to the TV in the visiting clubhouse at Oakland Coliseum on Sunday morning as Minnesota was pummeling Kansas City to force a one-game playoff with Detroit for the American League Central crown. But one was more clearly interested than the others.

"You see that?" said a beat writer as he playfully slapped a captivated Torii Hunter on the shoulder, pointing out that Minnesota pitcher Carl Pavano now wears the eight-time Gold Glove center fielder's old No. 48 jersey. "They're disrespecting you!"

The former Twin shook his head and flashed his trademark grin. "I'll get a ring," he responded. "It doesn't matter."

If it's October, it means the Angels are back in the playoffs. They've been the most consistent team in the majors over the past six seasons, winning the American League West five times, and usually doing it by a wide margin. That's the main reason why Hunter signed a five-year, $90 million contract to join the Halos in November of 2007. From the generous pockets of owner Arte Moreno down to the consistent stability of Mike Scioscia and his coaching staff, the Angels are arguably the best-run organization in baseball.

Yet it goes without saying that they've collapsed under the weight of expectations each time they've reached the postseason during that period. Since they won their first and only World Series in 2002, the Angels haven't even returned to the Fall Classic. Even though every single team they've fielded since then has been a better, more complete group of players, the Angels have found themselves steamrolled every postseason by another team on a tear -- usually by the Boston Red Sox, against whom they open the ALDS on Wednesday for the fourth time since '04.

But Hunter isn't alone in his optimism. The Angels aren't the favorite that they were last year, when the midseason acquisition of Mark Teixeira helped boost them to a franchise-record 100 wins and made them perhaps the most formidable team in club history. This year's version has its limitations, and even if it does get over the psychological hump of the Red Sox, it may well have to face the retooled Yankees juggernaut in the ALCS.

Still, all through the Halos clubhouse, there's a quiet confidence that this is the team that can reverse the recent trend of postseason failure and get that second title. Anything can happen in the playoffs, of course. But here are a few reasons why the Angels could be headed for Second Heaven.

This is the best Angels offense ever

Thanks to the emergence of homegrown products such as Kendry Morales and Howie Kendrick mixing with steady veterans such as Chone Figgins, Hunter and a finally healthy Vladimir Guerrero, Scioscia believes that this Angels lineup is the most talented and deepest he has had since that '02 team. And there's evidence to support that across the board. The Halos led the majors this season in batting average (.285) and hits (1,604), ranked second in runs (883) and RBIs (841), and third in on-base percentage (.350). Some of those numbers are even franchise records (batting average, hits, runs and RBIs).

But the most telling stat is that the Angels batted .297 with runners in scoring position, their highest total ever and the second time they've led the majors in that category since '05. That's a direct result of Scioscia and hitting coach Mickey Hatcher's small-ball philosophy of getting on base first and then taking advantage of situational hitting to move runners over. They Angels have also been at their most aggressive on the basepaths this season, taking advantage of their speed from guys like Hunter and Figgins. Even 35-year-old Bobby Abreu was on the move this year, stealing 30 bases, his most in four seasons.

In the postseason, dramatic swings of the bat make the highlights, but scoring timely runs one at a time as needed will go a lot further, especially against pitching-rich teams like the Red Sox and Yankees.