Miller: Niceties replace nastiness in AL West rivalry – OCRegister

Miller: Niceties replace nastiness in AL West rivalry

Angels catcher Chris Iannetta pumps his fist as Athletics pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt strikes out with the bases loaded to end the sixth inning.

MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

ANAHEIM – The Angels pitcher ripped the actions of the A’s, warning “that doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Specifically, he called what Oakland’s pitcher did “just dumb.”

Excellent, I’m thinking, because the Angels and A’s are both trying to wedge themselves into a space big enough for only one team and – in the midst of seven meetings in a week and half – this showdown could use a spark ready to ignite as the friction builds.

Just something to boost the thrills, a little ecstatic electricity.

That Angels pitcher, however, is now with his second team since leaving the Halos, John Lackey first with Boston and today with St. Louis.

And the A’s pitcher who that day was “just dumb,” who threw a fastball behind Vladimir Guerrero? That was Dan Haren, who, among other things, since has been an Angel.

This isn’t going to be easy, folks, unless a wayward baseball darts violently – and perceived intentionally – too close or someone takes a knee to the throat on a play at second base or in a place even more sensitive, by which I don’t mean third base.

In trying to work up some genuine dislike for these A’s, we all might need to get creative. The on-field bitterness between these teams hasn’t maintained its boiling point since a series of incidents ending in the summer of 2007.

And, today, they seem to be coexisting rather comfortably atop the American League West, separated by just two games after Thursday’s 4-3 Angels win but not at all annoyed by the mutual invasions of personal space in mid-pennant race.

Right now, with these teams, there’s no hate lost.

“Something would have to happen to cause that,” Angels reliever Kevin Jepsen said when asked if, in general, players simply don’t like anyone who’s wearing opposing colors. “I don’t dislike individuals just because they’re on a certain team. Some of us have friends who just happen to be on other teams.”

A bunch of Angels are still buddy-buddy with former teammates Alberto Callaspo and Scott Kazmir, who are now A’s. Angels closer Huston Street remains a favorite in Oakland, where his career began.

And Chris Iannetta and Jason Hammel work out together in the offseason, the Angels catcher and the A’s pitcher planning to bring together SoCal and NoCal this winter on the other side of the country, near their homes in New England.

“As far as individual rivalries or whether I love a player or hate a player, I haven’t experienced that much,” Iannetta said. “The focus is more on the individuals in your own clubhouse.”

And given the frequency with which players share, switch and then – often – share clubhouses again, there might not even be enough time any longer to generate hatred between franchises.

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