The fans erupted after the Angels closed out the Yankees on Wednsday afternoon, but in a sense of anticipation and hope. The team congratulated each other as usual, but was all business going into the clubhouse. After the Mariners defeated the Rangers an hour later, the Angels were set to begin their celebration with the customary champagne baths. Before any of this started, however, the Angels came back out on to the field to celebrate with the near 10,000 fans that had stayed to watch the end of the Rangers-Mariners game on the big screen at Angel Stadium. The Angels are the 2008 American League Western Division Champs.

It’s a great day,” said first-year Angels general manager Tony Reagins. Reagins was crucial in getting the team to where they are today, acquiring Jon Garland and Torii Hunter in the offseason and Mark Teixeira in July.

On a team with stars such as Garland, Hunter, and Teixeira–it was Robb Quinlan and Dustin Moseley who emerged as heroes in the clinching game. Quinlan had a clutch 2-run single in the 3-run 6th inning that put the Angels ahead for good.  Moseley allowed 2 early runs but kept the game close pitching into the 6th inning.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” Moseley, a part-time starter the past two seasons, said. “The team camaraderie at times I’ve been here, what a great group of guys. Hopefully, great things can happen this season. Clinching the division so early shows the talent and commitment here.”

The fans are all a great inspiration to me,” Chone Figgins said. “It’s a great thing to get so many to come out to support us.”

“It hasn’t been easy, by any means,” a relieved manager Mike Scioscia said. “This team has pulled together and done the job all year long.”

The amazing thing was that in this clinching game, the Angels had a team out on the field that consisted of many backup players. Mark Teixeira, Chone Figgins, Torii Hunter, Erick Aybar, and Howie Kendrick all were out of the lineup. The Angels had an all-backup infield: Quinlan at third, rookies Brandon Wood and Sean Rodriguez  at shortstop and second, respectively, and Kendry Morales behind Moseley and the relief staff.

Speaking of relief, Francisco Rodriguez closed out this 4-2 win over the Yankees, earning save             number 56. By the way, that’s one away from tying Bobby Thigpen’s single season saves record. K-Rod should tie, break, and pad this record before the season ends. This is one of the two goals the Angels need to accomplish before October. This is one, and the other is trying for the AL’s best record, which would give them a home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Jered Weaver had something to say about that.

“This is goal No. 1, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us,” Jered Weaver said. “We still have guys that need to get healthy and back on track. We know we can play much better as a club right now. We just want to get rolling into the postseason.”

Then there is the goal the Angels would like to reach during the month of October.