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From WasWatching, a potential edge for the Angels against the Yankees:

During the 2009 regular season, the Yankees were 5-11 when allowing 3+ stolen bases in a game and they were 12-17 when allowing 2+ stolen bases in a game.

Think the Angels are going to try and run like crazy against the Yankees in their upcoming ALCS? Well ... they'd be stupid not to ... right?

Of course, the best way to put the breaks on an opponent's running game is to keep runners from reaching base. To that end, the Yanks will have to be very careful not to issue many free passes the Halos in these games. (I know…that's a tough assignment for guys like A.J. Burnett, David Robertson and Brian Bruney.) And, the Yankees should do their best to avoid allowing batters to reach via an error ... while they're at it.

Hey, since the Yankees "M.O.” at home is more of a power game than a speed game, why not think about loosening up the dirt around the bases at the Staidum, throwing some sand in there, and giving it a good watering down before the game starts? Hey, there's no rules against that…last time I checked.

Well, sure, the Yankees should try to give up as few walks and errors as they possibly can. But don't they generally try to do that regardless of their opponents? Really, the best thing the Yankees can do to limit the Angels' running game is making good pitches and keeping the Angels off the bases. Again, they would try to do that anyway.

By the way, the Angels really are outstanding baserunners. While checking the Twins' baserunning stats to see if their poor baserunning against the Yankees really was uncharacteristic (it was), I discovered just how good the Angels have been this season. Including stolen base attempts -- according to Bill James Online -- the Angels finished the season with a net gain of 96 bases, tops in the American League.

However, that's due almost entirely to their non-steal baserunning. The Angels did steal 148 bases, third-most in the league. But they were also caught stealing 63 times, which was No. 1 in the league. Their 70 percent success rate was just the 11th highest in the league. It was their other baserunning that really set them apart, as their net gain of 74 bases was the best in the majors.

Aside from Chone Figgins and perhaps Bobby Abreu, the Angels don't have many players who are likely to steal the Yankees blind. What the Angels do have is a bunch of quick, smart baserunners who will happily take the extra base if you give it to them. Of course, that's what everyone said about the Twins, too.