This is a statement that the Angels are focused on winning the World Series. With the trade, first-year general manager Tony Reagins and Moreno have let it be known that anything less isn't acceptable.

Was that an earthquake that struck Southern California on Tuesday afternoon or was it the aftershock over at Dodger Stadium?

The Angels, already having their division under control, took the bold step to acquire Teixeira. The Dodgers, scrambling to get to .500 and overtake Arizona in the NL West, settle for the likes of Casey Blake. That says it all.

The Dodgers fall all over themselves trying to be the Yankees of the NL.

Earlier this season when former Dodger Eric Karros was in Denver in his role as a FOX analyst, the discussions turned to Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday and the fact he can be a free agent after next season. A Denver broadcaster mentioned that it would seem logical for Holliday to take a bit less to stay in Colorado rather than move to Los Angeles. Karros didn't buy that idea.

Karros explained that more important than money was a chance to win every year, which is what the Dodgers provided.

Oh really? Let's see, Holliday, in his sixth year with Colorado, has already played in a World Series.

Karros, in 11 years with the Dodgers, never played in a World Series game. Fact is the Dodgers haven't been to a World Series in 20 years now. Heck, they have only won one postseason game in the last two decades. The Rockies won seven postseason games last October alone.

In the plastic world that is Los Angeles, the Dodgers want everyone to think that because they have a bloated payroll that means they are a good team.

The Angels?

They are frustrated they haven't won a world championship in the first five years of Moreno's ownership. They are frustrated that in making the postseason three of the last five years they have only won four October games.

But instead of feeling sorry for themselves, the Angels were willing to make a move to change all that.

That's why in the off-season, they stepped up to sign Torii Hunter, leaving the Dodgers to take the leftovers, Andruw Jones. And that's why this week, they made the move to bring in Teixeira, not worrying about long-term consequences.

Even though Teixeira is represented by agent Scott Boras, and shunned a $140 million extension in Texas a year ago before turning a deaf ear in the spring on extension talks with Atlanta, the Angels gave up the promising Kotchman without even asking for a 72-hour window to explore contract talks on Teixeira.

The Angels aren't worried about next year and beyond.

They want to win.

The Dodgers may enjoy talkin' the talk, the Angels are intent on proving that they can walk the walk.

The Dodgers like to talk about their history, which was built under the ownership of the O'Malley family, and act like that nothing has changed.

The Angels, meanwhile, are looking to create a history.

Chicago Cubs News News » Angels willing to win at any cost
Angels willing to win at any cost
Ever since they came into existence as the Los Angeles Angels back in 1961, they have been Southern California's other team. From San Diego to Santa Barbara, it's Dodger country. Win or lose, the Dodgers somehow have been able to maintain a grip on the region's sporting public. When Arte Moreno purchased the Angels after their run to the franchise's first world championship in 2002, he became intent on having the team create an identity of its own and break out of the shadow of the Dodgers. This week Moreno underscored his quest for attention extends well past silly name games. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, as the franchise is now officially known, could have been amused observers to this week's trading deadline. They did, after all, seemingly clinch the AL West title sometime around Feb. 1. Their main rival, Oakland, made its concession speech earlier in July while it was still within a win or two of the division lead. That's when the A's decided to peddle off 40 percent of their starting rotation, sending Rich Harden to the Cubs and Joe Blanton to the Phillies. Winning a division, however, is not enough for the Angels. Moreno wants to win a title, and unlike the Dodgers, who spend plenty of time talking about what they want to do and rely on history — make that ancient history — to support their claim of greatness, Moreno backs up his statements with his actions. That's why while other teams were sparring with Atlanta over the value of first baseman Mark Teixeira, the Angels stepped up, found a match with the Braves and traded their future first baseman, Casey Kotchman. The stakes have been raised. This isn't about a team just making it into the postseason. Teixeira heads to L.A. Video: Mark Teixeira is the newest member of the Angels. Ken Rosenthal gives you all the details of the big trade.