The Angels could use a bit of swagger. They could use an October too.

Yes or no, Perry Minasian: Is this a playoff team?

"We'll find out," Minasian said.

Minasian, the Angels' general manager, earned respect throughout the sport for a second consecutive winter of guiding owner Arte Moreno away from the brightest stars in the free-agent constellation and focusing instead on desperately needed depth.

No team in the major leagues has a longer playoff drought. This is the time to guarantee October.

Dave Roberts, the Dodgers' manager, guaranteed a World Series last spring. The guarantee was not unfounded. It stirred interest, even if the Dodgers did not make it to the World Series. No harm done.

Come on, Perry Minasian, guarantee your long-suffering fans a postseason spot. The Angels' attendance last season was their worst in 20 years.

"I've been around too long in this game," he said. "You never know. I'm just not a guarantee person."

I am not asking you to tempt the baseball gods, or to guarantee the Angels win the World Series, or even win the American League West. I am just asking you to guarantee the Angels win one of the 12 postseason spots available to the 30 major league teams.

So, one last time: Is this a playoff team?

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