ANAHEIM, Calif. — With the Dodgers in the playoffs, there is all sorts of attention being paid to Manny Ramirez in the Los Angeles area, and with good reason. Ramirez hit a home run in the Dodgers game in Chicago last night, and the Angels are thrilled he’s now in the National League.

Even so, they say they still hold the Red Sox’ lineup in high regard.

“I think Manny and obviously David Ortiz were the best 1-2 I think I’ve seen in my career as a player and also on this side managing,” said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. “But you have to understand that [the Red Sox] are a talented team and it wasn’t a situation where if you just shut down Manny, or took Manny out of that lineup, that you were going to contain an offense. I think they’ve shown that.”

Angels healthy this year

Entering last year’s playoffs, the Angels were beat up. As the Angels prepared to face the Red Sox in the 2007 ALDS, Gary Matthews Jr. was out with knee injuries. Vladimir Guerrero also struggled with knee woes and hit just .200 (2-for-10). Garret Anderson battled an ugly case of conjuctivitis in his eye and hit .222.

But none of those issues cling to the Angels’ postseason hopes this fall.

“This year it’s a different story for us,” said Scioscia. “I want to see how this plays out on the field because we’re as deep as we’ve ever been and I think our lineup has the potential to do some of the things that we’ve seen. That’s what we’re going to focus on.”

Santana regains form

Talk about a turnaround.

A year ago, Ervin Santana was struggling so badly that the Angels sent him down to Salt Lake.

After going 16-8 in 2006, he was only 7-14 last season. But he’s returned to form this year — and then some — going 16-7, with a 3.49 ERA.

Those numbers have earned him the start in Game Two.

“I think it’s very clear what Ervin’s turnaround has been,” Scioscia said. “He’s an extremely talented young pitcher. He really threw the ball very well for us his first two seasons (Santana was 12-8 as a rookie in 2005).

“I think he tried to do some things that maybe were taking him away from where he needed to be in his delivery. Once he regained his hip turn, and his mechanics, you’ve seen the results.”

Santana was, naturally, disappointed to be sent to the minors last season.

“I was mad I went down,” he said, “because I didn’t have a good year. I was just trying to focus, redo myself, and get my confidence back. That’s what I need most.”

Scioscia knows the Angels need him to pitch well.

“We value Ervin’s talent. He had a setback, but regained his form and has had an incredible season.”

jdonalds@projo.com