California ballin' — sort of

Unless the Angels pull off a wild-card miracle, the great state of California is going to be shut out of the MLB playoffs for the first time since 1999.Thats a little bit sad given that its the state with the most big-league teams -- the Angels, As, Giants, Dodgers and Padres represent 16th of the games squads.It hasnt been a completely lost season for the Golden State, though, and here are five golden storylines that support that stance.1) The Giants sent three starting pitchers to the All-Star Game, as well as their colorful closer and their lone consistent offensive performer, Pablo Sandoval. Only Wilson and Sandoval got into the game, but both of them had a positive impact and helped the National League secure home-field advantage in the World Series. 2) The As are the subject of a movie that features perhaps the biggest star in Hollywood (Brad Pitt), an Academy Award winner (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and one of the hottest comedic properties on the planet (Jonah Hill). Moneyball had been met with largely positive reviews, which is more than you can say of the 2011 As season as a whole. 3) Outfielder Matt Kemp and starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, despite playing for a Dodgers team that made more headlines for the marital messiness atop the org chart than for what happened on the field, are frontrunners for the two most prestigious postseason honors. Even if Kemp falls short of winning the NL MVP and Kershaw is edged in the NL Cy Young voting, they at least brought some positive attention to a team that needs all it can get. 4) The Angels are the lone California team that entered play Monday with a shot at making the playoffs. Its a longshot, no doubt; theyre three back in the AL wild card race with three games to play. But at least theyre still playing meaningful games, and for a good long while they had a legitimate Cy Young candidate of their own in Jered Weaver.5) The Padresumthe Padreswellthe PadresOK, busted. Four will have to do.Or do you have a Padres positive? Heath Bells sliding entrance to the All-Star Game? OK, thatll have to do.Got any more? The Golden State is hurting. Give it some love.