All the expert were saying it.  All the articles I read were saying it.  The Red Sox own the Angels.  The Red Sox are in the Angel’s head.  Here comes another Red Sox – Yankees ALCS.  Well, three games into the ALDS, and it was over.  However, this was not supposed to happen:

Getting swept?  Jonathan Papelbon blowing a post-season save?  Carlos Ruiz hitting a 3-run homer?  (Ooops, sorry about that.  Watching Dodgers-Phillies game 1 while I type this) Going down 1-2-3 to Brian Fuentes to end it?  Well, I guess there is something to say about ending it like you started it, isn’t there?  There were certainly a lot of 1-2-3 innings for the Red Sox offense this series.  What went wrong?

I don’t know, really.  The whole team was pretty flat.  The offense was anemic in Games 1 and 2. Scoring only 1 run of Lackey and Weaver.  The starters weren’t sharp.  Well, Clay Buchholz looked very good.  Much better than Jon Lester and Josh Beckett. 

However, when you’re leading batter in the series hit .250, your starters weren’t sharp, and your closer allows 5 runs (2 inherited runners, and the first 3 runs of his post-season career), that is a recipe for failure.  A disappointing way to lose a series and end a pretty nice season.  It took a few days to let it sink in.

When I left the game, the Sox were up 5-2.  I was pretty much expecting to be spending Columbus Day back at Fenway for a cold night of work.  Oh, here is me at work, for those who don’t know (sorry for the size, I used my digital camera to record it off the DVR, and then took a screen shot while replaying it using Windows Media Player):

However, the biggest let down of losing that game aside from no World Series for the Red Sox was a hit in my wallet.  Working on Columbus Day would have given me Holiday Pay as well as an added incentive bonus pay for working my 65th game of the Season.

Oh, Red Sox, the ways you hurt me.

GO ANGELS!

P.S. Yes, I will still watch the the rest of the playoffs.  Even though, I am a Red Sox fan.  I am first and foremost a baseball fan.  I love the game, no matter who is playing.  Even the Yankees.  Now, back to the Phillies ~ Dodgers NLCS Game 1.

P.P.S. Sorry if I let down you readers (if there are any) this season.  Working two jobs, and two young children really don’t leave a lot of free time to sit down and write.  Thanks to all who still check in.  I should have more time during the off-season to write a bit more.