Once again, I’d like to offer up my congratulations to the Tampa Bay Rays for making it to their first World Series.
So does this loss sting for the Boston Red Sox. Of course it does. They set a goal of getting back to the World Series and didn’t quite get there. Over time, the Red Sox had their chances to get there but they fell behind 3-1 in the ALCS to the better team in the Rays. As we all should know, the Red Sox never give up and didn’t as they got themselves back to having a chance of competing for a second straight World Series title.
Does this loss hurt? Of course it does. But I for one am proud of this team. We saw a new crop of youngsters step it up when it mattered most in Justin Masterson and Jed Lowrie. We saw the Red Sox battle through adversity all season with the various injuries to Josh Beckett, David Ortiz, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Mike Lowell, Julio “E-6” Lugo and some members of the bullpen. Even with those key losses, we saw others step up their games.
Will it take a while to get over this loss. Of course it will. But when you take a look at things, the future is bright. We have some key good youngsters ready to step up and we should have everyone healthy to start the season. So once you’re done grieving for 2008, let’s look forward to 2009 and seeing the Red Sox get back to the ultimate stage in baseball, the World Series.
Jon Lester would love to take the pitch to Willy Aybar back if he could.
If the Rays thought Boston fans were bad, wait til they get to Philadelphia.
It was a rare taste of failure in the postseason for David Ortiz.
Matt Garza demonstrated some grit as he kept the Red Sox hitters at bay last night.
Was last night the final time we’ll see Jason Varitek in a Red Sox uniform?
You can’t say the Red Sox didn’t go down fighting.
Sadly enough, only televisions crews met the Red Sox at Fenway when they returned home.
Jacoby Ellsbury said the Red Sox played with heart last night.
Dan Roche of WBZ-TV said it was a tough ending to the season.
The Boston Globe scribes have their video roundups of the game.
Here are the postgame transcripts from Terry Francona, Joe Maddon and Matt Garza.
As for us, we’ll still be here in the offseason bringing you the news and other thoughts as the Red Sox now have to prepare for 2009 instead of defending their title on Wednesday night.
For more playoff slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant and Providence Journal websites.
And if you must see what the enemy papers are saying you can check out the Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times websites.
