Sun Sets on the Red Sox Nation

Just like that, the reign of the Boston Red Sox ended tonight. It was the other Sox that defeated Boston three games to none in the ALDS. In every aspect of the game the Chicago White Sox were better than the Red Sox and they deserved to win.

To some people it was a surprise, to many it wasn’t…it was bound to happen. The team that the Red Sox Nation and many other Americans became enamored with in October of 2003 and became infatuated with in October of last year is out. The downfall of the 2005 BoSox was clearly their lack of pitching. Not enough good starting pitching and a very depleted bullpen. They let the great Pedro Martinez walk. They let another Boston mainstay, Derek Lowe leave to free agency in the offseason too. Right now Pedro and Lowe must seem like Juan Marichal and Don Sutton.

This team just didn’t have the same flare for the dramatic. The Red Sox had won eight of their last nine games when facing elimination because of that flare. They rallied from an 0-2 deficit against the Oakland Athletics in the 2003 ALDS and then in historic fashion against their nemesis Yankees won four straight last year en route to their first World Series title since 1918 and ended ‘the curse’.

Too many pieces to their Championship jig saw puzzle of ’04 didn’t fit this year. Their closer who Sox fans revered like Yastrzemski fell apart early in the season, which forced them to use a mix-and-match pen from that point on. The second baseman that Boston fans cherished was striking out more than he got on base and finally showed why he has always been considered an average infielder. They released him. And their left-handed stud out of the bullpen became a batting practice pitcher. They released him too.

I’m also tired of the crazy notion that Terry Francona is all of sudden Casey Stengel. NEWS FLASH to the Red Sox Nation: Francona’s first two winning seasons as a manager where last year and this year. Sure, Terry’s a good leader to this vagabond bunch of ‘Idiots’ and he’s done a nice job, but he’s not Mozart.

Truth be told, with the way that this team lost their AL East lead in September to the Yankees – this team should be talked about like the 1978 Red Sox…they choked.

Now the interesting part comes. How many pieces of the jig saw puzzle will still be around in 2006? Word on the street is that the Sox and General Manager Theo Epstein are far apart on contract talks. Leadoff hitter and centerfielder Johnny Damon is a free agent that will attract tons of attention on the open market. May he roam the outfield of Yankee Stadium next season wearing pin stripes? Where will Manny Ramirez be next year? Boston might finally pull the trigger on a big trade to unleash the eccentric slugger. Will Keith Foulke be effective again? Can Curt Schilling be the front-line starter that he’s been for the last decade plus?

Too many questions for the Red Sox Nation to ponder this winter. I’ll let them cry in their beers for now and start rooting against the Yankees tomorrow.