Who would have thought the guy who had gone 27 postseason innings without surrendering an earned run would be the one to blow it for the Red Sox? Jonathan Papelbon was entirely ineffective, giving up three runs in the top of the ninth, as the Angels finally got some postseason revenge on the Red Sox, completing a three-game sweep as the Red Sox lost at Fenway, 7-6.

The Angels surprised me in this series. I think they'll give the Yankees a good challenge (sorry, Twins) and it seems clear that either the Yanks or the Angels will win the World Series. Those National League teams just don't seem to compare.

So what's next for Boston? This team needs to make some adjustments. Have we seen the last of Jason Bay, Jason Varitek and Mike Lowell? Will the Sox go after Carl Crawford or Matt Holliday? Will the Red Sox make a major play for King Felix? Is Dice-K a goner? Will Jonathan Papelbon's name come up in trade talks?

It's not quite hot stove season yet, but it's clear the 2010 Red Sox will make some major changes before Opening Day.

Just once I'd like a nice Red Sox first-round postseason sweep. Unfortunately it may come today--but with the Red Sox on the losing end. A split in Anaheim would have completely changed the complexion of this series, but losing both games has many fans already waiting for next year.

I am not one of those fans. And the New York Yankees are to blame for my optimism. You see, after 2004, anything is possible. So, yeah, the Sox looked flat against the Angels in their first two postseason meetings. They could only muster four hits in each game. But they're home now, and everything changes at Fenway.

I would like to go on record as saying that choosing Clay Buchholz over Daisuke Matsuzaka is a mistake. Buchholz hasn't matured enough yet not to get rattled easily. With the entire season on the line today, that skinny kid's probably working on two hours' sleep and nursing his first ulcer. But when he's on, he's electric and that's what Terry Francona and John Farrell are counting on--along with every other fan of this team.

My Game 3 Prediction: Red Sox over Angels, 6-4. 

Anyone else getting a little concerned about the five consecutive losses a week before the playoffs start?

The good news is that while the Red Sox lost, so, too, did the Texas Rangers which clinched it for Boston. The Sox gave it a fine effort trying to bail out the generally reliable Clay Buchholz, but the eighth inning five-run rally fell one short, and the Sox lost 8-7 at home to Toronto.

I have a gloating Yankees fan who's been pummeling me with e-mails since July. He wrote to  me this morning to rub in the fact that the Sox "couldn't even win the wild card without help from Texas." I have two things to say to that e-mailer: First, it was the Angels who helped by beating Texas. I'm sure the Rangers did not put in an effort to lose the game. Second, I direct you the 2000 season, if you can remember that far back. There was a team that lost 15 of their final 18 games and then proceeded to win the World Series. The team? The New York Yankees.

So it just goes to show that once the slate is cleaned for the playoffs, even teams that struggle a bit at season's end have just as good a shot as a team with great momentum. And speaking of momentum, remember the 2007 Colorado Rockies who steamrolled their way into the World Series, winning 21 of 22 games? They were then swept by the Red Sox.

Sure, I'd prefer my team to be red-hot right now. But everyone's 0-0 to start the postseason.

No one seems particularly concerned about the back spasms that canceled Josh Beckett's start last night. Apparently, this kind of discomfort can happen to pitchers late in the season, but in this case, Beckett is feeling a twinge on his left side and not his right, which bodes well, since he's a righty.

I'm glad he's skipped a start if only for the rest. Beckett has never been an innings horse like Halladay or Sabathia. This season he's made every start up until last night and has logged over 200 innings for just the third time in his career--and yes, 2007 was one of those years.

So now he gets the extra rest and tunes up for the playoffs against Cleveland, probably the most disappointing team of the year. Between the time off and the six-man rotation, the Red Sox starters should not have any issues with fatigue which, we hope, will carry them deep into October.

Count on the Sox ending their four-game losing streak and clinching the Wild Card tonight as Clay Buchholz (7-3, 3.21) opposes Toronto's Ricky Romero (12-9 4.28) at Fenway.

I have to admit that after a Red Sox-Yankees series that didn't mean much in terms of playoff implications, I learned a thing or two about both teams:

Yankees: It's going to be nearly impossible to beat the Yankees at home. Considering they'll have home field advantage straight through the World Series, this team couldn't possibly be better set up to win it all. Even when A-Rod and Teixeira are not locked in, the rest of the Yankees lineup can still find a way to win. And while I may get booed by my fellow Sox fans, I can't help but say, dammit, I like Nick Swisher. He amuses me.

Red Sox: As a fan, I'm disappointed the Sox couldn't pull out even one victory against the Yanks this weekend, but at least my faith in Daisuke Matsuzaka's ability has been restored. He pitched a gem, but CC was just a little better. Since his return to the rotation, Dice-K's ERA is 1.93 in three starts over 18.1 innings.

Funny how Sunday's game seemed like it would be a blowout, but it turned into a close one. Paul Byrd, in my opinion, deserves a spot somewhere on the postseason roster. I can't believe I even typed that sentence, but the guy can keep his team in a game despite bringing nothing to the mound but experience and guile.

Terry Francona did not manage this game like it had any postseason implications, and he was right not to. Sticking with the six-man rotation rests his starters and scheduling days off for key players like Victor Martinez and Jason Bay keeps them fresh. So while the Yankees can rest their team for the next week, so, to a degree, can the Red Sox. While Texas seemed to have woken up from their funk, their stunning ninth-inning loss to Tampa Bay all but squelched what flickering postseason hope was left. With only seven left to play, the Red Sox play at home against Toronto and Cleveland, whereas the Rangers hit the road for four against the Angels and three in Seattle.

P.S. Just a quick note of thanks to those who have e-mailed me privately to find out where I've been the past few weeks. I have been dealing with a family health crisis that is slowing to a very sad close. I may be away from the blog again in the near future when it happens, but know that I'll be back eventually. I appreciate everyone's kind words.

A sweep would have left the Sox just three and a half games out of first, but it was not to be, as the Yankees took two out of three at Fenway. Not only did they push the Sox back a game, but they also cleared enough elbow room to lay claim, unofficially, to the division title.

Once again, it's wild card time.

The good news: the Red Sox have won the wild card a record six times since it was first introduced in 1995.

The bad news: the Texas Rangers are one game behind the Sox and Tampa Bay is just three back, with six more to play against the Boston.

Another year, another uphill battle. Makes watching the remaining games all the more interesting.

Next up: The Chicago White Sox at Fenway tonight. Jose Contreras (5-11. 5.13) vs. Clay Buchholz (2-3, 3.99)

Call me Kreskin.

Yes, it's true. Everything I said at the end of my post from yesterday came true in the Sox' 14-1 revenge drubbing of the Yankees at Fenway.

1. A.J. Burnett was awful: five innings, nine earned runs.

2. Junichi Tazawa tossed a gem: six scoreless innings.

3. The Yankee bats cooled down: one earned run, 13 left on base.

4. The Red Sox scored another 11 runs, and added three more.

So, you may ask, with aces CC Sabathia and Josh Beckett on the hill, what's in store tonight?

I have no idea. I'm inclined to say the Sox will win by a score of 2-1, but no Red Sox-Yankees game clocks in at two-and-a-half hours. Something tells me the bullpens will decide this one, and it could take a few extra innings.

Game time is 8:05. Get your earplugs ready for Joe Morgan and John Miller on ESPN.
 

You would think 11 runs would be more than enough for the Red Sox  to win at Fenway.

But instead, the home team fell two grand slams and a couple of solo homers short of victory last night as the Yankees pounded the Red Sox for 20 runs on 23 hits in a game that seemed like it would never end.

Brad Penny, who by now should have been traded or released, was awful from the first pitch. Michael Bowden, the most recent call-up from Pawtucket, needed more than 40 pitches to get out of his first inning of relief. It would have been a good night for one of those drinking games where you have to take swig of beer every time a run scores. Of course, you'd have needed to head back to the liquor store for another case of brew by the third inning.

Today could be another disaster as Junichi Tazawa faces off against A.J. Burnett. Who decided on these lopsided pitching matchups? It's like Terry Francona lost a high-stakes poker game and had to pay up by sending the back end of his rotation to face a very confident Yankee lineup. By the time Josh Beckett squares off against CC Sabathia tomorrow night, any hopes of a Red Sox division crown will be a distant memory.

Unless, of course, Burnett has one of his poor outings.

And Junichi Tazawa tosses a gem.

And the Yankees bats cool down.

And the Red Sox score another 11 runs.

I feel like my fanhood just got run over by a train with a NY logo on it. What a miserable weekend!

Got to tip the cap to the Yankees for finding a way to win in Games 2 and 4, and also for ending the Smoltz project once and for all. What's worse than a four-game sweep? A four game sweep at the hands of the Yankees. The Sox still lead the season series 8-4, but who cares at this point?

Time for the Sox to move on, but not without first facing the first-place Detroit Tigers. And look who we've got to stop the bleeding? The ever-unpredictable Brad Penny.

Let's hope some home cookin' can wake up the bats.

Anyone who says they prefer a high scoring game to a pitchers' duel didn't watch last night's 14-inning instant classic.

Both teams' starters were spectacular. The bullpens were unyielding.

I feel bad for Junichi Tazawa, a 23 year old starter who made his major league debut in relief in the bottom of the 14th inning of longest scoreless game ever between these two teams. Apart from the home run to A-Rod, he appeared confident and ready. Any future situation will be low-pressure compared to the fire he was tossed into last night, or, i should say, early this morning.

Anyway, great game, tough loss, and already it's time to move on to another game.