Like an old vinyl record with a scratch in it, returning the track to the same starting point again and again.
That was the start of my pre-ALDS post, which got lost due to time constraint. Alas, as we now know, history did not repeat itself.
After treating the Halos as their personal bitch (in the post season only of course. during the regular season the Angels owned the Red Sox) for about a decade, going 9-1 in the last 3 post season series, Grumpy finally got one over Tito. The Angels swept a thoroughly un-impressive Red Sox team that played like a team that finally got caught by the findy-outy-police.
The heart of the order; Martinez, Youk and Ortiz (although Bay and Ortiz swapped 5th & 6th spot in game 3) had a total offensive production of.......4 for 35, or a .114 average in the series.
The Red Sox bullpen, previously considered one of the better 'pens in the league imploded. Papelbon, who hadn't allowed a run in 26 post season innings, allowed 3 runs to score on 4 hits in game 3 - all with 2 outs.
Simply put, and to stop this from being a complete recap of all stats, the Red Sox did not show up. The batters didn't...well, bat. The pitchers gave the Angels plenty of straight down the middle pitches - and walks - lethal against a speedy team. All in all, the Angels were much better.
Sooo.....
What does this mean for the Red Sox?
Well, to start with, I suspect (with sadness, albeit with inevitable acceptance) that we've seen the last of our Captain. At least as a starter (well, that's a given). There is no way the Red Sox will pick up their $5m option on Varitek, although he of course has a $3m option himself.
The question for the Sox is what would benefit the team more in the long run; Varitek as back up and teacher to Martinez for a year or bringing up another catcher to develop.
Other obvious question marks are Bay (probably the best free agent hitter available this off season), Lowell (will he be productive and healthy for one more year?) Ortiz (which one will show up in March, the Ortiz of April-May 2009 or the June-Sept Big Papi) and the never-ending search for a short stop.
This period (and the end of July) is why they pay Theo the big bucks. Over to you Mr. Epstein.
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