I had a little bit of  revived hope for the Red Sox after watching Buchholz pitch an outstanding game, and the boys finally providing some hits. Boston was up 5-0 going into the 7th inning in Fenway.

Bard pitched us out of the 7th, giving up a single run. Wagner gave up one more to make it 5-2 and Tito put Pap in with 2 outs in the 8th to close out the game.

Let me reiterate this: Jonathan Papelbon came in to finish off the Angels for four outs with a 3 run lead. In Fenway. Pap had never been scored upon in post season play.

And then, Pap did what he always does. . . he generated some drama by giving up some walks, a single, and the bases were loaded when Vlad Guerrero came to the plate. And then Pap did what he almost never does. He gave up the lead…and the season.

Watching the Red Sox lose this ALDS in 3 games has proven something I’ve had a sneaking suspicion about since July or August. The 2009 Red Sox did not deserve to go to the World Series.

We can lay the blame at Pap’s feet for the blown save today, but the fact of the matter is, this team lacked the balls to be a champion. There have been some great moments all season, which I’ll write up later after I get over this loss today, but there has been something missing all season. Problems, injuries and drama overshadowed any accomplishment, and this never felt like a group of guys that enjoyed playing the game together. And giving up a 3 run lead in the top of the 9th inning in an elimination game in the Playoffs proves it.

We’re down to our last strike with Pedroia at the plate as I write this, and I don’t think there will be a rally. I think this Red Sox team will go down quietly.

The Red Sox have just been eliminated, swept out of the ALDS by the perennial punching bag from Anaheim. It was bound to happen, the Angels would beat Boston eventually, and defeat their own post season curse. But I hoped the Red Sox would have at least made a series out of it. Instead, this game was a good example of the season as a whole: a ton of potential and opportunity, and no execution when they needed it most.

The Angels were far and away the more deserving team, and my congratulations to Anaheim’s fans and team. Scoreboard.

See you boys in April.