Abyssinia Red Sox

The ALCS is one game away from being finished.

Steady, reliable Josh Beckett will pitch Thursday night. Of all the starters, he has the best chance to win the game and bring it back home to Fenway.

Still, he could lose, and I wouldn't hold it against him. Throughout the entire season, he has been the true ace of the staff, the only 20 game winner in all of MLB. The Josh Beckett of 2007 is so far removed from the Josh Beckett of 2006 that it's like two totally different pitchers. If this season is any indicator, Josh has the stuff to end up in the HOF one day.

The 2007 Red Sox were ostensibly built for the postseason.

Of course, it takes the postseason to see just how far off the building went.

As it turns out, the starting rotation (with the exception of Beckett) hasn't lived up to expectation. Schilling has had flashes of brilliance, but nothing consistent. Matsuzaka looks more and more like a monumental waste of money ($100M). Tim Wakefield's contract is cheap and year to year, but his effectiveness just hasn't been there the second half of the season.

The bullpen has huge anchors in Okajima and Papelbon. Delcarmen has stepped it up this year, but still makes costly mistakes. Timlin has been fairly effective. He's long in years, though, and his days have to be numbered. Lefty specialist Lopez can't get lefties out. Journeyman workhorse Julian Tavares was left off the ALCS roster, which makes no sense. He was always a good innings eater and fairly effective in his own right. Kyle Snyder, well I don't have much good I can say about him.

Lowell and Youkilis have been great at the corners, but Youkilis' offense has been streaky. Lowell, on the other hand, has been a rock, both defensively and offensively. He would like to stay in Boston, but all indications are that unless he accepts a shorter contract, say three years, the Sox won't re-sign him. More's the pity. He is the man this year, and you can't ignore the intangibles he brings to the clubhouse (let alone the tangibles). Isn't that what they kept saying about Kevin Millar in 2004 - look at all the intangibles he brings, never mind the fact that he can't hit, run or field that well.

Dustin Pedroia has had a terrific season, but in the postseason he's looking exactly like what he is - a rookie. Yet, Francona keeps him at lead off - go figure. I thought the postseason was about winning, not waiting for someone to find their groove.

The shortstop position has been laughable. With the exception of some streaky hitting in September, Julio Lugo has been a disaster offensively. Alex Gonzales, a far better shortstop than Lugo, was replaced because it was thought Lugo would bring a little more pop from that position. Didn't happen.

Makes one long for the days of Renteria, doesn't it? Why exactly did they feel the need to get rid of him again?

Then again, why did they replace Cabrera with Renteria? The front office has some 'splaining to do.

Manny and Papi have had substandard years offensively (though, I daresay most hitters would love to have a Manny/Papi substandard year). Clutch hitting has fallen off a bit by them, but they still have the ability to worry an opposing pitcher. With Lowell in the five spot, it is a lineup to take seriously.

Then there's David Jonathan Drew, or J.D. Drew, for short. Another of the front office's less than brilliant machinations, and an incredibly expensive one at that. The irony there is that most of the analysts and pundits (armchair and professional) were naysaying the deal before it was even signed. And they have him signed for what... 4? 5 years? at $14M per year? If I was a cursing person, I'd let off a string right now.

Centerfielder Coco Crisp has been a spark defensively, but a disappointment at the plate as well.

Jason Varitek, team Captain and primary catcher, has fallen off offensively as well. He has been in the leagues for a long time - it's catching up to him.

So, with the exception of the 3-4-5 spots in the lineup, the team is batting around .225 in the postseason. Couple that with only one real effective starter, and I fail to see how this team was built for the postseason.

I hope Beckett wins his start Thursday. I hope the Red Sox are able to take it back home to Fenway.

For if they are going to die, where best to do it than at home?

Kudos to Cleveland for their tenacious play.