The view from Section 42, Row 11, Seat 13...

Manny and Papi just couldn't carry them. You're not going to win a World Series when you can't score with the bases loaded and nobody out.

It's funny. In years past, I would be devastated. The philosophy in Boston for so many years was "win now"; it felt like the window was always closing, largely because the team was so desparate to win that one championship that they traded away their future in largely unsuccessful bids to get the team over the top.

The future for this team, though, is bright. Anyone who saw rookie Jonathan Papelbon pitch in the Chicago series would agree with that (4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K). Plus, we have fireballer RHP Manny Delcarmen, sparkplug 2B Dustin Pedroia, top prospect SS Hanley Ramirez, and the 2005 Eastern League (AA) Pitcher of the Year, LHP Jon Lester.

It used to be that "there's always next year" was a resignation. It was accepting yet another failure. But now, there's actual excitement about next year. So... there's always next year.

p.s. - as much as i hate to admit this, now that the series is over, i kind of hope the white sox take it all. now THAT'S something you wouldn't have heard me say two years ago about a team that just swept the red sox.