It's a final

A little too late......why didn't Francona have Elsbury run for Kotsay with no outs. Big mistake on the Managers part because we could have been in the 10th inning! Lost opportunity!!

Another Francona brain fart...pinch runner a batter too late,,again!!

blown opportunity.........wake up francona! why are you having elsbury pinch run with 2 outs rather than no outs??? a little to late!!!

papelbon sucks

Why did they wait to put Elsbury in to pinch run? If he comes in and steals second with only 1 out it's not a stretch to say he could have been standing on third and scored on a fly ball. I don't get it. Also why not pinch hit for Tek with Drew in that situation or even the Mayor?

w and Dan, I went to bed wondering the same thing (about Ellsbury). Then you pinch hit for Tek with anyone who can bunt successfully (or can just swing a bat and make contact with the ball...we have four catchers currently on the roster so it's not a big deal to go into extras without Tek). Go for the tie first. I was stunned when I saw how late Ellsbury came in to pinch run. I think Tito was maybe thinking of having Ellsbury run for Tek or Papi if they got on but you have to tie before you can go ahead. Yeah, It sucked to see Papelbon blow the save and give up the extra run but Tito blew the Sox chances in the bottom of the ninth, plain and simple.

Francona messed up more with the Varitek situation and Kotsay is a pretty good runner. He brought Ellsbury in with 2 outs because he's more likely to score from 1st with 2 outs but if you want the whole view from me last night, just check it out below.....

myspace.com/baseballgenius13

Automatic Choke City, your driver Jon Papelpunk awaits you.

Two outs from first place and then SELF DESTRUCTION.

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Was watching on the computer, but didn't Papelbon get down 3-0 to Johnson? I suspect that the umpires are trying not to get caught in the closer mystique. The same thing happened to Rivera. Remember Lowell getting riled up and thrown out during that Yankees game? Rivera was throwing a lot at the corners and getting all the calls. So Papelbon has to throw three straight strikes to Johnson and the third one gets hit out.
Anyway what kind of championship would it be if the Rays just rolled over and died? Is that what people want? They didn't give up, so they deserve some credit.

If Tek did his job, Ortiz would have been walked. With Crisp up, you then PR for the Big man with Ellsbury to decrease DP chance with two fast runners. Point was irrelevant when Tek failed to sacrifice. Inexcusable for Tek ...can debate bunting which would have taken bat out of Papi's hands, but had to get runner to 2nd. with No outs...T Bay was giving that up.