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Russ,

I think we do have to give a fair nod to the injuries as well. I know that the Yankees had their share this year too, but they had better backups. We lost 55% of our starting lineup for a few weeks there... Manny, Trot, Varitek, Nixon, and Gonzales (who had just started getting hot at the plate) were all out at the same time. And that doesn't even include the pitchers who were on the DL!

I think the one injury that hurt us the most was Varitek. With him calling games, our pitching staff stood a better chance of overcoming their own mediocrity. Without him, the starters weren't as good and the bp blew game after game.

If you really won't accept the injury answer, then I have to agree with Derek - it was the FO. Francona has done the best he could with what he's been given. The FO's failure to pick up ANYONE at the July 31 trade deadline was a glaring one. They could've given the team an emotional boost, at the very least. Instead, they chose to stand pat and say "Okay guys, you're on your own. Do the best you can, and we'll (hopefully) be playing October baseball!" Pretty crummy, if you ask me. Now it looks like the only October baseball we'll be playing this year is the regular season game v. Baltimore on the 1st.

So the Yankees will win the division for the gazillionth year in a row, and the Sox will go home to their families early. Enjoy post-season ball, Russ! My dh & I will be rooting for the Red Sox West - aka the Dodgers.