We couldn't quite pull it off this time.

As unbelievable as this may have sounded 6 months ago, the Tampa Bay Rays are going to the World Series after defeating the Red Sox 3-1 in game 7 of the ALCS.

The Rays came back from what would have been a crushing collapse, simply outplaying the Red Sox tonight. After Dustin Pedroia's home run in the first inning, the Sox just couldn't muster any offense against Matt Garza (7 innings +) and virtually the entire Rays bullpen.

You really have to score more than one run to win most of your games. The Sox couldn't do that tonight. So, they go home and the Rays open the World Series on Wednesday at the Trop against Philadelphia.

How am I feeling right now? I would say deeply disappointed. To crawl out of the 7 run hole in game 5, win game 6 and not seal the deal in game 7 makes me think about what might have changed to turn this around. If Beckett doesn't come back out in the 5th inning of game 2, do they hold on to the lead and win that game? That's the tipping point for me.

The interesting thing is that there's none of the angst that would have accompanied a loss like this pre-2004. I'm upset that we missed another opportunity to try to grab another ring, but at least we don't have to deal with the "Will they ever win it before I die?" stuff.

The Rays were the better team over 7 games this time. Good luck to them in the World Series.

I'll have some thoughts wrapping up the Red Sox 2008 season in the next couple of days.