I'm really too depressed, no angry to write today. Only out of a sense of obligation, do I jot down a few thoughts.

Let me first say that I did everything right. I wore my lucky hat. I stayed at home watching the game on my television instead of plasma. I ate pizza. Even though I made these efforts something was amiss.

Pedro pitched well. This whole idea that he didn't pitch good enough is ridiculous. The New York Times blames Terry Francona for keeping Pedro in past 100 pitches.

The lineup didn't get the hits needed. Without run support, you simply can not win. Pedro did everything that was asked of him. He made only three mistakes. His first was the four pitch walk to Jeter in the first inning. His second hitting A-Rod. By the way, I looked at the replay three times and could not see where Rodriguez was hit. Perhaps I'm blind.

Those two mistakes were mostly due to an adrenaline rush. Minor really. He only allowed one run and then settled down. His third and last mistake was the high fastball to John Olerud. It was not at all in the location it should have been. That was the worst mistake. Of course that ended up being the difference maker. The Boston Globe's Jackie MacMullen understands where I'm coming from. He says, "Do not pin this loss on Pedro." Gordon Edes says, "The offense didn't hold up its end."

I noticed Johnny Damon's teammates congratulating or thanking him for forcing Jon Lieber to throw 16 pitches. Let's not get too excited about a 16-pitch at-bat in the sixth inning. The team should have made that part of the strategy from the time the ump said, "Play ball." The team must have forgotten the last time Lieber made them look foolish. The Yankees have a great bullpen. When you are about to face Gordon and Rivera in the eighth and ninth, respectively, the sixth inning is a tad bit late to lift a pitch count. After all his effort, Damon still didn't get a hit.

Okay, I can't stand to hear "who's your daddy?" anymore. I'm glad that we will be home for three games. What crazy Yankee fan would dare utter those words in Fenway? Man, Pedro set the Sox up for that. It was loud too. The Times pipes in, "Daddy issues are haunting Red Sox."

Then I had to hear Joe Buck explain to TV land, "in case people at home do not undersatand the reference"...blah, blah, blah. Hey Joe, I think they can figure it out. It's not rocket science. He then quotes the wrong players twice in his broadcast. Well, at least twice, I ended up turning the sound off. National broadcasters do not have the same knowledge as does Jerry Remy. And people wonder why I do not listen to them. Man, it's painful. Some poor uninformed fan will probably believe every word. Ouch. Joe Buck has a great broadcasting voice, its too bad he didn't do more homework.

Curt Schilling is pretty much done. He will not pitch in Game 5. But do not fret, Derek Lowe will be available. OK, fret. Without Schilling it will be difficult to get by the Yankees, not impossible, but difficult. The Boston Herald writes that Theo Epstein has to make a tough call in deciding whether Schilling will pitch again. My guess: he will not pitch again in the Championship Series. The team does not want Schilling to injure another part of his body, like his arm for instance. A wise but unfortunate decision indeed. ProJo.com's Sean McAdam writes, "With Schilling hurting, Sox need a new plan."

Losing Schilling is the worst thing that could have happened to this team - I mean, the second worst thing. The worst would be if they forgot how to hit. Wait...may be they have. Johnny Damon is 0-8, Manny is 2-8 with 0 RBIs and Bellhorn is batting .100 in the postseason. The Yankees pitchers aren't that good. Give me a break. ProJo.com's Sean McAdam says, "If things do not start at the top, the Sox are soon finished." I have to agree.

A funny thing. In Dallas, the local television station broadcast the Red Sox-Yankees game on Fox instead of the Houston Astro-St. Louis Cardinal game. Forcing the National League game to FoxNet. Why? Because the rivalry is big and the Texas Rangers play in the American League. As a result only 40 percent could watch the Astros game.

The Dallas Morning News' Gerry Fraley says the Sox are finished.

Yes, they are finished, finished fooling around. Look for the sweep, I really think it will happen. The Red Sox have come back from an 0-2 deficit before in last year's ALDS. So it can be done. Game 3 will be special. Not only will Bronson Arroyo take the mound, I'll be in Fenway offering encouragement to the team. How could they lose?

Reader comments:With Schilling injured, Derek Lowe is now the choice to start Game 5. Do you agree with this decision? Who would make a better option?

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