The Sox came home to Fenway Park this weekend expecting that their home-field advantage would be just the jolt they needed to get back into the series. This team had always made itself at home at Fenway — the pitchers know their mound, the fielders know their territory and the Sox' sluggers can drive wall-ball doubles to that Green Monster all day long. There's no place like home for the Red Sox.
But being home wasn't enough. Getting a solid start from Clay Buchholz, in his first career postseason start, wasn't enough. Nothing was enough against these Angels, who came to Fenway on Sunday afternoon determined to prove that they were the better team.
In a short series, nothing is ever guaranteed. The Red Sox were a great team this season, and they had a shot at something great. But it wasn't meant to be — and regardless of who looked better on paper, the Angels had the better week. They earned their trip to the ALCS.
The Sox couldn't rely on history to win this series. They knew about their terrific record against the Angels in past ALDS meetings — 3-0 in 2004, 3-0 in '07, 3-1 in '08 — but that didn't matter much when these two teams took the field this time around. These were different Red Sox, different Angels and different states of mind on both sides.
At Fenway Park on a cool October day, that's a difficult concept to grasp. Seeing Fenway at this time of year evokes memories of historic Red Sox comebacks and great victories. You picture 1967, with Carl Yastrzemski singlehandedly carrying the Red Sox on their "Impossible Dream" pennant run that propelled them into the World Series. You picture 1975 and Carlton Fisk launching that unforgettable fly ball down the line in left field to win Game 6 of the World Series. You picture 1986, when the Sox came back from the brink of death to beat — who else? — the Angels, winning the American League pennant.
But above all, you picture 2004.
For the past five years, all of New England has known that Fenway Park is where comebacks happen. No one around here will ever forget the Red Sox' 2004 ALCS comeback against the Yankees — the Dave Roberts steal of second base that started it all, the David Ortiz home run that won Game 4 and silenced the Yankees, the dramatic 14-inning win in Game 5 that sent the series back to the Bronx. These moments are the stuff of legend.
But this year, it wasn't meant to be.
Sad as it is, this just isn't 2004 anymore. Not by a long shot. Of the players that carried the Red Sox past the Angels — and eventually, to World Series glory — in 2004, only a select few remained in 2009.
There was Tim Wakefield, the Red Sox' starter for Game 1 of the 2004 World Series against St. Louis. Five years later, at the age of 43, Wake was inactive for this ALDS.
There was Jason Varitek, the Sox' captain. The heart, soul and brain of the Red Sox clubhouse. In 2004, he was a star for these Red Sox, going deep twice in the team's ALCS comeback against the Yankees. In '09, he watched from the bench as Victor Martinez manned his post behind the plate.
There was Kevin Youkilis, who appeared just once in the 2004 postseason, entering as a defensive replacement in the late innings of Game 2 of the ALDS. In '09, he went 1-for-12 at the plate as the Angels silenced him when it mattered most.
And then there was David Ortiz.
Years from now, we may look back on 2009 as the beginning of the end for the great, mythical Big Papi. Red Sox fans looked to Papi, especially in October, as their knight in shining armor, the man that could come and save the day when they needed him. That's the role he filled in '04, slugging game-winner after game-winner to carry the Sox to victory after victory
That Big Papi didn't show up in 2009. The man who showed up was 33 years old and quite mortal. Like Youkilis, he went 1-for-12.
Boston will always remember 2004. Memories of these great Red Sox heroes will linger forever, but greatness on the playing field is fleeting. The '04 Red Sox will remain in our hearts and in our minds, but the 2009 Sox will watch the American League Championship Series from home. The Angels are moving on.
The 2004 Red Sox are a part of history. Now, so are the '09 Sox.
