Postmortem: What Happened and What Now?

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

By Jock Thompson - Angelswin.com Columnist

After winning 100 games for the first time in franchise history, the 2008 Angels missed their best opportunity to bring home a World Championship since 2002. Even after securing home-field advantage, the Angels were unable to take even one of their first two games at Angel Stadium. Post-ALDS player comments left no doubt as to how Angel players felt about the superiority of this team, and few in baseball believe that the Red Sox were that much better than the Angels, if at all. But Boston is advancing in the post-season, largely due to the following:

1) John Lester. John Lackey pitched well, but the Red Sox had the best pitcher in the series, a lefthander with a terrific arsenal and great location movement and who maintains his stuff well into the late innings. Boston manager Terry Francona made a huge mistake in removing him after the 7th inning in...