Unbelievable......

Are you kidding me?????? Somebody check his contract, because there is no way Eric Gagne is actually pitching for the Boston Red Sox.

He has to be pitching for the Yankees or Indians or any one of the other 27 teams in baseball. He only dons the cap with the "B" on it to work undercover. Actually, an authoritative investigation of manager Terry Francona or GM Theo Epstein may be in order. Who's decision was it to have this guy on the playoff roster anyhow? For those who don't know, it was Gagne who came on in relief in the 11th inning against Cleveland in Game 2 and who was responsible for 2 runs that opened the flood gates for Boston before an inevitable loss.

I told people before the series even began that there was no way Gagne would get through the series without blowing a game. I was right. But here's the thing. WHO DIDN'T KNOW HE WOULD BLOW A CRUCIAL PLAYOFF GAME? Boston faithful could have told you that back in August when Gagne was first traded for. Yeah, that's right. Boston actually gave up something for this. Ask my roommates. As soon as he came out of the bullpen I yelled, went to my room and slammed the door. It was over and I knew it. Which makes me wonder, if I knew it and thousands of others across the country knew it, how Francona didn't know it.

This was such a bonehead move it may actually be a worse decision than Grady Little leaving Pedro Martinez in too long against the Yankees in Game 7 of the '03 ALCS. At least Little was sticking with his ace. True, his arm was dangling by a thread, but at least it was Pedro. Francona? He decided to go with the guy who blew all 3 of his regular season save opportunities with the club while posting an ERA of 6.75. If this was anyone who didn't have a successful history, he wouldn't have made the postseason roster.

It's not like Francona couldn't have gone another route. Gagne and Lopez had both thrown the night before, but Jon Lester was still left in the bullpen. Gagne and Lopez both struggled in Game One. It took Gagne 25 pitches to get through his one inning in which he loaded the bases and forced closer Jonathan Papelbon to start warming up. So why not bring in Lester, someone who was a starter during the season who could eat up innings? And if he struggled, then bring in Lopez. Under no circumstance should Gagne be in a close game if his team wants to win. Francona could have even brought in Tim Wakefield who has shown in the past his willingness to give up his start and go to the bullpen. With ace Josh Beckett only throwing 80 pitches in Game 1, losing Wake for a Game 4 means nothing if Beckett could take the mound.

But I can't blame this all on Francona, who I believe is one of the best managers in the game. Although he wasn't playing to win the game once he started warming up Gagne. I blame it on Epstein. Because there is no way he should have even contemplated allowing Francona to consider putting Gagne on the postseason roster. Man up and admit a mistake. Everyone wanted Gagne at the trading deadline, but he didn't pan out. If he had, the Sox would have the best bullpen in the majors by a long shot. I didn't think there was any way he would be on the roster, but I was wrong. There's something to be said about sticking with your players, but there's also something to be said about doing something stupid.