WHAT IT ALL MEANS: Make no mistake about it- the Aaron Boone homer in the 11th goes in the all-time pantheon of horrible Red Sox moments, and is unquestionably the most calamitous event to befall the franchise since that error by what's-his-name back in '86 (and like that game at Shea, the final score was New York 6, Boston 5.)
But, and not to trot out the "wait 'til next year" cliché, but this was merely Year One of Theo Epstein, Year One of Bill James, Year Two of the Henry/Werner/Lucchino ownership group, and Year Two of Grady Little (there may not be a Year 3.) When the new owners took over they declared war on the Yankees, and made it clear that they were building a team meant to knock off the Bronx Bombers as well as Reverse the Curse. They may not have succeeded this year, but losing in the 11th inning of Game 7 is more of an accomplishment than getting crushed in five games, like they did in the '99 ALCS against those same Yankees. In just about every measurable way, the franchise is moving in the right direction.
So my condolences to Isaac, Sheila, and Ben, and other blogging Sox fans; I certainly know how it feels to have my team eliminated by the Yankees this year. And (what the hell) congrats to blogging Yankee fans Paul, Michele, and whomever else.