Gutty Effort ... Bad Result ... Season Over

Good, but not good enough. That's the 2007 Indians, who overcame adversity time and time again ... until their season's most crucial game. For most of the year they were the Little Injuns that could. Then this group of over-achievers lost Game 7 of the AL Championship Series to the Boston Red Sox, 11-2, leaving their fans second-guessing coaching decisions and lamenting close calls by the umpires.

Close calls in an 11-2 game? It was that kind of season for Cleveland, which twice had the opportunity to tie it at 3-3 before the Red Sox put it away late.

"The final score was no indication of that game," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "We beat a fine team and a great organization."

In their last three games of the season, the Indians were outscored 30-5. Needing one win to go to the World Series, it looks as if they "choked," but nothing could be further from the truth.

The Indians battled just to get that close, and simply were battered by the better team.

Still, the questions will rage. Was Kenny Lofton safe ... and would Kenny Lofton have been safe?

Those are the two questions that all baseball fans can argue for the ages.

There's no denying that both plays on the bases will live in infamy in Cleveland lore -- already filled with other close-call failures in all sports through the years.

Trailing 3-1, Lofton opened the fifth with a drive off the wall in left, but was called out trying to stretch it into a double. TV replays showed that umpire Brian Gorman may have missed the play by an eyelash and that Lofton was safe by a fraction.

Cleveland scored once in the inning to pull within 3-2. The question will forever remain -- how many more might the Indians have scored?

In the seventh, the Indians got the break they needed, but didn't capitalize. Lofton reached second with one out when his easy pop was dropped in shallow left by shortstop Julio Lugo. Franklin Gutierrez followed with a line shot down the third-base line that ricocheted off the all in foul territory. Ordinarily, such a hit would send the speedy Lofton home in a breeze. But the odd configuration of ancient Fenway has played havoc with such balls in the past and third-base coach Joel Skinner knew it. He held up Lofton -- a decision that left manager Eric Wedge wincing and second-guessers all over America screaming.

“It’s a tough read," Wedge said. "The ball was bouncing right back towards the shortstop and left fielder."

When Casey Blake then hit into a double play on the next pitch, the Indians' rally, and essentially their season, was over.

"Casey put a good swing on that pitch," Wedge said. "Then the Red Sox just took off. I want to congratulate them."

One move that probably won't be questioned but should is Wedge's decision right there. With one out, and two of the swiftest players on his speed-challenged team on the bases, the situation cried for Cleveland's manager to push the envelope. One run down, he had to steal a run. The best way would be to put Gutierrez in motion and have Blake push a bunt or simply ground the ball the other way, towards first. Lofton likely would score standing up and the game would have been tied.

Then the Red Sox unloaded on usually reliable relievers Rafael Betancourt and Jensen Lewis.

That they were in the game is perhaps subject to debate, too -- since Jake Westbrook was suddenly dealing like an ace after a shaky start.

Westbrook yielded his usual supply of seeing-eye hits and three runs in the early innings, but continually got out of jams by getting double plays. Then in the middle innings, he was in a masterful groove.

It was Westbrook and No. 4 starter Paul Byrd who were Cleveland's best pitchers in this series. Dual 19-game winners C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona simply didn't get it done and they'll have all winter to think about that.

So will players up and down the lineup who didn't perform to expectations.

But that is how teams that are just not quite good enough usually end up. This over-achieving group huffed and puffed to get oh, so close ... but didn't have the overpowering talent to knock down barriers that inevitably pop up in tense games.

Despite tying the Red Sox for the best overall record in baseball (96-66) in the regular season, the Indians entered the series an underdog. Boston had better numbers in most statistical categories and held the all-so-important home-field advantage on the basis of winning five of seven meetings from the Tribe.

Despite the final score, the Indians should be proud of their achievements.

“I feel like our guys have gained so much experience," Wedge said. “It is going to help us be that much stronger.

"It's disappointing to not finish it off, but I am proud of my baseball players."

Now, general manager Mark Shapiro and his staff, which put together this ballclub that made a valiant run will have to try and make it just a little bit better.

It won't be easy.