Jonathan Papelbon News

What: Dropkick Murphys, with The Flatliners, The Insurgence and Larry and His Flask When: 8 p.m. Sunday, doors open 7 p.m. Where: Midtown Ballroom, 51 N.W. Greenwood Ave., Bend Cost: $22 plus service charges in advance, $25 at the door.

He started as a starter. Then he became a championship closer. I'm just throwing it out there, OK? So don't all scream at once.

How good has Mariano Rivera been for the Yankees this postseason? Try five saves in five opportunities and a 0.63 earned run average in 11 appearances.

You think Brian Fuentes would like to have that pitch back to Alex Rodriguez in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series when the Yankees' third baseman took him deep to tie the game in extra innings that the Angels would eventually lose? Jonathan Papelbon would probably want a do-over, too.

Well did it end up any different than any of you thought? They sure didnt show up for the Angel series now did they? Ain't no blaming Paps for that! The pitching sure didn't let them down it was the hitting as we all know.

By any reasonable evaluation, the Angels had an exceptional season. Yes, it ended too soon for their fans, but that's true of the faithful of 28 other Major League clubs.

When asked to hold up his new No. 2 Houston Astros jersey, Brad Mills made sure to flip it from the back to the front.

The Angels' bullpen was the club's nagging question mark coming into the postseason.

NEW YORK The Angels have to play like they have nothing to lose when they fight against elimination from the playoffs versus the New York Yankees on Saturday, Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said.

Welcome to the offseason, which means I will try to take time once each week to answer all of your questions.

With two outs and two strikes in the ninth inning of a must-win game, Erick Aybar startles the crowd and singles off Jonathan Papelbon.

Got to admit it. I wanted to sleep late and then head to the Back Bay for a Boston Globe and a slow cup of wake-me-up-please. But the chance to spend two days in one place depended on the Red Sox beating the Angels on Sunday.

They say the third time's the charm. For the Los Angeles Angels, it was actually the fifth.

Jacob Davis and Cara Dorgan, sitting in the Cask'n Flagon, were a picture of dejection after the Red Sox's season came to an end.

Fenway Park ushers stood miserably in disbelief. Security guards around the storied ballpark didn't have to worry about keeping the peace, because there was no peace to be had as Red Sox fans quietly left.

Bring on the Angels . Unlike last week, when the Yankees didn't learn of their ALDS opponent until 20 hours before the first pitch, the ALCS already is set.

There should have been a sign up: "Closers beware. Postseason ahead." No, it certainly hasn't been a banner week for some of baseball's best relief pitchers.

They had a two-run lead to start the ninth inning, and eventually, they had two outs and two strikes.

The Los Angeles Angels bring Nick Adenhart's No. 34 jersey everywhere they go, from the team charter to the clubhouse to the dugout for each game.

Colorado's Huston Street and St. Louis' Ryan Franklin were among the most effective closers in the National League.