12 thoughts on the Red Sox 2021 season ....

The Boston Red Sox won six games in the playoffs, exactly halfway to the 12 they would have needed to go all the way to win the World Series, and two fewer than they would have needed to win the American League Championship Series after qualifying for the playoffs as a Wild Card team.
In the wake of their loss in Game 6 to the Houston Astros in the ALCS, which ended their season, here are 12 thoughts:
1. The Sox playoff run was indeed an unexpected gift to Red Sox fans, but that doesn't stop us from being disappointed in the outcome after they took a 2-1 lead in the ALCS against the Astros after blowing them out in Games 2 and 3.
2. What caused the Red Sox power outage from the fourth inning of Game 4 through Game 6? A combination of factors. Part of it was how baseball works; you're never as hot as you seem and you're never as cold as you seem, either. But if your bats go cold for a few days during the regular season, there's plenty of time to recover from that slump; there's no such luxury in the playoffs.
3. There's some validity to the analysis that the Sox were a victim of their own success in hitting three grand slams in Games 2 and 3 as well as other homers in those games. The batters were definitely pressing the rest of the way, and with few exceptions, didn't seem as patient up at the plate, something that was supported in the big drop in walks they had, except for Game 4, when they got several walks and only one of those players scored.
4. Chris Sale rebounded nicely in Game 5, giving up only one run over five innings. Manager Alex Cora took heat for leaving Sale in to start the sixth inning, but he probably would also have taken heat for pulling him only to have the bullpen get shelled.
5. Eddie Rodriguez did pitch well in Game 3, but his immaturity absolutely cost the Sox when he made that taunting gesture with his wrist while walking off the field after the sixth inning. That was foolish and did help wake up the Astros. It's that immaturity and his overall inconsistency that might cause the Red Sox to decide against bringing E-rod back. (He'll be a free agent this off-season).
6. Speaking of the pitching, it'll be interesting to see whether the Sox bring back impending free agent Adam Ottavino. The former Yankee reliever had a good first half, but was inconsistent over the second half. He went from being the prime set-up man in the first half to being used as early as the third inning in the playoffs.
7. Matt Barnes was horrible after signing a contract extension around the All-Star break. He went from being a lights-out closer in the first half to being left off the postseason roster. He only was put on the ALDS roster after Garrett Richards got hurt, but was left off the ALCS roster. Of course, the two pitchers who were added --- Darwinzon Hernandez and Martin Perez --- were awful and shouldn't be back next year. Hernandez has always had "potential," but his wildness has made him an unreliable reliever. 
8. Garrett Whitlock's fame is well known by now to Red Sox fans. The Rule 5 pickup from the New York Yankees was the Sox rookie of the year and was phenomenal. He'll be back in 2022, to be sure; the question will be will he start or will he be a multi-inning set-up / closer? 
9. Another key free agent decision will be whether the Red Sox can afford to bring back trade-deadline acquisition Kyle Schwarber. He was a great fit, but he clearly isn't a first baseman. He'd be a solid fourth outfielder / designated hitter, but the Sox will owe J.D. Martinez nearly $20 million if he exercises his option for 2022. So as popular as Schwarber was with the fans, he may not be back.
10. Nathan Eovaldi had his best season and should be a good one-two punch with Sale, if he's able to return to his pre-Tommy John surgery form. And Nick Pivetta should be a reliable No. 3 or Nov. 4 starter. The rest of the rotation in 2022 is up in the air. Will they convert Whitlock to a starter? How about Tanner Houck? Will they bring back E-rod? Stay tuned.
11. Look to see whether they extend shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who can opt out of his contract after the 2022 season. And, will they try to negotiate a long-term deal with Rafael Devers now so he avoids free agency in a few years? Those are just some of the questions that will keep the Sox baseball operations head Chaim Bloom extremely busy this off-season.
12. After a few days, the bitterness of the loss to the Astros will go away. Be proud of what the Sox accomplished in 2021 --- and be grateful for the unexpected playoff run that they gave to Sox fans.
Bonus: Root for the Braves; the Astros are an unlikable team, one that I despise far more than the Yankees