Random thoughts from the Red Sox-Yankees American League Championship Series:

* It is absolutely insane how everything came full circle in this matchup. Tim Wakefield was the sole reason Sox fans had hope against the Bronx Bombers and it is he who gave up the series-clinching home run to none other than Aaron Boone. A midseason pickup from the Cincinnati Reds, he did nothing at the plate during the series (.176 batting average, collecting all of three hits in 17 at-bats) and was not exactly a tower of confidence at the hot corner either, making a couple of Buckner-esque plays in the field.

Jason Giambi was expected to be a major contributor for the Bombers as well, hitting .231, but came alive in the final game, slugging two home runs. Don Zimmer, the infamous Yankees bench coach, was the Boston manager when Bucky Dent hit that dream-shattering home run in the 1978 Sox-Yanks one-game playoff.

For a team with 26 career World Series Championships, it took the Yankees 26 games this season to finish off the Beantown Bashers. Roger Clemens, who began his career with the Sox, almost pitched in his last game against that same franchise … but again, the operative word is almost. Maybe everything wasn’t so full circle after all. Ah, damn the friggin’ Curse.

* If someone charges at me, I am going to defend myself. I don’t care if that person is 22 or 72. Pedro Martinez, forget Mayor Bloomberg; you did the right thing. It just brings to question whether there should be age limits for bench coaches.

* Grady Little should not return as manager of the Boston Red Sox. Before you fall under the assumption that I am speaking with emotion like the rest of Red Sox fans, consider the obvious. Everyone talks about the great amount of chemistry that was fostered in the Boston clubhouse during the season and that it was a major factor in the team’s postseason successes. All of that may be true, but it is not because of Grady Little. That was because of key off-season acquisitions such as David Ortiz and Kevin Millar (Theo Epstein, you held it down). When you have as many offensive weapons as the Red Sox do, you don’t have to manage; you just stay the hell out of the way. That’s what Little did, and that’s why Boston set so many offensive records.

Pitching, on the other hand, was an entirely different story. There were times during the season when Little micro-managed his hurlers and other times where he did nothing at all. Talk all you want about how much Byung-Hyun Kim stunk; he blew three saves (16 of 19 converted) all season … three. Little shattered his confidence when he took him out of the game in the Oakland series, needing one more out for the save. How many times during the season did he stick too long with John Burkett?

He seemed to have figured the whole pitching thing out — then Game 7 came around. Grady had three times to save face; each time he whiffed. Mike Timlin and Scott Williamson have been money in the bank all postseason. Instead, Grady sticks by his guns, and leaves Pedro in the game after the Boston ace declares he has enough gas left in the tank; that’s strike one.

Hideki Matsui laced a ground-rule double against Petey, and Little leaves him in to face Jorge Posada, who ties the game on a bloop single.

Here comes the kicker; Little put Tim Wakefield in the game to pitch against Aaron Boone. I don’t care how great Wakefield has been in the postseason; when you are playing in Game 7 of the ALCS on the road, you DO NOT put a knuckleball pitcher on the mound. There is no better mistake pitch to smash into the seats; if the Yankees do, they go to the series. They did, and that’s why the Sox go back home. Strike three, William Grady Little, you should be out of Boston.

* The whole team unity thing is great, but some of these characters should not be rockin’ a shaved head. Derek Lowe, what is really good with that hairline? Like my man Jeff Lubin would say, “Not feelin’ the kid! Nope!”

* Good lord, Jose Contreras is one ugly-looking dude. I don’t know what’s more sick, his splitter or his side profile.

* The great thing about Boston is the fan support. The people will ride you when you are dogging it, and will treat you like a god when you bring that blue-collar mentality to the sports arena on a daily basis. That said, the actions of the fans around the city, specifically the university area, are inexcusable. After the game concluded, I was not concerned with the outcome; I was more concerned with dodging the glass bottles flying out of the windows as I walked down Hemenway Street. There were Yankees fans being jumped in the street and violent graffiti directed at New York supporters. If you are upset with the outcome, that’s cool; just don’t take it out on your peers. That is totally immature and irresponsible.

* If what Red Sox officials said what happened actually did happen, Jeff Nelson and Karim Garcia should be dealt with. What kind of man goes after a grounds crew worker during the league championships? Paul Williams, I salute you … you are a soldier.

* Forget DJ Kay Slay … Manny Ramirez is the drama king. From his antics in game three to his contributions in Game 6, there are few if any athletes as eccentrically entertaining as Manuel Aristides Ramirez.

* This fall has been one of the greatest sporting events I have ever experienced in my entire life. Football is my favorite sport, and the Boston Celtics are my favorite sports franchise. Still, nothing will touch the excitement involved with the Red Sox 2003 postseason run. When I called a Sox playoff push last month, I never could have predicted this: the second-guessing, the last-minute home runs, quirky defensive plays and flaring tempers. This squad laid it on the line every night, and showed a sense of relentlessness that was almost inhuman. The face-off for the right for American League supremacy was one of epic proportions.

* George Steinbrenner, I have two words for you: luxury tax. Holla ‘atcha dog in 2004, when the Sox run the table. On second thought, let’s refrain from predictions; it didn’t work out too well about a month ago.

Doggie Bites: I am heartbroken right now. Antoine Walker was traded to the Dallas Mavericks Monday with Tony Delk for Raef LaFrentz, Jiri Welsch, Chris Mills and a first-round draft pick.

Wow. I can honestly say, with a straight face, that I’m more upset about this than the Sox collapse in Game 7. In the back of my mind, I knew that the Curse was still lurking, but I never expected the Celtics to trade A-Walk, at least not this season. Financially, the deal makes some sense, but it hinges on a lot of hypothetical scenarios for it to be successful for Boston. But man, I do not like this deal. You trade away a three-time all-star power forward, who is the unquestioned leader of this team and showed up in the best condition of his life in what is not even his contract season. Illogical.

If LaFrentz comes close to the 14 points, eight boards and three blocks he was averaging in Denver before being traded to the Mavericks, and if Welsch is as talented as everyone says he is, then fine. Still, if ‘Toine goes on to blossom into the player Larry Bird envisioned he could become after Boston, than so help me God, Danny Ainge, I will fly to Utah and ask you personally what you were thinking … and that’s real like Walker’s Wiggle.

– Evans Erilus may be reached at [email protected]. He may be heard Friday afternoons from 3-6 p.m. on WRBB 104.9 FM’s “Dog Pound Sports Sound.”