If You're Going to Play the Blame Game...

Say what you want about third base coach Joel Skinner, who chose to hold Kenny Lofton at third instead of sending him for what should have been the tying run in the seventh.

Make Casey Blake the scapegoat, if you'd like, for hitting into an inning-ending double play in that seventh, then booting a bouncer at third five minutes later, a gaffe that quickly turned into an insurance run.

Blame Eric Wedge for leaving Rafael Betancourt out there about four batters too long.

But if you're looking for the real culprit, Cleveland fans, look no further than three of your regular season heroes.

C.C. Sabathia was abysmal in Game 1, and a little worse than mediocre in Game 5, the Indians first and best chance to put the series away. Fausto Carmona, Cleveland's other 19-game winner, struggled mightily as well, failing in two starts to complete five innings.

But perhaps the biggest disappointment of them all was Travis Hafner. Pronk, as he is affectionately known by teammates and fans, may as well have been invisible.

For the series, he hit .148 (4-27) with 12 Ks and 15 runners left on base. In the eighth inning of Game 7 with two runners on and none out -- when the Indians needed a big hit the most -- Hafner whiffed on three pitches against Papelbon.

After blowing a 3-1 lead and what seemed a certain trip to the World Series, Indians fans must be devastated. And if you're the type to analyze, break down, and determine who's to blame for this abomination, there's plenty of blame to go around.

Just make sure you distribute it properly.