Stunned Indians pack up after ALCS collapse

Last update: October 22, 2007 - 10:32 PM

Sometime in the future, once the biting sting of defeat eases, the Cleveland Indians will look back on a 2007 season that began in falling snow and ended with a stunning collapse.

They will savor all the good moments -- not just yet.

"Maybe in a week or so I'll be able to reflect back and be like, 'Wow, we had a pretty good season for a team that's come a long way,' " Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia said. "But right now it still hurts."

Monday, hours after their October odyssey stopped one victory shy of the World Series, the Indians gathered for the final time at Jacobs Field. After taking a 3-1 lead over Boston in the American League Championship Series, Cleveland was blown out the last three games.

"We've got a lot of great young players," first baseman Ryan Garko said. "... We learned a lot about ourselves and what it's like to play in the big leagues."

Etc.

• Tony La Russa agreed to a two-year contract to stay as St. Louis manager. La Russa, 63, never courted offers from other teams. The Cardinals are still seeking a GM to replace the fired Walt Jocketty.

• Colorado suspended World Series ticket sales after demand crashed the Rockies' computer system. Monday, there were 8.5 million attempts to connect with the computers in the first 90 minutes after sales started.

• At his news conference introducing him as Kansas City's new manager, Trey Hillman, who has never coached or played in the majors, said: "In my humble opinion, I've been a major league manager for the last five years. We get after it in Japan."

• 2006 NL Manager of the Year Joe Girardi interviewed for the Yankees vacancy. Bench coach Don Mattingly, considered the favorite, is scheduled to interview today.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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