Dave Smith

It’s funny how players, even the great ones, are sometimes remembered for a single mistake. Take, for example, Bill Buckner, who had nearly three thousand hits over a brilliant career. But despite all his success, he will always be remembered for an error which probably cost his Red Sox the World Series in 1986….

In reality it was his manager who was at fault, because Buckner never should have been in the game. All season, John McNamara had replaced Buckner with Dave Stapleton in the late innings, due to Bill’s bad legs. But this time, McNamara forgot to make the switch and got what he deserved….

Sure, Buckner should have made the play, but it’s ridiculous to base a tremendous career on one play….

The greatest closer I’ve ever seen is Dennis Eckersley, who over a five year stretch was automatic. Take a look at his numbers from 1990: 63 appearances, 73.3 innings pitched, 73 strike outs, FOUR walks, 48 saves and an ERA of 0.61….

You talk about some sick numbers….

FOUR walks in a 162 game season and an ERA of 0.61? It’s probably in the Top 5 of best pitching years of all time….

Yet, despite the fact he won 20 games as a starter, pitched a no hitter and is in the Hall of Fame; most people remember him for giving up a home run to Kirk Gibson in the 1988 World Series….

Again, it’s unfair to remember such a great player for one mistake, but it’s reality….

In 2008, we’re about to induct another candidate into the remembered-for-one-blunder club: Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon….

What the Rays accomplished this season was one of the biggest turnarounds not only in baseball, but in sports history. During their sorry existence, Tampa Bay had never won more than 72 games, and looked to be a last place team when this season began….

Instead, they won 97 games, finished ahead of the Red Sox and rolled into the playoffs….

After an easy first round win over the Whit Sox, the Rays shocked the baseball world by taking a 3-1 series lead over Boston and had them down 7-0 going into the seventh inning of Game Five….

With champagne rolled into the Rays clubhouse and Tampa Bay ready to celebrate, Maddon pulled one of the all-time bonehead moves….

Scott Kazmir, arguably the best starting pitcher in baseball, cruised through six innings unscathed. He was pitching a shut out, given up only two hits and struck out seven. He’d also retired the Red Sox 1-2-3 in the 6th and was showing no signs of slowing down. With the Rays nine outs from the World Series, all Maddon needed to do was sit back, leave well enough alone and allow Kazmir to bring him home….

Instead, Maddon shockingly removed Scott from the game. Predictably, Boston torched the Rays bullpen for eight runs and won the game, 8-7….

As soon as that happened, I knew the Rays were done and would lose games six and seven at home and blow their only chance for a World Championship….

And Maddon would join the pantheon of dumb asses….

Sure enough, Tampa Bay lost Game Six and now face a Game Seven tonight. Yes, there is still time for Maddon to escape the doghouse; but in my opinion they are finished….

Game Seven begins in a few hours, and I’ll be back with some thoughts. A win and all is forgiven for Maddon. A loss and he is forever remebered for possibly the stupidest move in post season history….

Well, it’s all over and the Rays are American League champions. But not because Madon didn’t try and give it away….

In the eighth inning, Tampa Bay pitcher Matt Garza was cruising along with a 3-1 lead. After the first hitter reached on an error, Maddon unbelievably went to the bullpen again. “Did this guy learn nothing from Game 5,” I said to myself….

Then, with two runners on and no outs, Dustin Pedroia got a meatball right over the center of the plate and missed it by an inch. It should have been a three-run homer, but instead was a towering fly ball to left….

Maddon got incredibly lucky on that swing….

In the end, it was David Price who was the hero and the Rays are in the World Series….

I hear five Fox television executives just hanged themselves….

A few weeks ago, USC fans were in mourning over a Thursday night loss to Oregon St., believing the season was over. On the AM 830 airwaves, caller after caller talked about the “disaster” and all that was left was “playing for the Rose Bowl.”….

Well, just a few weeks later, the top rated teams are falling and Troy is in the thick of the National Championship hunt….

On Saturday, the #1, #2 and #3 ranked teams all lost, moving the Trojans up to #6 and in excellent position….

In Gainesville, Tim Tebow and the Gators blew out LSU, 51-21, showing once again the superiority of the SEC….

In Columbia, Missouri was shocked by Oklahoma St, 28-23, damaging Chase Daniel’s Heisman hopes….

And in Dallas, #1 Oklahoma fell apart late and lost to Texas, 45-35….

As usual, college football is a crap shoot, with everything changing dramatically from week to week….

Even though USC’s offense did not play well in their 28-0 shutout of Arizona St, the defense was dominant and completely shut down the Sun Devils. Looking at the Trojans schedule, it seems unlikely they’ll lose. Of course, that’s what everyone was saying before their recent trip to Corvalis….

As for UCLA, they looked okay in their 31-24 loss at Oregon, but for the second time in two weeks their head coach screwed up royally and cost them a chance to win….

Two weeks ago, against Fresno St, the Bruins stopped the Bulldogs on a third-and-12, setting up a mid range field goal attempt. There was a holding penalty against Fresno on the play, but of course the Bruins would decline and hold the Bulldogs to three points….

Incredibly, Rick Neuheisel accepted the penalty and Fresno threw a TD pass on the next play; which turned out to be the difference in another Bruin loss….

On Saturday, it was incompetent clock management by Neuheisel which cost the Bruins dearly….

On UCLA’s first possession, they faced a third-and-1 on their own 40. Unbelievably, Neuheisel called a time out to challenge the spot on the previous play, which cost him dearly at the end of the half. He lost the challenge, of course, and also the precious time out….

With around three minutes left in the half and UCLA facing a third-and-4 at the Oregon 38, they allowed the play clock to run out, costing them five yards. After the penalty, it was again chaos on the sidelines and the play clock was under five seconds as the Bruins broke the huddle. QB Kevin Craft then wasted another time out and it was mass confusion….

UCLA then had to punt….

With less than a minute left, the Bruins were inside their own 10 and in trouble. Oregon had only two time outs, and used both of them on the possession, stopping the clock. UCLA then shockingly threw an incomplete pass, stopping the clock and giving the Ducks time after a UCLA punt….

Sure enough, Oregon threw a TD pass just before the half ended and it was 14-0 at halftime….

But Neuheisel wasn’t threw with the stupidity….

With 2:36 left, UCLA kicked a field goal, cutting the lead to 24-17. With two time outs left, surely UCLA would attempt an onside kick, wouldn’t they? It seemed like a no brainer, because one first down for Oregon and the game is over….

Once again, stupidity reigned and Neuheisel kicked deep….

On the Ducks first play, LeGarrette Blount ran 69 yards for a TD, putting the game away….

Wow, what a comedy of errors by UCLA’s coach….

As I pen this column, Brooklyn has already closed out the Cubs in three straight and advanced to the National League Championship Series. Yes, this is bad news for fans of Los Angeles baseball and a dark day for local sports, but also comes as no suprise; because I predicted this the day the Squatters received the gift of Manny Ramirez….

Imagine it’s July and you are Brooklyn GM Ned Colletti. Your team is fading into oblivion, fans are staying away and every move you’ve made has been an unmitigated disaster. Then, while going over the employment ads, the phone rings and it’s superagent Scott Boras, requesting a few minutes of your time to talk about Manny….

Here’s how the conversation might have gone:

Boras: “Hello, Ned, it’s Scott Boras.”

Colletti: “Hi, Scott.”

Boras: “So what are you doing?”

Colletti: “Just putting my stuff into boxes and looking for my next job. Andruw Jones, Esteban Loiza and Jason Schmidt just haven’t worked out.”

Boras: “Hold on, Ned, I might have something for you. The trade with the Marlins just fell through and Manny is now available. Would there be any interest on your end?”

Colletti: “Are you kidding? I’m going to get fired in less than a week! How can we make this happen?”

Boras: “Let me call Theo Epstein and get back to you.”

A few minutes later the phone rings and it’s the superagent….

Colletti: “Hello.”

Boras: “Okay, here’s the deal, Ned. The situation in Boston is so bad they want Manny out of there by any means necessary. They’re willing to take two minor league scrubs AND pay Manny’s full salary just to get rid of him.”

There is now a minute of silence as Colletti picks himself off the floor….

Boras: “Ned! Ned! Are you okay? I thought I heard something crash onto the floor and you were not responding.”

Colletti: “I’m okay, Scott. Just had a bad connection, I guess. So you say we can get Ramirez without giving up any players AND Boston will pay his full salary?”

Boras: “That’s right, Ned, do we have a deal?”

Colletti: (In full Beavis and Butthead mode) “Uh, huh, huh, huh. Yes!”

And thus an Executive of the Year was born….

In the meantime, the Angels are down 0-2 and on the verge of yet another sweep at the hands of the Red Sox….

I’m thinking about not watching Game 3 and saving myself the torture of seeing Los Angeles get eliminated while Brooklyn moves on….

Because if that happens, I’m going to walk onto the freeway and throw myself in front of cars until I successfully kill myself….

I’ve been watching baseball for over 30 years and thought I’d seen everything, but the Manny Ramirez deal tops everything….

I have never seen one player, in any sport, single handedly turn around a team, a franchise and an entire fan base. Brooklyn was a team on life support before Manny Mania, but now are on the verge of (gulp) winning the World Series….

And all because Ned Colletti happened to be sitting by his phone when Boras called….

If only I could have such luck….