E.K. NATION

So where would this one rank on ESPN's 100 Greatest Home Runs of All-Time?

I've already been hearing people calling for Grady Little's head for not taking Pedro out of there before the eighth, but I have to say that even when tired, Pedro is still the best Red Sox pitcher. Let him go out there and give whatever he has left. Because the baseball gods know that if he had lifted Pedro and put in whoever, Timlin or Wakefield or Williamson, and they would have given up the lead, Little would have been hearing it then too. So he can't win. People got on Dusty Baker's case for taking Russ Ortiz out early, then castigated him for leaving Mark Prior in too long. People, make up your freakin' minds already. You have the advantage of hindsight. The managers don't.

To his credit, here is what Pedro Martinez said about the loss in a clip shown on ESPN last night:

There's no reason to blame Grady. Grady doesn't play the game. We did. I did. If anybody wants to look at somebody and point a finger, they can point it at me. Because I was the one pitching, I was the one that gave up the lead. You know what, if you want to judge me for that or curse me or do whatever, I'll swallow that. Because I was out there and I was responsible for the pitches I make and the decisions I make in the middle of the game.

I note here that both the Cubs and Red Sox were five outs away from advancing to the World Series, and neither one of those teams made it. I don't believe in curses, but you know, it makes you think.

So now we reset, and get ready for the World Series between the Florida Marlins and the New York Yankees. The upstart wild-card team against The Evil Empire. Should be a dandy, and I can't wait for Game 1.