Nearly two years and two months later, I'm still in shock.  Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, Red Sox leading the Yankees after seven innings in Yankee Stadium.  Red Sox star pitcher Pedro Martinez enters the dugout to high fives, back slaps and applause from his teammates.  Everything Martinez does in the next two minutes indicates he's done for the night, with the Red Sox up 5-2 over their arch-rivals from the Bronx.  And then it happens.

Grady Little doesn't take out Pedro Martinez.  Pedro gets rocked in the 8th inning for three runs, tying the game.  A short time later the Yankees win on Aaron Boone's home-run in extra innings. 

After the game, Little approaches Pedro and thanks him for pitching the 8th inning.  Reportedly, Little tells Pedro he probably won't be back in Boston in 2004. 

He couldn't have been more right.  Not long after, his contract  as Manager of the Boston Red Sox was not renewed, and he was replaced by Terry Francona.  Eleven months later, the Boston Red Sox won the 2004 World Series, ending 86 years of frustration and reducing the inferiority complex of Red Sox fans to Yankees fans.

Little had to wait out the bad vibes for two years, but on Tuesday was named Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.  It would seem all's well that ends well. 

The Dodgers are about to find out that's not necessarily the case.  Sure, the Red Sox won the World Series after Little left, but there is still the belief they could have won it in 2003 if it weren't for him.  Red Sox fans, like myself, still can't watch the replays of that Game 7, still ask themselves why Little left Pedro in and still wonder what would have happened if he'd just taken him out.

Not that I can't let it go or anything.

But I wonder, are the once proud, fallen-on-hard-times Dodgers in for a very painful season?  It's hard enough to stomach a 71-91 record like they had in 2005, especially for a franchise like the Dodgers, which has seen Sandy Koufax, Orel Hershiser and Mike Piazza.  This team won the 1988 World Series.

I guess my question is, what the heck is Tommy Lasorda thinking?  Is he not aware of Little's rep?

Does he not know that Little had been told, again, reportedly, before that ALCS Game 7 that Pedro had a 100-pitch limit, that Little was to pull him no matter what?  Does he not know that order came directly from Red Sox GM Theo Epstein and other Boston management?  And if Lasorda does know this, why would he hire Little?

Look, I'm all for forgiveness and second chances.  But Little began making seriously questionable managerial moves way before Game 7 that season.  In September of that year he left Pedro in too long in another game.  He repeatedly took out his best hitters in questionable situations, taking away strong bats in the line-up for "defensive upgrades" in the field.  Was there really that much of a difference between 2nd Basemen Todd Walker and Damien Jackson? No. 

Grady Little doesn't learn from his mistakes.  He doesn't handle pressure well.  And he has a hard time listening to his superiors.  Which makes him a perfect fit for Detroit or Kansas City, not L.A.

On Tuesday, Little said of the Game 7, "That was in the past the day after the season was over, as far as I'm concerned.  We know where that organization was when we got there, we knew where it was when we left."

He also said that he didn't pay attention to the frustration of Red Sox fans, saying that was just Boston's want to win.

But I've got news for you Grady, it's like that in L.A. too.  The thirst to win baseball championships is strong with the more historic teams, like the Yankees, Red Sox, Reds and...the Dodgers.  Make a managerial mistake in May managing the Devil Rays, no one cares.  Make one in August for the Dodgers and it'll be warmer than usual the next day in L.A, because the press and the fans will fry you.

I'm just wondering what will happen when, if the Dodgers are in the 2006 NLCS against a hated rival-- like the Giants-- and their ace pitcher has gone the limit, will Little replace him?  Or will Little be replaced himself shortly after the Dodgers lose?

For the 2006 L.A. Dodgers, I've got "Little" expectations.  Now for 2007...

 One More Baseball Thought:

The Houston Astros will not be offering Roger Clemens salary arbitration, which basically means that Clemens is done in Houston.  The Astros wouldn't be able to negotiate anything with him until May 1, 2006.  Thus we should assume Clemens is, in fact, going to retire.

Not so fast...There are some factors to rundown why Clemens will be pitching (and for yet another team) in 2006:

1) He'll already be in shape.
Clemens has committed himself to pitching in the World Baseball Classic, which begins in March, for team U.S.  Since this is the inaugural event, it would leave me to believe Clemens will take this seriously and work himself into pitching shape...just like a spring training.

2) He likes money.
It's no secret the Rocket loves dollar signs, and I'm betting that there is someone out there willing to pay him $18-$20 million dollars for one season.  That's basically the range he'd have if he was granted salary arbitration.  And while Clemens loves driving his kids to school in Houston, there's something that tells me one seven month stretch away from home--even if the distance is long--will be an interesting proposition. 

3) He's got Rocket fuel left in the tank.
At 43, he's a physical specimen. He had the lowest ERA in the majors again--with no run support.  He just gets better and better.

As a Red Sox fan, I never thought I'd suggest he come back to Boston, but a one year rotation of Clemens, Curt Schilling (who'll be healthy) and Josh Beckett would, quite frankly, be surreal.  Enough time has passed that the wounds have healed over.  Until Clemens comes to a decision, I'll be sending him copies of Dave Loggins 1974 hit song, "Please Come to Boston".