Sez Me …
There is no word in sports more harsh than “choking.”
It means you’ve come up empty, failed when it matters most. But it’s also hard to prove. Everyone has bad days. Especially in baseball, where the best is who failed the least.
But, when it is a cumulative effort, when enough olives have been swallowed to make Lindsay shake more trees, you have to consider the possibility not everything was easily swallowed.
So the question must be asked: Did the Padres choke away their NLDS series to the stinking Dodgers, spit the bit when it appeared they were riding a great racehorse against claimers?
I think they gagged. It began here with Chargering, when choking took place as often as bodily functions. And now, I hate to say it, Padreing. Throw our pro sports teams in with local government, and it’s San Diegoing.
There is no other way to look at it. Leading the Bums two games to one in their best-of-five series, they collapsed like a ruined souffle. The last two games — both in which their hitters did squat and were shut out — they went an astonishing 24 consecutive innings without scoring against a depleted staff. And in the 2-0 finale, the last 19 batters Dylan Thomased, going gentle into that good night.
I realize how hard it is to hit a baseball. But these are professionals, good players who are supposed to thrive on pressure. They stunk. A few didn’t show up. It was beyond stink. It was “Seinfeld” car B.O.
You do not get shut out back-to-back by bullpens.
The pitching was good enough, but allow me to again quote my dad: “You can’t win if you don’t score.” This was a case study in batting ineptitude. And this was a club that led baseball in batting average and fewest strikeouts, which means plate discipline.
Losing starter Joe Musgrove to Tommy John surgery just prior to this series hurt, no question. While Joe doesn’t hit — although, who knows? — maybe he could have helped an offense with tremendous streaks of inadequacy.
I thought manager Mike Shildt did about as much as he could (I believe he had to start Dylan Cease), but I’ll forever think Game 1 would have been his had he walked Shohei Ohtani with two out, first base open, and runners on second and third. Granted, Mookie Betts was next up, but at that time, Mookie couldn’t hit a baseball with a Sequoia.
This was their best team and L.A.’s slip was showing. It was the ideal chance to give what has become a great baseball town its first major sports championship.
The San Diego Curse? I am not qualified to answer that, but it might be a good idea for Sheel Seidler to bring in an exorcist. …
If you don’t believe there is a Padres-Dodgers rivalry, you either are an L.A. fan who throws objects onto the field, or an idiot, which, come to think of it, is the same thing. …
Dave Roberts is the son of a Marine. He quarterbacked the great Rancho Buena Vista High School team. He’s the most beloved figure in Boston since Paul Revere. So going all Big Baby over the Manny Machado dugout lob doesn’t fit his profile. Can’t kid a kidder, Dave. Bad try. …
There’s never been a great defensive baseball player who didn’t make errors. Willie Mays made 139. It’s what happens when you get to balls mere mortals can’t get to. Willie had more putouts than any center fielder in history. …
There were more than 27,000 missed balls and strikes by umps in 2024. I’m proud to say I saw 29,000 of them. …
If you’re among those still concerned about Caleb Williams, check out last week’s Bears-Panthers highlights. The last time Chicago scored 36 points, Mrs. O’Leary’s cow became so excited during milking she kicked over the lantern. …
I know the world has gone mad, but I can’t understand how any fan can cheer on a player who beat up a woman, an idiot who has no business earning two bits in the NFL. To me, it’s sickening. …
Meanwhile, Baltimore police have arrested Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers, charging him with assault (on a woman), assault with a deadly weapon, strangulation, and possession of a class B substance believed to be cocaine. The NFL may be touting him for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. …
Meanwhile, speaking of problem “adults,” Deshaun Watson has settled more lawsuits (24) than he has thrown touchdown es (19) since he’s been wasting the Browns’ money. …
Meanwhile, Georgia receiver Colbie Young has been arrested on a misdemeanor charge of battery and assault on an unborn child. The Bulldogs are the Chiefs of the NFL. …
Meanwhile, Bills back James Cook reportedly is under investigation by Buffalo police for allegedly running out on an $860 nightclub tab. Wait. Pro athletes pay for something in their hometowns? He couldn’t have known. …
Robert Saleh will get $19,000 a day from the Jets for the next two years. Can he get unemployment? …
A coach gets canned and gets escorted out of the building? That embarrassment happened to Saleh, and the only time he was considered dangerous was when he suggested play calls. …
Jets owner Woody Johnson bounced Saleh without bothering to consult GM Joe Douglas. Now there’s a sign of a horrible organization. …
Everybody complained when Aaron Rodgers went to Egypt and missed minicamp. But you didn’t hear a word out of one Egyptian when Pharaoh Cheops left for a Manhattan romp during the building of the Great Pyramid. …
So NFL New York reviewers don’t have the camera angles a network has? Why not? How hard is it for these people to see what we’re seeing? …
The NFL may play a game in Abu Dhabi. Guess The League doesn’t know we have an extradition deal with UAE. …
Why can Patrick Mahomes get away with flashing the outlawed gun sign? Gee, I don’t know. …
If Al Luginbill were coaching these Aztecs vs. Wyoming: “There’s no room for trickery in college football.” …
RIP, Luis Tiant. He was good. He was totally unique. He could throw a baseball from the back of his neck. Dizzy Dean called him “Taint.” …
Congratulations to colleague/friend Jim Trotter for forcing the NFL to settle out of court on the racial issue he brought up to Roger Goodell (and got Jim fired from NFL Media). No chance (none, zero) The League wanted a trial held in a laundromat, where all its filthy wash might be exposed. …
Memo to Bicycle Mayor/Ham & Eggers: ed a pothole on Pacific Highway just north of the Versailles of rental car buildings, and it’s temporarily being used as a Halloween store. …
Why should I — or anyone — care who an NFL kicker endorses for president? …
Men and women have explored a mere 23 percent of our oceans. Good news. Only 73 percent left to pollute. …
We are dumb enough without a national election, when seemingly the average grade completed in school is “what is school?” …
Last week, feeling warm, I went outside, waved my arms, and got the marine layer to come in early.
