BOSTON — Joe Maddon's lived through one of, if not the, worst collapse in baseball history. He was on the coaching staff for the 1995 California Angels, who blew a 13-game lead over the Seattle Mariners before losing a one-game playoff.
Now, as manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, he’s on the other end of things, just hoping to pull off a similar comeback on the Red Sox.
"I lived it, we had a 13-game lead [on the Mariners] at one point," Maddon said. "We were killing everybody, I mean annihilating everybody … It was unbelievable. Then, [Gary] Disarcina slides into second, messes up his thumb, everything falls apart.
"Believe me, man, it was awful. It was awful. So, why can't it happen again to somebody else?"
Maddon's Rays trailed Boston by nine games in the loss column as late as Sept. 3. Although they just dropped two of three in Baltimore, they are presented with a great opportunity this weekend in Fenway Park, where a sweep would leave the two teams tied with 10 games to play.
The Tampa Bay skipper said he has sensed a belief build in his team as the deficit has shrunk. That belief has turned into excitement and energy for the four games in Boston.
"They’re ready to roll," he said of his players. "We're happy to be up here. It's head-to-head and these games are significant. This should bring out the best in all of us so I’m eager to see how our guys handle this moment. I feel good about [starter Jeremy Hellickson] tonight. We did a good job against the Red Sox a week ago."
One of the key players in Maddon's mind may be one of his least experienced. Rookie Desmond Jennings, who enters the series with nine home runs and 15 steals in just 49 games, is not only the team's catalyst in the leadoff spot, but also reminds Maddon of one of the central figures in that 1995 American League West race.
"You know what the Mariners did? They got Vince Coleman, and that made all the difference in the world," he said before smiling and leading the media contingent to think of Jennings. "Leadoff hitter, left fielder."
In the end, it all comes down to the proper mindset, and Maddon has stressed that since spring training for a team that was not expected to contend and written off by some as recently as two weeks ago.
"You either believe or you don't believe, and if you don't believe I don't think you come out with the same attitude," he said. "I’m not of that ilk. I'm always believing. There's two ways to do it, and that other way is not acceptable."
