Wake-up call: Scott Linehan (fired), Ed Hochuli, Chicago Cubs, Nomar Garciaparra

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First things first: Did the St. Louis fans (above) know something? This morning, the Rams fired Scott Linehan (seen at right) as head coach after the team’s fourth straight loss. Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett will take over on an interim basis. Linehan, with an overall 11-25 record, was not expected to last long after losing 31-14 Sunday to the Buffalo Bills. Now the only question is this: Is the Raiders’ Lane Kiffin next?

More NFL: Ed Hochuli. Remember the name? Think back a few weeks ago, when the Denver Broncos beat the San Diego Chargers. Yes, the same Ed Hochuli whose blown calls allowed Denver to come back and win was at the center of another questionable call. On Sunday, it was the Carolina Panthers’ turn to suffer at the hands of Hochuli, when he called Julius Peppers for roughing the passer. That negated the Panthers’ interception return for a touchdown. Replays show Peppers made contact as Ryan released the ball, and appeared to hit him first with his shoulder, not his helmet -- as Hochuli thought. To refresh your memory, here is a rundown of what happened with the Chargers, which still angers San Diego fans:

On to baseball: How crazy are Chicago Cubs fans? The playoff-bound Cubbies have scheduled an outdoor City Hall rally for Tuesday at noon. That’s a good kind of crazy. Actor Jim Belushi, a lifelong fan, will be the master of ceremonies. And, of course, the great former third baseman Ron Santo will be there. Will the Chicago Tribune stream it live? The fans here in L.A. would love it. But why do Cubs fans get their hopes up like this? And seeing the Tribune’s Phil Rogers’ playoff team rankings, oh, brother. He puts the Angels seventh. Seventh? Wow. And the Dodgers are fourth. Oh, and the Cubs? First. But he doesn’t rank them according to his own whim. It is a statistical analysis. Yeah, that counts a lot with the Cubbies. Two words. Steve Bartman.

Now for the Dodgers: Getting local boy (he was born in Whittier) Nomar Garciaparra back and hitting so well and seeing Rafael Furcal back at shortstop could be the difference against the Cubs when the series begins Wednesday.

Who cares about statistical analysis and how the Dodgers are 0-3 at Wrigley. It’s all out the window when the playoffs start. Plus, we have Manny Ramirez. And Joe Torre. Even the Dodgers are thinking that way about Wrigley.

Even their 3-1 loss to the Giants won’t matter. Besides, Joe Torre didn’t manage Sunday, giving the last game of the season over, as is his custom, to a veteran on the team. Nomar was the guy picked. He is better at batting right now, eh, Nomar?

Nomar had the talented pinch-hitting expert Mark Sweeney as his bench coach. I have a feeling that Sweeney will play a key role in the Cubs series.

By the way, Cubs fans (if you read this far), if all goes right, we’ll have our own Diane Pucin (one of the lifelong Cubs fans) captured on video in the next day or two talking about how she deals with the team’s past playoff performances. And she remembers them all.

-- Debbie Goffa

Photo at top: St. Louis Rams fans have a little fun at the expense of Coach Scott Linehan during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills. Credit: Tom Gannam / Associated Press

Top inset: Coach Scott Linehan. Credit: Tom Gannam / Associated Press

Photo at bottom left: Nomar Garciaparra touches up at home plate with Manny Ramirez after hitting a three-run home run against the San Diego Padres last week. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times