I’m trying to put out a decent piece for today, but if it doesn’t happen, who cares? I have another column on Sunday. It’s not like it’s the end of the world or something.

That said, I’m cutting Manny Ramirez some slack.

Yes, Boston pitchers have to glance out to left field before each batter just to make sure he hasn’t ducked into the Little Green Monster’s room. Yes, posing for solo home runs when his team is down five runs in a playoff game is like double-dipping in the buffet line. Yes, he barely talks to the media — and proved why that’s an extremely good idea on Wednesday.

But if it wasn’t for Ramirez in 2004, we’d still be reading all about “The Curse of the Babe,” enduring more HBO specials featuring the whining of Dennis Leary, Stephen King and Ben Affleck and we’d know how “Fever Pitch” was supposed to end.

For sparing me all of that, I’ll allow Manny to be Manny.

Embarrassment of riches

Dennis Erickson has been quick to compliment Dirk Koetter for the talent he left behind at ASU. But we’re not sure if the new offensive coordinator of the improving Jacksonville Jaguars is happy to see that the Sun Devils haven’t lost since he left.

We do know one thing: Dirk is happy that he got a fat $2.85 million buyout on his way out the door. And it’s allowed him to relax and enjoy his life and new job.

“I wish I wasn’t fired, but I did get fired and (ASU) did have to pay me a lot of money, so I’m coaching football because I like coaching football,” Koetter told the Florida Times-Union Thursday. “I might not coach anywhere. That’s just it. I don’t have to worry about that stuff anymore. …

“I met a guy one time where his wife’s parents dies, and he inherited a lot of money, and he called me up and said, ‘Man, it’s unbelievable how your life changes when you’re not motivated by money.’ ”

So ASU is 7-0, and Koetter is financially set. Everyone is happy. How sweet.

Prediction Time

Another 2-1 week ruined by main-lining the Cardinal Kool-Aid leaves us 12-6 for the season and needing a pick-me-up, The Sun Devils are idle (and given Ryan Torain’s status, in mourning), so we’ll pick another game out of the college hat:

• Stanford 24, Arizona 16: Personally, I think ASU’s bye week is more interesting than this 2-4 vs. 2-5 matchup. The Wildcats played USC close, but the Cardinal beat them. And Stanford might still be fool enough to think its season isn’t over yet. Mike Stoops must be watching the Bill Callahan situation in Nebraska closely, because he’s next.

• Colorado 26, Kansas 14: Here’s an upset special. The ranks of the unbeaten become even more depleted.

The Jayhawks have had a nice run, but the Buffs are on a roll and they beat Oklahoma in Boulder — where they have beaten KU five straight times.

• Redskins 21, Cardinals 13: Anquan Boldin is back but if someone named “Tim” is throwing the football, winning a road game at FedEx Field is a tall order. Something tells me we’ll see Kurt Warner at some point Sunday, but the Redskins defense has been impressive.

The Big Red can’t count on Seattle losing again this week (at home against winless St. Louis), so that share of the NFC West lead will be lost as well.

Quick hitters

• What an inglorious end to Joe Torre’s classy run in the Bronx. The Yankees didn’t have the guts to fire a popular and successful manager, so they make an untenable offer (less money, no security) knowing Torre couldn’t and wouldn’t accept it. If this is an example of how business will be run in the post-George Steinbrenner era, the Bombers may be headed toward another decade of irrelevance.

• Here is how ESPN’s John Hollinger sees the order of finish for playoff teams in the NBA’s Western Conference this year: Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Phoenix, Denver, Utah, L.A. Lakers and New Orleans.

The Suns would surely take that — having to beat (if seeds hold) the Nuggets, Rockets and either the Spurs or Mavs would represent the smoothest possible path out of a brutal bracket.

• Coach Bob Hartley was fired after the Atlanta Thrashers got off to a horrible 0-6-0 start. He was replaced by general manager Don Waddell, who has now hired three coaches since 1999 and has zero playoff wins to show for it.

So why does Waddell have two jobs today — instead of none?