Complete this sentence

You know you're in a pennant race when __________

The Rays are on the verge of making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. How is that intruding in your life?

Back in my elementary-school days, when my favorite team often played afternoon games, my mates and I dodged nuns and risked corporal punishment by bringing a transistor radio to class.

It's so much easier now.

So, here's how I fill in the blank.

At a dinner party Tuesday night, I discreetly (or so I thought) went to my Blackberry to check the Red Sox-Rays score.

1-1 in the 9th inning?!? Oh, man. I set the auto refresh for every 15 seconds.

Rays pitcher J.P. Howell got the first two outs, then the next two Sox reached base.

I wonder what my facial contortions looked like at this point. And when new pitcher Dan Wheeler got two strikes on Jed Lowrie, I became a bad ventriloquist, not-so-silently mouthing "Get 'im. Get 'im."

An agonizing number of auto-refreshes later, Wheeler got his man.

The Rays loaded the bases in the bottom of the 9th while we were in the elevator. As I opened the lobby door to the street for my wife and two friends, the Blackberry said Rays 2, Red Sox 1.

I reached for my wife's hand as we walked to the car and wondered, "How are my Phillies doing?"

So, what's your story?

You know you're in a pennant race when __________

September baseball: Game-winning hits, Mohawk haircuts and shaving-cream pies. [James Borchuck | Times]

 

Comments

DONT'T LET THE RED SOX SCORE ANY MORE NOW TO THE ST.PETERSBURG TIMES DON'T MAKE THEM GO THE WROLD SERIES

[Times editor]

Thanks for the great feedback. Magic number: 3. Maybe the next post will be "You know you're a division champ when . . . " Enjoy the games.

[krd2]

when I am changing the channel in my patient's room (he's sedated).

when I sneak away to fold clothes because the only TV without drivel is there.

when the first order of business is getting over a loss #@%$^^*&*&&^%$!!!

[wwtfws08]

... when you read 113 comments on a blog entry, and then provide four of your own.

[David]

When you hate every other sports seson that starts, interfering with you're constant checks on ESPN 1&2. It seems every game is shown but yours then when you switch for just a second the Rays have already been shown.You'll watch Sports Center waiting for the updates & Baseball tonight & get cussing mad when you miss it after a great win !

When you bleed Pewter & Red, fiend for Buc Ball all winter long but don't even follow spring training & pre-season. While watching the game yelling & screaming at every up & down moment you can't wait to see an update.

[wwtfws08]

... when you start coming up with phrases that you'll write on posters that you'll bring to world series games, such as ... "CindeRAYlla's not losing the slipper tonight"; "Call the team whatever you want -- just keep winning"; (if we play the Cubs) "We may not be lovable, but we're no longer losers either"; and, of course, "Maddon for president '08!"

[wwtfws08]

... when the exact same scenario described in the post about refreshing your cell every 15 seconds happens, and just as the bases get loaded in the bottom of the ninth, your brother's girlfriend calls to discuss your upcoming cross-country trip to tampa, and you instruct her to find the radio station in her car to give you the info about what happened, only to worry that you're frustrating her because there's a commercial, and you thank her for her patience, and she says, "screw that, i wanna know the score, too."

[wwtfws08]

... when you buy a $200 plane ticket from L.A. to Tampa (for Oct. 18-28) the night that the Rays got beat 13-5 because you have faith that they'll be in the series, and you're willing to buy a ticket now to guarantee you'll be there when they do.

[wwtfws08]

... when random office co-workers in california come up to you and say "good job last night" after another win (90, baby!), because they've caught the fever, too.

[meg]

when ... you are happy you are unemployed so you can stay up late to watch the extra innings games, are home to watch the daytime games and you can be first at the contests to win free tickets. Go Rays!

[tim]

You know you're in a pennant race when Stuart Sternberg starts using $100 bills for his jag-rags.

[rayalan]

I have to add my two cents here since so many of the posts apply to what I have been going through these past months.

You know your in a pennant race when.......
Hearing from and talking to my grown son who lives out of town more in the last couple of months than the last couple of years.
My wife watching Rays game instead of her "soaps" and asking what channel the Rays game is on so she can watch it in the back when folding clothes.
Like leaving my business early so I can get to the games.
Like using my cell phone with medianet to get pitch by pitch accounts of game when I am out of the country or state and cannot get to a tv.
Like being really upset when ESPN is not covering baseball and more particularly the Rays
Like visitng every possible website to read as much as I can about my team.
This is so much more fun than following any other sport. The daily ups and downs, the "drama" played out before our very eyes on the field or on our big screen tvs.

Like getting the morning paer the first thing in the morning even though you have already read the articles on the web after midnight before. Like listening to sports talk radio and having to listen to a lot of drivel when a caller mentions something other than the Rays.

I could go on forever but you get my drift. I am having the sports time of my life this season and this pennant race. Thank you so much, to the entire RAYS ORGANIZATION!!!!!!!!!!!

[MARY]

...when you're not wondering how Tiger's doing!

[John]

For M it's John If I were in Fl I would be watching live but I am in VA and I am not on the bandwagon. I was born and raised in St. Pete. Trust me if they are on National TV it is on in my household. I know that was in fun so I'm not getting defensive just wish I ws there to be enjoying the good times Go Rays.

[mike]

....when you consistantly stay up past your usual 9 p.m. bed time because you HAVE to watch the Rays.

[jim]

....when your breakfast buddies on your annual trip to Block Island don't razz you for wearing your TB hat.

[Rays Renegade]

You know you are in a pennant race.........when that diehard Yankees fan shows up in Rays Blue and White

[Rays Renegade]

You know you are a pennant race...when all the cows in Brooksville and Winter Haven are missing their cowbells.

[Helene]

....and the wine apparently makes you forget the difference between "your" and "you're."

[Helene]

Got another one...

...When you're team's quickly up 8-2, and 1) you're still on the edge of your seat the whole game, and 2) after it's ended, you realize you've gone through almost a whole bottle of wine. ;)

[Michael]

You know your in a penant race when you go around Tampa/ St.Pete/ Clearwater, and actually see people wearing Rays gear!

[LoriO]

....when commercial breaks from the game are spent trolling the mlb extra innings package to see the scores of the other contenders...hoping and praying that the Red Sox are getting crushed, and that the Twins and Yankees are self destructing.

[Mike C]

..when you lol while your sweety talks quasi-romantic banter when "her boy" Evan comes to bat.

..when you call your folks and hear the ballgame in the background.

..when you swear off baseball for the week after a blundered toss to 2nd to miss a possible 2play, then find a "new attitude" so you can catch the next game.

..when in the bottom of the 9th praying "Lord, I know this sounds silly but..."

[Evan]

... When you're heading for a business trip to Ireland but rig up your laptop in the Crown Room so you can listen to Game 2 of last week's series at Fenway before the flight departs...

...Then gnash your teeth when your flight is called in the 8th inning...

...Then rejoice when your BlackBerry informs you upon landing that the Rays won...

...Then stay up late, despite jetlag and a 5 hour time difference, in Ireland to listen to game 3 (fortunately falling asleep long before the dramatic 14th inning conclusion in order to be functional in meetings the next morning)...

Go Rays!!!

[Nate Dogg]

You know you're in a pennant race when... you skip class to watch the game

...and you have an exam that class!

[Helene]

When your husband has to dictate to you what's happening when the Rays' closer is on the mound, because you're so nervous you can't stand to watch.

[D.G.]

When you actually can recognize the voices of different players since you see the games through the post-game interviews. (and someone else keeps becoming a hero on this TEAM every night!).

It occurs to you that a lot of people have glasses like Joe Maddon.

[jeff]

WE'RE GOING TO BALTIMORE FOR THE GAME WEDNESDAY AND THEN ON TO DETROIT FOR THREE MORE - GO RAYS!!!

[King Gator]

When your friends call you during the day to discuss this blog, it's posts and the majic # for both the wildcard adn the division title.

[Lucia]

...when your kid wants a Rays jersey instead of a Bucs jersey this month.

[Mark]

You know you're in a pennant race when your mood for the entire day hinges on whether or not the Magic Number went down the previous night.

[Terri]

When you start to wonder what are you going to do after October...no Rays?? I hsven't missed a game yet, if they were home and not televised, I went. I keep the other games with other teams that matter, open on my computer during the Rays games and check constantly...when you see someone you dont even know out in public with a Rays shirt on and can describe every play from the game the night before. I love this

[yes]

Unamed source at 3:36:

Way to take one for the team. I think Longo was wearing that same garter on the way to New York for rookie hazing.

[ron]

Unamed source at 3:36: "Oh, my."

[mariano]

Following every single pitch on ESPN.com MLB scoreboard

[Michael]

-When you find yourself jumping up and down like a little kid along with the boys on the field when they have a walkoff like Tuesday's.
-When you become best friends with new neighbors after going to multiple games together.
-When you think about the Rays all day and what a wonderful bunch of guys they are and what a great team we have here!

[chris]

You moved to California for the last 3 years and still find yourself glued to your laptop from 4-7pm (Pacific Time)(MLB TV since there is almost no national Rays coverage) when you should be working...

[gg]

When you (a girl) subscribe to mlb.tv because you live up north and need to watch every game. You also haven't learned a thing in your law school classes since late August, since you've had the games playing full screen on your laptop. Most significantly, you skip watching Gossip Girl on Monday nights to watch the Rays.

[Mike]

When you are constantly checking ESPN, SI, and other sports related web sites for updates on the team.
When you hate going to midweek games because you're toast the next day at work, but you still go.
When you find yourself jumping up and down in your living room after a game like Tuesday's and you're screaming so loud your dogs go running!

[Niki]

...When the first thing your In-Laws in England mention on the weekly phone call is the latest Rays result.
...When Lighning training camp has started and you read the Rays articles in the newspaper first.
...When you're prepared to fight your way through ill health, financial restrictions and I-275 to catch a game at the Trop.

[Unamed Source's Wife]

What do you mean you are wearing my garter belt?!?!?!?!? No wonder it's stretched out! Oh well, if it helps the Rays, go for it.

[Mike's Property Professor]

When your @#%*! students keep checking their phones for score updates during class.

[Unamed Source]

You know you're in a pennant race when you wear your wife's garter belt during each game thinking that it'll help the Rays win. Remember, the rose goes in front :)

[Mary]

..your husband, who is not a sports fan at all (contact sports) and gets excited everytime the Rays win and gives me an update of the game when I can't watch it.

[joeknowsbaseball]

When Joe Migrane is jealous of the hispanic broadcasters, todd kalas,miss florida, charlie crist and makes a personal commentary on the tax burden that floridians face...all during one Rays telecast...the bus is boarding.

[flyingcircus]

...when you've never before cared about any baseball team, and suddenly you find yourself waiting for the updates on your sorry-assed Disgusta, Ga. newscast.

[Dave]

I 'm with Barbara and the anxiety/xan, you know your in a penant race , when you buy a ticket for anyone at work so you can go.

[Fred]

When it's September and you are trying to figure out who will be on the playoff roster.

When you are trying to figure out if playoff games will conflict with Bucs home games and if so who you can give your bucs tickets to so you can go to the playoff game.

[Brian J]

Having moved to Maine and now walking into work and no one will speak to me.