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Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Just Shut UPPPP!!!!!

I did it - I jinxed them.

Never again will I remark on the Phillies until after they've won the World Series.

But at least other people have fallen into the Rockies buzz-saw.

Does that make us feel better?

Monday, October 01, 2007

Now it can be told...

It's pathetic how superstitious and, let's face it, pessimistic I am when it comes to baseball.

I mean, I'm a mature woman, with two degrees, and I hold a responsible position in the community. I've raised to children to responsible adulthood, I pay all my bills on time, and I keep a fairly respectable home (don't look too closely).

But when it comes to the Phillies, I'm completely irrational. The evidence is insurmountable.

Exhibit A: After last Wednesday's win over Atlanta, I went on line and bought tickets for Thursday's game. We arrived and I started getting nervous. Even when the scoreboard showed 6-0, I was a wreck. When it went to 6-3, I started with the nervous twitches and incipient nausea. I literally could not stay in my seat for the top of the ninth. I retreated to the concourse, saw Brett Myers serve up a Jeff Francouer homer and felt myself hyperventilate. I paced...I stole glances at the TV monitor and surreptitiously peeked between security guards to see Myers on the mound (to the left of the guards) and the batter (to the right of the guards). With a man on and the tying run at the plate, I was filled with dark thoughts. But Myers struck out the last man and the game was in hand. We already knew the Mets had lost, so that meant that, for the first time all season - for the first time since April of 2005 - the Phillies owned a share of first place. I finally breathed.

Friday night I had to work selling tickets to the high school football game, and when I got in the car, it was still 0-0, with Cole Hamels doing his best Steve Carlton impression. They won the game, the Mets lost, and we were in sole possession of first.

Saturday afternoon, I "watched" the Mets game - and my little animated guy on the computer kept showing me three up and three down (I didn't catch that Dan Uggla walked and then was out on a double play. I thought John Maine was throwing a perfect game). Then our game started and Adam Eaton gave up a run in the first inning. I was morose. I was ill-humored. I was pretty much a dark cloud wandering around the house.

Sunday, I went to church, then to school to do a little work, mostly to keep my mind occupied. I got in the car, timing it so I would be home in time for the first pitch, vaguely remembering that the Mets game would start a half hour earlier. I listened to the announcers kind of go through scenarios for the post season, weaving in the Padres/Rockies possibilities, and they said something about "if the Phillies were to lose today, they'd have a one-game playoff tomorrow." I thought, "Wait a minute! They're ignoring the possibility of a Phils loss and Mets win. Finally, I hear, just as I pull into my driveway, that Tom Glavine gave up 7 runs in the top of the first and was now out of the game. Did I hear right? I ran into the house and the information was confirmed. The fans were berserk from the first pitch on and it was actually kind of fun to monitor the Mets game on the computer as I watched the Phillies - my biggest hope was that the Mets would finish first so that when we won, it would be officially time to celebrate.

I watched a bit of the post-game fun, but left for a family thing, euphoric on my half-hour trip. The buzz hasn't left yet. And, while I'm sure I won't feel this way for long, I'm so happy I wouldn't be THAT upset if they lost in the first round. No, that's wrong. I wouldn't be THAT upset if they lost in the NLCS. The World Series?

Hey, if you're going to give up your superstitiousness and pessimism, why not go all the way? After all, the only time the Phillies won the World Series, my first-born child was nearing his first birthday. This year, my first-born grandchild is nearing HER first birthday. Karma? Perhaps. It's just plain fun right now.