Superstition

Baseball is brimming with superstition.  The Curse of the Bambino. The Curse of the Billy Goat.  Hitting slump?  Wear your socks high.  Hitting streak?  Follow the same pre-game ritual.  Yes, in baseball they're called rituals.  In all the years I was lucky enough to see him pitch, I never saw Greg Maddux step on a foul line on his way back to the dugout.  Craig Kimbrel wouldn't give the Hall of Fame his cap when he broke the rookie saves record this season.  He gave them his spikes.  But the cap?  No, he'd been wearing that cap all season long and well...

So then it makes sense, being that I'm a baseball fan, that I'm a bit superstitious too.  A few years ago I was having a conversation with my boss.  I made the comment that I didn't want to jinx something.  He shook his head and said to me, "You baseball people, jeez."  This past season, an opposing pitcher (I can't remember who) was no-hitting the Braves.  I called a friend who was at the game and told her to switch seats with whoever she was with.  They did.  No hitter gone.  It sounds crazy, but it worked.

Last night I was watching the Rangers/Tigers game.  The Rangers were up 2 games to none.  The series was back in Detroit and I'm thinking about all my Tiger-loving family members in Michigan.  They're probably getting a little bit nervous at this point.  No one wants to be down 0-3  They're all great fans and I feel their anxiety.  The Rangers are up 1-0  early in the game when I go into the kitchen for a glass of sweet tea.  I return, the game is 1-1.  I'm not sure what happened as I can't hear the tv from the kitchen.  An inning or so later, I go back into the kitchen for a snack.  Upon my quick return it's 2-1 Tigers.  Now, while I'm watching the game, the Tigers look ok, but not great.  They're pretty banged up and there's no disguising it.  A little bit later I need a refill.  I swear, when I return to the living room, 3-1 Tigers.  At this point I know what I have to do for my family.  I change the channel.

"Parenthood".  It's a cute show with a good cast.  I'm sure a lot people can relate to it.  But I'm still curious about the game.  10:19 I flip over to check the score.  4-1 Tigers.  10:28 I check back.  5-1 Tigers.  The final score ended up being 5-2.  I'm not saying the win was because of me, but I did what I could for my family.

Now, my concern is about my family and friends in Texas.  What happens when they read this?  As Ricky would say, I might have some splainin' to do...