Normally, when the Cardinals are playing postseason baseball, my routine is to watch the game in my basement, on my nice high-def TV, alone.
ALONE!!
But Friday night I made a change in my routine. I went out to Sidepockets, where I like to hang out occasionally, and watched the game with friends. It wasn’t easy. I tried to carry on civil conversations as the Cardinals fell behind 3-0 in the first inning. I attempted to smile and show genuine interest in others as the Cardinals trailed 4-2 and 6-4.
I attempted not to make it all about me and my frayed nerves. I listened to my friends talk about their lives, pretending to care. Wait, did I just say that?
Anyway, as the night wore on and the excruciating game went into the late innings, it was all I could do to keep myself propped up. Then the real jolts _ a Scott Spiezio two-run double and, to lead off the ninth, a go-ahead solo homerun by So Taguchi, a former Japanese League player who weighs about 110 pounds.
As Taguchi’s shot left Shea Stadium, I let out a wail that stopped all activity inside the walls of Sidepockets. People looked at me with fear and apprehension as I screamed, then screamed again. It was a great night, given that the Cardinals won the game. And I’ll be back at Sidepockets to watch more.