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Hey, How Did The Red Sox Do? Yes, It's Time To Scoreboard Watch

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 30, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - A couple of weeks ago, there was this big moment, at least for me. I came home late one night after a Rays game and was checking on my 11-year-old, the one and only Conor. He woke up. He asked if the Rays had won. I told him they had, again. I was on my way out of the room and he was on his way back to sleep when I heard his voice.

"How did the Red Sox do?"

It was a first. And it was a cool moment.

It's that time of year, and anyone who cares about these dizzying Rays wants to play scoreboard. It's the sport of kings during pennant races, and among the players are the players themselves. It's new to Rays fans, a long-hidden late-season treasure.

These impossible Rays have their eyes on their own games, but those eyes will wander. At Tropicana Field, it means checking the scoreboard in left field, where out-of-town scores get updated.

Friday night, the Rays opened a series with the Orioles, and the Red Sox were at Fenway Park playing the White Sox. The Yankees and Blue Jays were at Yankee Stadium - as if the Yankees matter. The Twins started later, at Oakland.

And away we went.

Everyone Looks At The Board

Most of them look at the board.

They can talk about just focusing on their own business.

They look.

How did the Red Sox do?

The Rays have a 4 1/2-game lead on the defending world champions.

They look.

Think the Red Sox are looking?

Think they're muttering, "What's going on here?"

Friday, we looked.

The Red Sox led the White Sox early.

The Rays jumped on the Orioles 1-0 in the first.

Rays senior baseball adviser Don Zimmer has been in baseball 60 years. He has played scoreboard for 60 years.

"Anybody who says they don't watch the scoreboard, they're a liar," he said.

Red Sox, still 1-0 in the third, Yankees-Jays - oh, forget the Yankees already.

Rays manager Joe Maddon grew up in Pennsylvania, but his favorite club was the St. Louis Cardinals. He remembers getting scores on the radio as the Cards hunted down the folding Phillies in 1964.

"It was magic, checking the scores, part of life every day," Maddon said. "Sometimes, you'd have to wait until the newspaper in the morning to get a score."

Today, ESPN knocks on your door.

"It was a little more romantic back then," Maddon said.

Rays 3-0 in the third, Sox up 2-0 in Boston.

It's Hard Not To Look

Rays reliever Dan Wheeler remembers one scoreboard watch. He was traded to Houston late in the 2004 season and the Astros battled the Giants for the wild card.

"One of my fondest memories is playing scoreboard," Wheeler said. "It was the second-to-last day of the season, two games left, and we were even with the Giants ..."

... Rays, seven-run fourth. Cliff Floyd drove in his third and fourth runs. Ben Zobrist (of course) hit a grand slam. Gabe Gross hit one out, too. It was 10-0. Later, Shawn Riggans homered.

Floyd, Zobrist, Gross, Riggans. What is there to say anymore? Scott Kazmir got the victory. And it was the Rays' 82nd win. There will be no losing season. Really, what is there to say?

Red Sox, 8-0 late.

Where were we? Oh, yes, Dan Wheeler and that scoreboard watch ...

"We were at home and we were winning. The Giants were up 3-0 at the Dodgers in the ninth. We watched the board at Minute Maid Park from the bullpen. Suddenly one run goes up for the Dodgers in the ninth. Then another. And then another. It's tied at 3. The place is going crazy.

"Finally they put up a 7 for the Dodgers. Steve Finley hit a grand slam to win it. Our place went crazy. I've never heard anything like it. It was an awesome moment. We won the next day to clinch it. But I still remember watching that board."

You watch the board.

Rays won 14-3.

How did the Red Sox do?

They won.

On we go.

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