Put me in coach – I’m ready to play today
Mark Didtler of the AP reports that Enny Romero (@EnnyRomeroTB) was watching the Tampa Bay Ray’s 18-inning win Friday night at home in the Dominican Republic.
Knowing that the extra inning affair would deplete the Ray’s pitching staff, Romero tweeted he was ready to pitch the following afternoon.
In the midst of a pennant chase and needing a pitcher, the Rays called on Romero, who had been pitching in their minor league system this year, to make his major league debut.
Per the Rays manager Joe Maddon (@RaysJoeMaddon):
Enny just shows up after he tweets that he belongs here … so we actually read twitter. For all our minor leaguers out there, get on twitter and you might end up in the big leagues for the playoff run. It’s fun to watch that we can bring up somebody from the minor leagues, under these circumstances, against a very good team, and get that kind of result.
The result was a three hit gem delivered by Romero and five relievers, leading Tampa Bay over the Baltimore Orioles 3-1. Tampa Bay remained a half-game ahead of Cleveland for first in the American League wild-card race.
Checking back on the Twitter stream gives you the real feel of the excitement. Romero on his way to Tropicana Field, home of the Rays. 
Romero’s pride on seeing his jersey hanging in his major league locker before the game on Sunday.
And Maddon’s response about Romero going one out short of getting the win (need to go 5 innings). 
What does the AL pennant race, Romero, Maddon, and the Tampa Rays have to do with you as a lawyer? A lot.
Twitter can work magic for you. And you have to have the courage to ask.
PS – Start following Maddon’s Twitter feed to see how he gets an inspirational quote from a fan each day he writes on the scorecard posted in the dugout.
Picture of Joe Maddon courtesy of Flickr by Keith Allison.