R.A. Dickey pitches in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 7, 2015 in the Bronx borough of New York City.Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey said it in all seriousness.
While every baseball fan in Canada seems to be caught up in the drama of a pennant race involving the Toronto Blue Jays – for once – the Toronto knuckleballer said it is far too early for players to follow suit.
"Not a lot really, not until September," Dickey said when asked how often he feels compelled to peek at the standings now that the Blue Jays have asserted themselves as serious contenders.
"As players we can feel when we're in it, we know," he continued. "It's white noise right now. But in September guys will start peeking at the scoreboard a little more."
Dickey even went as far to suggest that when he took the mound on Friday night he was unsure of Toronto's spot in the playoff picture.
"I think we're in a wildcard spot because I overheard it on a TV, but I'm not like looking who's ahead," Dickey asserted. "I don't even know who's ahead of us."
Dickey was speaking late Friday night at Yankee Stadium, shortly after the Blue Jays had dispatched the New York Yankees 2-1 in 10 innings on a Jose Bautista home run off rookie reliever Branden Pinder.
Although he did not factor into the decision, Dickey pitched well, allowing the one Yankee run off six hits over seven innings of work.
With the win, the Blue Jays fired the opening salvo in the battle for first place in the American League East, moving to within 3 1/2 games of New York's perch atop the standings.
The Blue Jays also hold the second wildcard playoff berth, just half a game back of leader Los Angeles Angels.
Friday's contest was the first of a three-game set in the Bronx.
And with the Blue Jays sending recently-acquired ace David Price to the mound Saturday afternoon in the second game the Blue Jays are feeling pretty good about heading back to Toronto next week being even closer to the top.
But don't start printing those playoff tickets just yet.
There are still 51 games left over the next seven weeks or so for the Blue Jays where anything can happen. After finishing up in New York, Toronto still has 10 games left against the Yankees, who will be in Toronto for a weekend series that begins on Friday.
Although his record of 6-10 doesn't reflect it, Dickey has been one of Toronto's best starters in recent weeks, posting a 3-0 mark since the all-star break with a 0.99 earned run average with 23 strikeouts in five starts.
In his third season in Toronto since coming over in a trade from the New York Mets, Dickey said he is feeling very satisfied by the run he is on.
"I know that that the Torontonians think that I probably haven't had two very good years," Dickey said. "But I feel like I've had some pretty good stretches in there."
As for Dickey's own personal win-loss record, don't even bring it up.
"My individual record I could care less about," he said. "I think it's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets the credit."
Dickey said a lot of people contributed to the win on Friday night, and that's the way it should be.
"We've been going good, just kind of staying even-keeled," he said. "You can't ride the rollercoaster or you'll tire out at the end."