Reply #35: The fan's interference changed the momentum of the game [View All]

[Boot]

I agree that the fan should not have tried to catch that foul ball. It ended up as a free out that the Marlins didn't deserve. (What was he listening to on his headphones, as he continued to sit in his seat after the botched play? If it was WGN Radio, he would have heard Steve Stone upset as I've seldom heard him upset over that play.)

Despite Marlins manager Jack McKeon's downplaying of the fan's interference, the Marlins players have been quoted as recognizing the extra out that the fan gave to them by denying Alou the chance to catch the second out of the inning. It woke up their bats at the same time that it stunned the Cubs. Things spiraled out of control in just about 5 minutes.

Just a few thoughts... if Alou makes the catch, there are 2 outs and a man on second. A calm, unagitated Mark Prior quite probably pitches better and gets out the 8th inning with the lead intact, or tied, at worst. A calm, unagitated Alex Gonzalez doesn't need to try to turn a double play.

Yes, there were just 5 outs to go. Too bad it turned out to be 5 outs in the 8th inning.

Excerpt from ESPN
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2003/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=1638362

"...This was a moment no Cubs fan will ever forget. They will always see this foul ball twisting toward the brick wall that juts out toward the left-field foul line. They will always see Moises Alou angling over, setting himself, leaping, reaching. And they will always see the fan in the blue Cubs hat and the headphones over his ears, cupping his hands, deflecting this baseball away from Alou, keeping this at-bat alive.

Alou spun away in anger, spitting out words we can't repeat. Fans around this anti-Jeffrey Maier began berating him, abusing him, showering him with guilt and beer -- but not quite in that order.

Three hundred feet away, in the visitors' dugout, Marlins players looked at each other, wondering if they'd just seen what they'd seen, hoping it meant what they thought it meant.

"Mike Redmond turned to me," Lee said, "and said, 'OK, let's make that kid famous.' "