Catching Hell

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Funny that. I watched it live actually (despite being a Brit who doesn't really care for the sport) and I couldn't believe the reaction, given that it was clear the ball wouldn't be caught anyway!
 
I love stuff like this. The mob reaction is hilarious.

I'm still not sure from what I just read and from a technical angle (I'm not a big Baseball fan) what the furore was over. Was this foul ball made into a home run because the fan caught it before the Cubs player?
 

I love stuff like this. The mob reaction is hilarious.

I'm still not sure from what I just read and from a technical angle (I'm not a big Baseball fan) what the furore was over. Was this foul ball made into a home run because the fan caught it before the Cubs player?

The ball was foul but if Alou could have gotten to it and could have caught it, it would have been an out. As it stood, it was just a foul (and a strike) and the batting continued. It continued on until the Marlins scored like 8 runs and put the game out of reach.

The Cubs had Game 7 to get it done too but couldn't close the deal.

They had no one to blame but themselves but they (I use the term "they" loosely referring to Cubs management, staff, players, and Chicago fans) used Bartman as a scapegoat for all that went wrong.

Alou came out years later and said he couldn't have caught the ball.

Really sad what they did to that guy though. I'm surprised he didn't change his name and identity and start his life over. Especially as he was a die hard fan and love to coach kids teams. The term "wrong place, wrong time" couldn't be more apt.

I'm sure you can get the whole story (better than what I said) on Wiki or just by Googling "Steve Bartman."
 
The ball was foul but if Alou could have gotten to it and could have caught it, it would have been an out. As it stood, it was just a foul (and a strike) and the batting continued. It continued on until the Marlins scored like 8 runs and put the game out of reach.

The Cubs had Game 7 to get it done too but couldn't close the deal.

They had no one to blame but themselves but they (I use the term "they" loosely referring to Cubs management, staff, players, and Chicago fans) used Bartman as a scapegoat for all that went wrong.

Alou came out years later and said he couldn't have caught the ball.

Really sad what they did to that guy though. I'm surprised he didn't change his name and identity and start his life over. Especially as he was a die hard fan and love to coach kids teams. The term "wrong place, wrong time" couldn't be more apt.

I'm sure you can get the whole story (better than what I said) on Wiki or just by Googling "Steve Bartman."

Thanks. That's very clear.

Just reading the wiki stuff now and that was a very shitty way to treat Bartman by the Cubs. There was obviously a string of other chances for them to see the match out to victory but they screwed up themselves. Talk about taking the coward's way out.
 

Wow... So the Chicago Cubs are basically the Kopites of America.

With all due respect to Mezzrow and our other Cubs supporters on here, yes, they are. The similarities are there.

Thanks. That's very clear.

Just reading the wiki stuff now and that was a very shitty way to treat Bartman by the Cubs. There was obviously a string of other chances for them to see the match out to victory but they screwed up themselves. Talk about taking the coward's way out.

They (The Cubs) arguably had two of the best pitchers in baseball at the time in Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. I think Wood was due to pitch Game 7 anyway and I don't think too many people in America, even after what happened, gave the Marlins a chance in that game.

You nailed it though, "coward's way out."

I'm sure there were Cubs fans who thought that Bartman was treated shamefully but they were in the minority and probably couldn't be heard above the baying mob.

I'm looking forward to seeing the movie though.
 
As a Cubs fan, you will find the only people who still make a big deal out of this are the media and people who hate the Cubs. The reaction at the stadium would have happened at any stadium around the world, yes even GP. 99.9% of cubs fans have no problem with the guy (although he does deserve some blame because alou would have caught the ball.)
 
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Alou is on record as saying "Yeah I would have caught it" and "I don't think I would have caught it."

He doesn't know if he would have or wouldn't have. It looks like he would have but we'll never know.

And no, that reaction would NOT have happened at any stadium in the world.
 

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