Baseball Fan Nightmares: Steve Bartman was a Patsy!

The San Francisco Giants were playing against the Minnesota Twins in an Interleague match, June 22, 2011, when a foul ball slightly into the stands appeared to be an easy catch for Giants left fielder Cody Ross. However, a fan chose to use his glove and snap the ball out of the air just in front of Ross. Immediately, the play began to remind people of what happened to the Chicago Cubs once upon a time ago. This fan catch ended up having no bearing on the game and will be forgotten sooner than later, but what about poor Steve Bartman and what he did to the Chicago Cubs? Isn't it about time history realized Steve Bartman was a patsy. It was the second fan in the gray jacket!

In the eighth inning of game six in the playoffs, the Chicago Cubs were fighting against the Chicago curse and the Florida Marlins. They had the lead and when Luis Castillo of the Marlins hit a long ball towards the wall it looked like the Cubs Moises Alou had the ball caught. Alou timed his leap at the wall and there is no arguing about whether or not the athlete seriously had a chance at catching the ball. However, Steve Bartman, the fan sitting in the seat where the ball was fated to land, deflected the ball in his excitement to catch a homer. Moises Alou was very angry along with everyone in the world who gives a hoot about the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs went on to lose that game due to their own errors, but the blame has always lay on the shoulders of Steve Bartman for stopping that out from being recorded.

I have already mentioned that Steve Bartman was not at fault for the rest of the inning where the Cubs gave away run after run, but my argument for letting Steve Bartman off of the hook is not going to rely on that reality. Instead, I point to exhibit B, the instant replay video that shows Steve Bartman was not the only excited fan going after that baseball. In fact, his own actions may have been subconsciously influenced by the man in the gray jacket to his right. A man a seat away is clearly seen leaping to his feet and sideways, making an elaborate reach for the ball, throwing himself half in front of Steve Bartman. Steve touched the ball, but this guy in the gray tried his best to spoil Moises Alou's catch himself. Has anyone ever harassed that guy? And what of the guy behind Steve Bartman, was there any pressure coming from there as well? Steve Bartman had a baseball in route and hungry piranhas all around him after it, was he to just cower down and let them take the cool souvenir for themselves, or perhaps not defend himself in case Alou missed the catch? All of this action happened in a matter of seconds for the man, the adrenaline, the roar of the crowd, the glory to be, and his life has never been the same. But I tell you, it is time to get that guy in gray and let him spend some time on the cross.

As for the foul ball during the San Francisco Giants game, Cody Ross made sure to tell the press that he had no hard feelings and he felt it was the fan's right to go after a ball in the stands. When watching that moment happen one can tell that the fan immediately after making the catch cussed himself out. The fan and his lady friend were removed from their seats, but the San Francisco Giants released the statement that they were not kicked out of the game, merely relocated to a spot where they would not be stealing any more plays away from Cody Ross.

I think the reaction of Cody Ross was the correct one to have, fan interference when the baseball has traveled over the boundaries of the stadium is just another obstacle, and if a professional baseball player gets shown up by an amateur on the play, he should just be angry at himself not the guy who paid to be there instead of getting paid million to be there.