In an ideal world every time a foul ball is hit that is right on the edge of the fence and playing field, home fans would get out of the way to give their team the best possible chance of catching the ball.
I think Adam Hoge put it best with this tweet.
All of these are true for fly balls that are in the stands:
1. Fans in the front row should allow their team to catch the ball OR try to catch the ball if it’s not their team
2. These are unrealistic expectations
3. Fans who do not comply should not have their lives ruined
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) September 27, 2018
This is all relevant because last night the Cubs blew a 6-1 lead to the Pirates that included a two-run double that tied the game in the ninth inning. That happened after Francisco Cervelli hit a foul pop up two batters before that. Anthony Rizzo was going to catch it for the second out of the inning, but it didn’t happen.
Instead, as Rizzo reached over into the first row, a fan caught the foul ball. Then, Cervelli doubled, putting runners at second and third with one out. After Justin Wilson got the second out, the Pirates tied the game.
Anthony Rizzo attempted to catch this foul ball in the bottom of the 9th, but a fan interfered. The Pirates later tied the game 6-6.
The Cubs ultimately walked off in the 10th. pic.twitter.com/bD1zx3NjqA
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 27, 2018
The Cubs ended up winning in the 10th, when Albert Almora Jr. hit a walk-off single with two outs. Yet, what if they didn’t?
Here’s the thing about that Rizzo play, sure you can be angry, crack your jokes about the fan getting in the way, but if you actually blame that fan for whatever happened next, then you’re just being an asshole.
Did that fan walk three batters in the eighth inning that allowed the Pirates to score two runs? Did that fan hit into a double play with the bases loaded in the fifth inning? Did that fan have Starling Marte’s hit glance off his glove?
No, that fan didn’t, the Cubs did.
Cubs fans already fucked up big time in 2003, ruining one man’s life and sadly if they would have lost last night there probably would have been a section of fans trying to ruin another.
Did it suck? Absolutely. But never blame a fan for a team losing, especially when that team had a 6-1 lead.
And really this is all that matters after last night.
Rizzo had no interest in blaming the fan for him not catching that foul ball. Called it a weird play and then when asked if it was taken out of his glove, he said, "It was a big win for us today. So, that's all I'm really worried about."
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) September 27, 2018
