I may be a Prius-driving peacenik pinko (and proud of it), but I do like baseball. So I cannot allow the start of the post-season playoffs to begin without a baseball blog today.
And I'm putting some new evidence on the table--the Cubs really won in 2003.
Two Octobers ago, there was a gross injustice, one that even George Will might comprehend. And no, I am not talking about the foul pop that will live forever in Cub fan lore--because the fact is, the Cubs had already beaten the Marlins before that, in 4 straight!
It's just that nobody noticed. Because nobody heard me screaming "out of the baseline" at my TV in Game 1.
The setting was the 9th inning of Game 1, tied 6-6. The Marlins had runners on first and second, one out. The speedy Juan Pierre was on first, and Luis Castillo hit what could have been an inning-ending double play grounder to Cub second baseman Mark Grudzielanek.
Unfortunately, in keeping with Cubbie tradition, Grudzielanek bobbled the ball while trying to tag Pierre out, then threw to first too late to get Castillo. Ivan Rodriguez then hit a 2-run single, giving the Marlins the lead, 8-6.
However, if I am correct, Pierre should have been called out, whether he was properly tagged or not. Rodriguez's hit then would have driven in only 1 run. Which means Sosa's 2-run homer in the bottom of the 9th was a walk-off, game 1 should have gone to the Cubs 8-7, and since they dominated the next 3 games, they really swept the Marlins. That's the way it was.
Our crack investigative unit has examined the archives, and the facts are clear.
Juan Pierre went out of the baseline. To avoid the tag.
Here's the photographic proof, which I found in the Cub online archives.
Note that Pierre is far out of the baseline, far onto the grass. Note that he is clearly trying to avoid the tag that Grudzielanek has just attempted, even to the point that Pierre has twisted around backwards and is not even running towards second!
Under the rules, he should have been called out. Rule 7.08 clearly states: "Any runner is out when (a)(1) He runs more than three feet away from a direct line between bases to avoid being tagged unless his action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball".
Look at the picture--Pierre is not trying to avoid interference. He's avoiding the tag.
The umps blew the call because they were busy trying to determine whether the ball had been bobbled before or after the tag (which admittedly was a tough call).
Alas, not even Tim McCarver thought about the old "out of the baseline" call.
The Cubs wuz robbed. Just like the Red Sox in '75, when Ed Armbrister interfered with Carlton Fisk in game 3. Just like the Phillies were in the playoffs against the Reds, when Larry Bowa grabbed the carom off Mike Schmidt's leg and "threw a seed" to first, only to have the ump call the runner safe. Just like the Cardinals were in game 6 in '85 against the Royals, when Jorge Orta was wrongly called safe at first.
Sour grapes? Sure. But do you think it would ever happen to the Yankees?
I rest my case.