Moises Alou says "I wouldn't have caught it anyway"

[Puma]

Whether he would have caught it or not, it sure does bring back a lot of sweet memories

[Scoops]

He clearly had a good chance to catch the ball, so in that respect it seems like Moises is trying to cut the guy a break. That said, it's not a sure catch (and even a sure catch isn't a sure catch). Even without the Steve Bartman, Alou is still leaping and reaching into the stands. A lot can go wrong with a catch like that. You can line up the catch wrong, mistime closing your glove, smack your hand on the railing and dislodge the ball, get interfered with by the guy reaching for the ball who isn't Bartman. Any number of little things.

In the end, the Cubs absolutely tanked the series. Blaming Bartman is even worse than blaming Buckner. There are so many other factors at play preceding and following those single events that, while they may be emblematic, aren't really "THE thing" that did anything. After that foul ball, there was one out in the eighth, the game was still 3-0 and the series was still 3-2; both for the Cubs. After the foul ball, Prior threw a wild pitch ball four on a full count. Juan Pierre went to third and Castillo to first. The game was still 3-0. I-Rod hit an 0-2 single. The game was 3-1 Cubs. Alex Gonzalez booted* a possible double play ball that loaded the bases. The game was still 3-1. Then Derrek Lee hit a double to tie the game. Eventually the Cubs melted down even more, surrendering 5 more runs in the inning and losing the game. Then they came out the next day, still at home, and lost that game as well (a game they led at one point).

To sum up: After the foul ball, they had to get two outs. They had three or four possible outs to get, and got zero (Castillo - 2 strikes, Pudge - 2 strikes, Cabrera - ground ball, possible DP).

But like I said, to answer the original question, he absolutely had a good shot at catching the ball. Moises is just cutting the guy a break, and I think he deserves it.

*Remember what I said earlier about sure catches?

[Imgran]

Disagree.. I think it would have hit someone in the stands whether Bartman in particular caught it or not, and once a foul ball hits a fan it's out of play.

If there had been no fans down the third base line for a playoff game at Wrigley the Cubs would have had much worse problems than Steve Bartman.

[AutographCollector]

Looks like he could have got it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfjeEZY39Do

From the different angles... you are right.

[RuthMayBond]

Could someone please post a video clip of Alou "attempting" to catch the ball.

Looks like he could have got it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfjeEZY39Do

[AutographCollector]

Could someone please post a video clip of Alou "attempting" to catch the ball.

[SamtheBravesFan]

What if Jeffrey Maier's catch was ruled fan interference, and the game went against the Yankees?

Well, that one would be less predictable. It's easier to fantasize about the Cubs one because they would have had two out in that inning.

Anything could have happened. Anything at all... hehehe.

[Gary Dunaier]

Well, on second thought I guess the best thing for Bartman would have been if the Cubs had sealed the deal and beaten the Marlins.

Ah, yes, "What If..." a classic Marvel Comics title from the late 1970s, and a great game to play as well.

If the Cubs had won, Bartman might be a footnote, if even that.

What if Jeffrey Maier's catch was ruled fan interference, and the game went against the Yankees?

[JerseySoxFan19]

I've seen the clip quite a few times and I honestly don't think Alou would've caught it anyway. It looked like it was gonna go into the stands anyway. I don't understand why Alou flipped his lid for no reason. Steve Bartmann doesn't diserve the crap he gets.
BTW- The Cubbies are set to take it all, remember we broke the Bambino in the 100th series and the cubs are on the 100th anny of their last series so the stars are aligned lets see what happens.

[KCGHOST]

Like it was said above, the best thing would have been if he said it right after the game.

Well, on second thought I guess the best thing for Bartman would have been if the Cubs had sealed the deal and beaten the Marlins.

[Dalkowski110]

""You know what the funny thing is?'' he added a moment later. "I wouldn't have caught it, anyway.''"

You have to wonder if he just feels horrible about Steve Bartman being scapegoated to the point of death threats by a few Cubs fan(atic)s.

One could say it's comparable to the story of John McGraw and Fred Merkle. McGraw did NOT, as is contrary to popular belief, feel sorry for Fred Merkle at all at first. He (as often was the case) blew his stack at him. But then as the months wore on and it was just completely eating Merkle up, McGraw genuinely did start to feel sorry for him. When Merkle finally had a chance for a raise in salary at the beginning of the next season, McGraw personally saw to it that he got it.

[NYMets523]

And if the ball had been way farther foul, and Bartman wasn't even involved, the game would most likely had played out the same way, which was: Alex Gonzalez making a crucial error, and whoever was pitching (Wood?) melting down.
No, Bartman didn't lose the game for the Cubs, the Cubs lost the game for the Cubs.
Lou

Prior

Dusty should have come out and settled everyone down. But he was an idiot and still is to this day.

[rockin500]

And if the ball had been way farther foul, and Bartman wasn't even involved, the game would most likely had played out the same way, which was: Alex Gonzalez making a crucial error, and whoever was pitching (Wood?) melting down.
No, Bartman didn't lose the game for the Cubs, the Cubs lost the game for the Cubs.
Lou

most normal people blame gonzalez. It was prior who melted down. he got rattled by the double whammy of alou flippin out and gonzo then letting it go through his wickets. if gonzo fields it, they get out of it with one run given up.

[Sweet Lou]

And if the ball had been way farther foul, and Bartman wasn't even involved, the game would most likely had played out the same way, which was: Alex Gonzalez making a crucial error, and whoever was pitching (Wood?) melting down.
No, Bartman didn't lose the game for the Cubs, the Cubs lost the game for the Cubs.
Lou

[SHOELESSJOE3]

I do.

You also have to remember that by that time the ball was over the stands, so while Alou might have been able to make the catch, Bartman and the fans near him were within their right to go for the ball.

Correct and don't know why some were getting all over Bartman. Steve was not the only spectator reaching for the ball. The only reason others did not get a hand on the ball was because it was out of their reach. It's not like they considered that...........let it go, they just couldn't reach the ball.