i really don't want to be ranting during these two months, but i couldn't let this one slip by w/o comment.

cubs up 4-1 in the top of the 9th. two outs.

ball hit to center field, alou misjudges it at first, then comes charging in. At the last second he pulls up and gets it on one hop.

the announcer makes a big deal about how great it was that alou at least prevented it from getting by him.

why????

that run means nothing. the cubs need to get one out before giving up three runs. a single is basically as bad as a homer at that point. The only benefit from keeping it in front of him was that with a guy on first, it's possible to get the force out at second.

now, what % of balls in play are of the nature where you can make the out at second but not at first? 3%? it would have to be something like up the middle where the 2nd baseman dives towards the bag to stop it. Very rare.

I imagine that the chance that alou had of catching that ball should he have dove for it is much much higher.

oh, the same announcer then went on to say "i have to keep trying to explain this to baseball fans. outs 25, 26, and 27 are just DIFFERENT than any other out". Yeah, i guess a random bloop single proved that.