In Defense Of Foul Ball Guy, MLB Outfielders Just Need To Be Better If They Don't Want To Keep Getting Robbed By Fans
In case you missed it, Zack Hample found a way to make another baseball game about himself after snagging this ball which resulted in a 2-run home run for the Angels yesterday. Rays' utility player Christopher Morel had a chance at making a play here to make a miraculous catch at the wall, but Zack Hample threw his glove out there at the exact right moment to make the play.
The internet was immediately filled with people who would like to rip Zack Hample to shreds. Calling for him to be banned by MLB stadiums. Claiming that he's "the worst to ever do it".
Rarely do I ever want to find myself on Zack Hample's side of an argument, but this is a stance that I've been sitting on for a while now--if MLB outfielders want to stop getting balls ripped out of their hands by fans, then they need to start being better. Plain and simple.
Like when Rodney Pete snagged this foul ball out of the reach of Max Muncy in Japan, for instance.
Look at how annoyed Max Muncy was that a spectator grabbed that ball from him. He shouldn't have been mad at former Eagles legend Rodney Pete. He should have been mad at himself that he made an awful play on the ball. It's not Rodney Pete's fault that he played that ball better than Max Muncy. If he wanted the out so bad, he would have found a way to make the play. The same way Christopher Morel should have found a way to beat Zack Hample to that 2-run shot.
Baseball is the only sport where fans can have a literal, physical impact on the game. Fans can't make tackles in the NFL. Fans can't get out on the ice and deflect a puck into the net in the NHL. Fans can't block a dunk in the NBA. But fans can rob an outfielder of a catch if they're quick enough and in the right position. The rest of us should always be rooting for the fan in this situation. It's one of the extremely rare times when a normal human being can best a professional athlete in his own game. I get you probably don't want it to happen in your home ballpark, but we should all be Team Fan. Even if that particular fan is an annoying little sack of shit.