Except that the replay showed that Sheffield passed Giles before 2d base was tagged, meaning that Sheffield should have been ruled out and Giles remains at 1st. Not that it mattered a whole lot. I don’t think the other outfield ump was in a position, but I don’t know how the 2d base ump could not see it.
I was confused by that too, but for some reason I thought the force was first. Ah, well. Good thing it didn’t come back to haunt them.
May the Force be with them.
When I saw the split screen replay for the fifth time, I wasn’t so sure that Sheffield had passed Giles before the force play at second. That could have been what the umpires were thinking. Or perhaps the umpires were just as confused as the rest of us. It’s been known to happen.
Anybody know why Giles was so ticked off, though?
Giles was pissed because he felt the call of “out” (for the initial faux catch) was slow in coming. Once the ump decided the ball had been caught, Giles knew he had to get back to first to avoid a potential double play. So when he was called out anyway…
I knew the consipiracy theory would come out. What one can’t deny though is the utter stupidity of both Byrnes and Tejada. Byrnes had to know he missed the bag. He chose to push Varitek and limp around instead of just stepping on the bag. No amount of whining will change the stupidity of that decision.
Tejada would have been safe at home even with the interference. From childhood you learn to keep playing and question the call after the play is done. In the most important play of his life Tejada acted like a petulant child and stopped in the middle of the basepath.
Whatever your rooting interest both plays were monumental blunders by the A’s.
Twins lost, and while I’m a Twins fan, I can’t say I’m disappointed - my husband comes back and I don’t have to find childcare for playoff games (or watch my husband go to games with friends while I stay home with kids resenting the deal).
But I’m glad the Cubs won, I will immediately switch my alliegence for the rest of the season.
I too wish for a Cubs/Red Sox WS. A lifelong Cub fan here, but seeing the Sox FINALLY keep it together would be an adequate consolation prize.
(Besides we hates those Yankeeses, yes we does precious. Naasssty stinking sneaksy Yankeeses!)
Hey, wait a minute. The umpire ruled a trap. The ball was, indeed, caught, but that was not what the umpire ruled.
The TV announcers blew it again. They said that the outfield ump called the trap, but I just checked today’s issue of the Chgo Sun Times:
I’m obviously rooting for the Cubs, but I’m afraid I can’t hope for a Cubs / Red Sox World Series like some of you.
Why, you ask? Well, just imagine the implications…
top of the 9th, game 7, score tied at 0-0.
Suddenly, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse come riding up. And that, my friends, is the end of the universe.
That said, GO CUBS!!!
Geez, I don’t know what I was thinking. He did catch the thing, and they ruled he’d trapped it. Giles wasn’t sure what the call was going to be, and my understanding is that he was heading back to first, assuming the ball had been caught. Once he realized it was ruled a trap, he’d already been passed by Sheffield - or ruled forced out at second.
Be prepared to see anything at a Cub home game. Things like an unassisted triple play, back to back to back homers, ball hits a bird in flight, double steals producing 3 errors, game won in the bottom of the 17th inning on a balk, it can all happen at the friendly confines.
LOL! Like the four horsemen won’t show up the very second that that the Sawx and Cubs have won their respective League Championships! 
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t post this, but this time, I’m SO going to.
I have two tickets to a luxury suite in Wrigley Field tomorrow night for the kickoff to the NLCS.
I’m coming UNGLUED.
I knew it was going to be a great day when the Bears won.
GO CUBS!
I might drive over to Miami and try to get in. If I don’t get a reasonable ticket (been to lots of events, I know how to con a cheap seat, usually), it will be a good road trip anyway.
Goooooooooooooo Cubbies!!!
I’ll start the bidding by offering my wife and my house.
I also offer Mullinator’s wife, house, and any children or pets. And his computer.
I’m just waiting for Wednesday to get here. With any luck Damon will be back on the field, and Williamson will stay off the mound! mumbling something about the strike zone, a flashlight and a road map
The Yankees must go down. They must.