I think the players would tell you that Gonzalez’s error was a bigger turning point. But if Prior lost focus there, that’s on his head.
The other fans clearly didn’t shy away from that ball. There were other arms reaching for it, that’s immediately clear from any picture or replay.
Did you see Johnny Damon and Damian Jackson almost kill each other going for a popup during the Boston-Oakland series? If you’re trying to catch a ball - player OR fan - you never take your eye off it. You can see it in the replay, and that’s the way he missed Alou.
No, clearly I don’t. The Cubs brought in Baker specifically because he wouldn’t get caught up in that loser mentality, and he wouldn’t let the team do it either. If the players blame anyone but themselves for this, they won’t win next year either.
I also saw him looking to the ground for the ball after he knocked it out of Alou’s glove.
Gonzalez’ error would not have happened if there were two outs. But talking about “turning points” is really not material. That play was a big factor in the game. I’m not saying that the Cubs would have won except for that, but it certainly did not help their cause.
Gonzalez’s error could’ve happened at any point, two outs or not. It’s just a low time for Cub’s fans, and frankly, I’ve decided I need to get away from baseball for a couple months.
I still don’t see your point. Obviously, after it hit his hand it would no longer be in the air. Of course he’d be looking for the ball wherever it is. Secondly, you misrepresent the facts when you say things like “knocked it out of Alou’s glove.” The ball was never in Alou’s glove. Was it on its way into the glove. . .probably. But there is no way to know for sure whether the ball would’ve been caught. No way to know. No matter what you think, you don’t know. That was not an easy play at all.