The Fromson File

Not to mislead those of you who noticed my most recent commentary, I have no intention of dwelling on sports; baseball or otherwise. However, I have to guess that most of the nation, excluding Miami and possibly the rest of Florida, that watched Tuesday's (10/15) Cubs-Marlins playoff game had to feel a sense of remorse for destiny's orphans. There's no doubt that the Cubs brought defeat on themselves. Their collapse after the fan interference and the error by their usually sure-handed shortstop were both devastating and inexplicable, given the superb performance by their young pitching phenom, Mark Prior. However, the seventh game of the National League playoff ends, the interference by a Cub fan that prevented outfielder Moises Alou from making a sure catch in foul territory raises an issue that major league baseball has ignored for too long. That's the right of the fan to interfere with the progress of the game. Now, I know we all would love to catch a foul ball. Kids bring their gloves to a game, hoping against hope that a ball will come their way. Even grownups do too. But in my view, at least, a difference ought to be struck between a ball hit into the grandstands and one hit within grasp of a player on the field. Fans, no matter however well meaning and enthusiastic they may be to grab a souvenir, should not be allowed to be the tenth, eleventh or twelfth man for either team who truly affects the momentum or the outcome of a game. We all know Bud Selig isn't one of the most forceful baseball commissioners we've ever had. Certainly, he's no Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis who once ruled the game with an iron fist. But faced with the kind of problem that emerged in the Cubs-Marlins game, I'd guess the old judge would not have hesitated to slap a hefty fine and expulsion from the stadium for fans who violated a non-interference rule. He would have had the right to do so and if the chicken-hearted club owners of today had any courage, they would exercise the same right. Baseball is a private enterprise and a public trust. But when fans buy a ticket to a game, it should not imply they have the right to interfere with the game. These recent playoffs have been marvelous. They should not have been spoiled by an act that had nothing to do with the way the game is played.