Let's establish this right now: Any attempts to link the Astros fans who prevented Luis Valbuena from catching a popup with Steve Bartman are weak.
In case you didn't see it: Valbuena, Houston's first baseman, tried to catch a ball that was drifting toward the stands Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park. Some fans reached for the ball. They got in Valbuena's way. Valbuena couldn't make the catch.
Multiple parties were guilty going for that pic.twitter.com/99AsE7u7UJ
— Jason Collette (@jasoncollette) August 20, 2015MORE: Most infamous moment for every MLB team
First base umpire D.J. Reyburn immediately signaled there was no interference.
The batter, Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe, singled on the next pitch to lead off the seventh inning. The Rays went on to score twice in the frame and take the lead. (The Astros tied the game in the bottom of the ninth.)
So why is this not a Bartman analog? Basically, because it happened with nine outs to go on a random Wednesday in August rather than with five outs to go in Game 6 of the NLCS. The Astros still have 41 games, a quarter of the season, left to play. The Cubs were in prime position to win the pennant. Bartman, even though he did not reach into the field of play, could have understood the situation better and given Moises Alou more room to try to make a catch.
The main similarity is that the team on defense failed to shut the door after losing a possible out. As in the case of Bartman, the fans can't be blamed for that.
