The Verdict is in!

From today’s Chicago Tribune:

Any holdovers still blaming Steve Bartman should let the infamous Cubs fan off the hook, Moises Alou says.

The former Cubs left fielder, now with the Mets, said he wouldn’t have caught the now-infamous foul ball in the 2003 National League Championship Series that hit the heel of Bartman’s hand in the eighth inning of Game 6, prolonging an inning in which the Marlins later rallied for the lead.

“Everywhere I play, even now, people still yell, ‘Bartman! Bartman!’ I feel really bad,” Alou told the Associated Press. “You know what the funny thing is?” he added. “I wouldn’t have caught it anyway.”

Bartman is presumed to be in hiding somewhere in the Chicago area. The baseball, which was destroyed in a promotional event, didn’t fare as well.

This coming from a guy that used to pee on his hands instead of using batting gloves. But Alou is absolutely right – you can’t blame Steve Bartman for what happened that night. Any of us in the same situation would have made an attempt to catch the ball. Don’t deny it.

But do you have any idea how hard it was to hide my laughter while watching the game at The Cubby Bear?

Answer: Very

So, what will Cubs fans use as an excuse this year?  My guess is that they blame the new sod at Wrigley Field.