"The umpire said "mensa-mensa", is how Lou Piniella jokingly described what the ump said after this play. I think that means sort of...half and half, which would make sense (anybody have a different definition please tell me).
It's a sketchy ground rule at Wrigley, but my understanding is that if the ball disappears in the ivy and the outfielder reaches in to try and find it, he's "playing" the ball so the play continues. If instead he makes sure the ball can't be seen, he then waves his hands, play stops, and the ump comes out to confirm the ball can't be found, and then it's ruled a double.
So, that sounds solid, but it always makes for a good argument when it actually happens.
Did Pence reach in there?
Well...sorta, but then he waved his arms.
All good fun, and the Cubs absolutely spank Roy Oswalt and the Astros 9-3.
I'm not a stat guy, but my sense has always been that Aramis hits a bunch of homers, but usually nothing clutch.
He's totally changing that perception this year.
Lastly, this game was on national tv - Fox, I think.
The announcers gave us two really annoying mistakes - they told us the National League won the All-Star game, and later when Soriano hits his homer one guy called him "Adolfo" Soriano.
Adolfo?
Okay, one twenty today I'll be at Wrigley with my Dad, my daughter, and a broom.
Sweep, brother.
illustration

