During the top of the third inning in the Dodgers-Cubs game in Wrigley Field on Thursday, the vines that will bloom into ivy this summer came into play. Enrique Hernandez sent a shot to deep left-center while Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber attempted to haul it in. The ball hit his glove, he bobbled it a few times and eventually came down with what the umpires called a catch.
Only there was a problem. Watch:
That definitely hit one of the vines, but I don't think it hit the actual brick wall. So we better consult the official Wrigley Field ground rules on the matter.
OUTFIELD AREA:
- Fair ball striking railing or screen attached to bleacher wall and rebounding onto playing field: In Play.
- Fair ball lodges in screen attached to bleacher wall: Two Bases.
- Fair batted ball lodges in vines on bleacher wall: Two Bases.
- Fair ball enters vines on bleacher wall and rebounds onto playing field: In Play.
- Fair ball lodges in or under grates in left or right field: Two Bases.
Um, what?
How about "fielder catches ball that hits ivy but not the wall?"
Nothing?
That the umpires ruled this wasn't a catch seems to indicate that if the ball makes contact with the vines, it's not a catch. They count as part of the wall, which is perfectly reasonable. Schwarber was aided by the vines there. What about when it's ivy, though? The ivy leaves bloom out several feet from the brick wall in the middle of the summer. Say a player is parked under a fly that's going to land two feet short of the wall and it clips an ivy leaf? Shouldn't that still be a catch?
I think I'd say if a ball hits the bricks (obviously) or the vines, now it can't be caught, but if it's only an ivy leaf it's still in play.
Regardless, the Wrigley Field ground rules could use some work. This funky play in the third inning on Thursday illustrated as much.
