By now fans sitting in the first few rows along the foul lines at a baseball game really ought to know not to reach out for a ball if the team they're supporting is on defence. Just ask Steve Bartman how that went.
Sunday, the Oakland Athletics weren't in a League Championship game, but it kind of felt like it after an awkward encounter between third baseman Matt Chapman and a fan sitting in the front row. During the 7th inning, Chapman tracked a pop up all the way to the stands, only to miss out on the putout due to an A's fan reaching out to grab himself a souvenir. The stare down between the two that occurred afterward can only be described as extremely awkward.
You kinda have to feel for the fan, as he clearly wasn't trying to cost his team an out, and he did apologize almost immediately after realizing what he had done. Sensing that he may have been a little harsh with the fan, Chapman returned with an apology and a souvenir.
Lesson learned, souvenir gained. A real win-win scenario.
