New York Mets: Todd Frazier and the catch that wasn’t

New York Mets third baseman Todd Frazier made a remarkable catch on Monday, running into the stands to snag a foul ball against the Dodgers. Or did he?

In a season devoid of highlights for the New York Mets, Todd Frazier did his best to provide a positive. During what would be an eventual 4-2 victory over the Dodgers, Frazier went into the stands making a running catch on Alex Verdugo‘s foul ball in the second inning. He tumbled over the railing after the ball landed in his glove, but managed to hang on to record the first out of the inning.

Or did he? As it turns out, Verdugo may have been called out, but that was more due to Frazier’s quick thinking and acting ability. The ball he held up to confirm the catch? Well…

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This is not the first time that trickery has been used to simulate a catch. In the olden days, when the outfields of ballparks were cavernous and more like a hayfield with a temporary fence, balls used to be left in the tall grasses. Add in that just one or two umpires were working a game, and maybe that outfielder gets to a ball quicker than expected. Or that a diving catch was successful.

It is also not the first time that a foreign object was used in place of a baseball on the diamond. Back in 1987, minor league catcher Dave Bresnahan carved a potato into the shape of a baseball, and with a runner on third in the fifth inning, fired the spud down the line. As the runner trotted home, Bresnahan tagged him out with the real ball. The umpire, after seeing the ruse, awarded the runner home, and reversed the play.

That play ended the end of Bresnahan’s career. He was fined by the club, and then released by the Cleveland Indians. The same fate will not await Frazier, as the rubber ball he picked up was sent back into the crowd. And, it would be pretty hard to overturn an entire game from a couple of days ago just because of that one play.

Todd Frazier finally came clean about his catch. Even if it really happened or not, that rubber ball and dive into the crowd will go on the New York Mets highlight reel for 2018.