Why are you assuming that the replacement player wouldn't have done anything offensively? I'm not assuming anything. I simply said that one play that results in a tie game, not even a loss, isn't the only play that effects the outcome of a game. Aren't you assuming that the Cubs still would have had the lead without Soriano's 2-run HR and every other play Soriano was involved in? I agree with you Jon but what if, for fun, we assume Soriano should have caught Pittsburgh's first home run (which it could easily be argued that he should have.)