Hey, Goose! Duck! Duck!
During the third inning of the Cubs' game against the Phillies at Wrigley Field on Monday night, a goose took over in shallow left field, positioned between the shifted shortstop Trea Turner and third baseman Alec Bohm, and in front of left fielder Brandon Marsh.
The bird was not ruffling any feathers so the game continued, and Chicago first baseman Michael Busch lofted a liner out to left field -- headed straight for the goose. It landed a few feet behind the goose and was fielded on a hop by an unfazed Marsh, but it was enough to cause the bird to take flight and leave the field of play.
"The goose had him played right," Cubs commentator Jim Deshaies said.
Perhaps it wasn't only scared off, but also wanted to take in the game from a spectator's perch in the Wrigley Field bleachers, where exactly one year ago another goose (or the same one? We'd need an ornithologist's help with that question) was spotted nesting under the center-field scoreboard.
That one was affectionately named Suzuki after the Cubs right fielder, so maybe this goose will be appropriately remembered as Marsh. And hopefully if it does make a return to the field, it settles down in fowl territory this time.