2007-07-10 13:27:05,597 (rocessor23) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272701 catTag:10007,10006 caller:rtp2_CAP
+4_1a warp:true
2007-07-10 13:27:05,928 (rocessor25) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272750 catTag:11543 caller:rtp2_CAP4_1a w
+arp:true
2007-07-10 13:29:05,620 (rocessor16) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272772 catTag:10006 caller:rtp1_CAP4_1a w
+arp:true
2007-07-10 13:29:05,638 (rocessor25) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272779 catTag:10007,10006 caller:rtp1_CAP
+2_1a warp:true
2007-07-10 13:29:05,715 (rocessor24) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272809 catTag:10006 caller:rtp1_CAP1_1a w
+arp:true
2007-07-10 13:31:05,559 (rocessor25) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272887 catTag:10007,10006 caller:rtp1_CAP
+1_1a warp:true
2007-07-10 13:31:05,608 (rocessor24) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272893 catTag:10007,10006 caller:rtp1_CAP
+2_1a warp:true
2007-07-10 13:31:05,747 (rocessor23) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272955 catTag:10007,10006 caller:rtp1_CAP
+1_1a warp:true
2007-07-10 13:33:05,342 (rocessor24) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272849 catTag:11543 caller:rtp1_CAP1_1a w
+arp:true
2007-07-10 13:33:05,355 (rocessor25) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272841 catTag:10007,10006 caller:rtp1_CAP
+2_1a warp:true
2007-07-10 13:33:05,385 (rocessor23) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272987 catTag:10006 caller:rtr2_CAP1_1a w
+arp:true
2007-07-10 13:33:05,404 (rocessor16) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272964 catTag:10007,10006 caller:rtp1_CAP
+4_1a warp:true
[download]

[root@lpo-tomcat-09 ~]# prohits.pl
2007-07-10 12:34:40
2007-07-10 13:33:05,404 (rocessor16) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272964 catTag:10007,10006 caller:rtp1_CAP
+4_1a warp:true
2007-07-10 13:33:05,385 (rocessor23) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272987 catTag:10006 caller:rtr2_CAP1_1a w
+arp:true
2007-07-10 13:33:05,355 (rocessor25) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272841 catTag:10007,10006 caller:rtp1_CAP
+2_1a warp:true
2007-07-10 13:33:05,342 (rocessor24) INFO  [ProcessHTTPRequestImpl] Ca
+llOut Params: DREREFERENCE:6272849 catTag:11543 caller:rtp1_CAP1_1a w
+arp:true
[root@lpo-tomcat-09 ~]#
[download]

Here's the result of a simple grep:

Using grep means that you are removing some lines, while your program does not. You might very well have removed the line that causes the problem. You repeated the assumption I suggested you verify.

if ($log_line lt $earliest) {
   print("DEBUG -- last:\n");
   print($log_line);
   last;
}
[download]

I bet you won't find a timestamp at the begining of that line.

I can't think of anything you could be grepping on that wouldn't hide the lines that would be causing you trouble.