You've probably heard about umpire Jim Joyce's blown call at first base that robbed Tiger pitcher, Armando Galarraga of a perfect game. Joyce came out immediately and denounced his call saying:
Joyce ruled Cleveland's Jason Donald safe at first base, but later said he got it wrong. Even in the sports world, where bad calls are part of the mix, this one reached way beyond the lines: the perfect game that wasn't.
"It was the biggest call of my career, and I kicked the [stuff] out of it," a distraught Joyce said Wednesday night. "I just cost that kid a perfect game.
What I found astonishing was Armando's class in the face of losing his place in baseball history as the 21st pitcher to have ever thrown a perfect game. (This non-perfect/perfect game will probably be one of the most talked about calls for a long time.) He stood there with grace and dignity after the game and forgave Joyce because he saw the deep regret and shame that Joyce had felt. The quality of the video isn't good, but it still shows the character of Armando Galarraga.
Galarraga: He really feel bad. He probably felt more bad than me. And nobody's perfect and we'll all human. I really give that guy a lot of credit to tell me, 'I need to talk to you "You don't see an umpire after the game come out and say, 'Hey, let me tell you I'm sorry,' That don't happen.
He felt really bad. He didn't even shower.
Thursday's afternoon game in Detroit saw Joyce and Galarraga coming together before the game and Joyce looked like he had tears in his eyes.
MLB has been quite vague in it's handling of the situation that's caused almost a national outcry for Armando, but they eluded to the fact that the call will stand.
Selig as usual just dodges the issue.
Selig said Thursday that Major League Baseball will look at expanded replay and umpiring, but didn't specifically address umpire Jim Joyce's botched call Wednesday night.
A baseball official familiar with the decision confirmed to The Associated Press that the call was not being reversed. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that element was not included in Selig's statement.
I think Selig is a coward as the commissioner of MLB over SB 1070 and many other issues, but there are reasons not to change the call. How do you feel?
The pressure will be on Selig now more than ever to really start implementing instant replay on a daily basis even though Bud is against using any more replay during live games.
