'I just cost that kid a perfect game'

[TheValleyRaider]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300602106


DETROIT -- Armando Galarraga squeezed the ball in his mitt, stepped on first base with his right foot and was ready to celebrate the first perfect game in Detroit Tigers' history.

What happened next will be the talk of baseball for the rest of this season and likely a lot longer.

One of the most surprising calls I've ever seen in a game...

[Rob Iola]

What's really strange is that the play wasn't even close - and Joyce's argument was that he thought the runner beat the throw, not that Galarraga missed the base...

[PhoenixSupreme]

I really feel bad for Armando Galarraga, and also Jim Joyce, the umpire involved. Jim Joyce, according to what I've been reading is a well-respected umpire by the players with 22 years experience. You wouldn't expect a man with that much experience to make blown calls, but human error rears its ugly head whenever we least expect, such as in this game. He admits his mistake and is probably taking this harder than anyone else, yet people are now unfairly vilifying him on this one play now and Joyce doesn't deserve this. It is unfortunate that this one play will probably haunt him for the rest of his life, much like how Don Denkinger's blown call essentially impacted the 1985 World Series between the Cardinals and Royals.

Hopefully Bud Selig and the higher-ups will be able to give Galarraga the proper credit he deserves, at the very least in asterisk form.

[ngineer]

I really feel bad for Armando Galarraga, and also Jim Joyce, the umpire involved. Jim Joyce, according to what I've been reading is a well-respected umpire by the players with 22 years experience. You wouldn't expect a man with that much experience to make blown calls, but human error rears its ugly head whenever we least expect, such as in this game. He admits his mistake and is probably taking this harder than anyone else, yet people are now unfairly vilifying him on this one play now and Joyce doesn't deserve this. It is unfortunate that this one play will probably haunt him for the rest of his life, much like how Don Denkinger's blown call essentially impacted the 1985 World Series between the Cardinals and Royals.

Hopefully Bud Selig and the higher-ups will be able to give Galarraga the proper credit he deserves, at the very least in asterisk form.

He's relegated to be with Harvey Haddix who threw a perfect game for 12 or 13 innings, only to eventually lose. Clearly a horribly blown call--as bad as the Denkinger call in the WS.

[PhoenixSupreme]

I've read a lot about the Harvey Haddix 12 perfect innings with the Pirates only to lose it in the 13th. Milt Pappas of the 1972 Cubs was 1 out away from a perfect game but threw a very questionable ball 4 pitch on a 3-2 count to walk on the only baserunner, and was forced to settle for a no-hitter instead.

[Gil Dobie]

I always think of Ernie Shore, who in 1917 relieved Babe Ruth who was thrown out of a game for arguing with the umpire after walking the first batter. Shore came on to pitch, the runner was caught stealing, and Shore retired the remaining 26 batters. The game has been ruled a no-hitter and not a perfect game for Shore.

[Rob Iola]

I always think of Ernie Shore, who in 1917 relieved Babe Ruth who was thrown out of a game for arguing with the umpire after walking the first batter. Shore came on to pitch, the runner was caught stealing, and Shore retired the remaining 26 batters. The game has been ruled a no-hitter and not a perfect game for Shore.
Which is the correct ruling, no?

[darell1976]

Even as an Indians fan I thought he was out. Do you think the league should fine Joyce for the call? I think so.xnodx

[MorgantonAPPAlum]

You have to give the kid the close call in a situation like that. Unless Galarraga drops the throw or the runner beats it by a mile, you have to call him out. There are all sorts of unwritten rules in baseball and I think there would be broad agreement among most fans, players and umps about this.

Having said that, one of the commentators on ESPN last night said that as perfect game is such a rare combination of events that luck plays a huge factor in any such occurence (and that's true). Luck went against Galarraga on that last call, and I hate it, but if the call had been blown in, say, the fifth inning, you have to wonder what might have happened or whether anyone would be making as much of this as they are.

[Rob Iola]

You have to give the kid the close call in a situation like that. Unless Galarraga drops the throw or the runner beats it by a mile, you have to call him out. There are all sorts of unwritten rules in baseball and I think there would be broad agreement among most fans, players and umps about this.

Having said that, one of the commentators on ESPN last night said that as perfect game is such a rare combination of events that luck plays a huge factor in any such occurence (and that's true). Luck went against Galarraga on that last call, and I hate it, but if the call had been blown in, say, the fifth inning, you have to wonder what might have happened or whether anyone would be making as much of this as they are.
But that's exactly why the call should've been an easy one to get right - knowing the game situation, the mindset has to be that it's out at first unless the runner clearly beats the throw. If anything it appears Joyce got caught up in the pressure and "saw" something that just wasn't there.

[MorgantonAPPAlum]

But that's exactly why the call should've been an easy one to get right - knowing the game situation, the mindset has to be that it's out at first unless the runner clearly beats the throw. If anything it appears Joyce got caught up in the pressure and "saw" something that just wasn't there.

Probably-I was actually in a similar situation behind the plate once about 20 years ago. A kid in a Pony league (summer league for junior high schoolers) had a perfect game going with two outs in the seventh (the last inning at that level of play) and went to a full count on the batter. He missed with ball four outside and I had to call it, but I have second guessed myself on it (he even lost the no-no after that). I actually know him as an adult and he has never given me any crap about it, in fact he says that his dad says I got it right, but you do feel the pressure.

[NHwildEcat]

I've read a lot about the Harvey Haddix 12 perfect innings with the Pirates only to lose it in the 13th. Milt Pappas of the 1972 Cubs was 1 out away from a perfect game but threw a very questionable ball 4 pitch on a 3-2 count to walk on the only baserunner, and was forced to settle for a no-hitter instead.

xlolxxnodx That isn't too bad though, now is it?

[jonmac]

Bottom line is umpires miss calls. It happens, they're human and are watching the game in live motion, full speed. I would like someone to do some research and see how many perfect games involved missed calls that actually aided the pitcher, I'd bet there are some. The umpire should absolutely not be fined. He's gonna have enough trouble with second guessing and being slow to make close calls for awhile now anyway. I'm perfectly fine with the human error being part of the game, it's more pure, imo. At full speed this play was close. I think once we see it in slow motion it no longer looks close at full speed.

[Rob Iola]

Bottom line is umpires miss calls. It happens, they're human and are watching the game in live motion, full speed. I would like someone to do some research and see how many perfect games involved missed calls that actually aided the pitcher, I'd bet there are some. The umpire should absolutely not be fined. He's gonna have enough trouble with second guessing and being slow to make close calls for awhile now anyway. I'm perfectly fine with the human error being part of the game, it's more pure, imo. At full speed this play was close. I think once we see it in slow motion it no longer looks close at full speed.
That's just it - for a major league umpire with proper positioning and mechanics, this wasn't all that close - it wasn't a "banger". It appears, based on his post-game comments, that Joyce just brain-farted on what his eyes were telling him.

[superman7515]

And Bud Selig is a coward and IMHO the worst commissioner baseball has had. Strikes, the first cancelled World Series, a tie All-Star game, cheating, ignoring rampant drug use to further ratings and finances, and now saying ignoring the correct call restores the integrity of the game. What a douche.