Posted on 06/02/2010 7:41:40 PM PDT by sand lake bar
DETROIT, Mich. -- In perhaps the strangest finish ever to a brilliant night of pitching, Detroit's Armando Galarraga had a perfect game spoiled by a call that umpire Jim Joyce eventually admitted he blew.
First-base ump Joyce called Indians shortstop Jason Donald safe with two out in the ninth inning on an infield grounder to first baseman Miguel Cabrera, when replays showed that Galarraga took Cabrera's throw at least a half-step before Donald's foot hit the bag.
"I just cost that kid a perfect game," Joyce said after the game. "I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw, until I saw the replay."
(Excerpt) Read more at cleveland.com ...
Kinda crazy that we’ve had 2 official perfect games, and another unofficial (this one) perfect game this season. I think there’s only been about 20 in all of MLB history. To have three in one year is unreal.
"Oh Magoo, you've done it again!"
Blew the call......I would file an official protest......that is a BLOWN call........not even close.
Can only protest misinterpretations of the rule book. This was a judgement call.
The announcers on ESPN have been attributing a rise in the pitching to the use of video by more pitchers. It was predominantly a batters thing a few years ago.
The drug testing policy is what is having such an affect on hitting. No longer are halfway decent players able to hit home runs to the opposite field because they are on good steroids.
Galaragga was ROBBED tonight. And you know what? The only person who was not going crazy or mad or yelling at the umpires was....Galaragga. He was an absolute class act, including during his post game interview. Very, very classy.
Clearly an OUT, by any angle .. clearly a blown call by the Ump ... MLB needs to review this and award the Perfecto to Galarraga post-haste. It wouldn’t be the first time MLB overruled an Ump’s call on the field, re: Yankees-Royals “Pine Tar” game circa 1982
I think you're right about the testing. Home runs have been down, but that's about all I follow.
I am a lifelong baseball fan and long time fantasy baseball geek. Scoring is way down. ERA is down across the league. Batting Average is down etc....
I know some pitchers were caught doing PED’s but if you look at the players, they no longer resemble comic book superheros in their builds...and because of that can’t take half swings at outside pitches to hit home runs.
Agreed. It certainly has brought the season home run stats down.
very well said. I will be pulling for this young man the rest of his MLB time. I watched the ESPN cut in feed in the ninth. how he handled the entire thing was really something......then we have the savage looking tattooed thugs in the nba and the nfl. good God, thanks for polite proff. kids like this MLB young man.
I just watched the video several times and the runner sure looked like he beat the throw to me. Admittedly it was very close but obviously the right call by the umpire.
Yep, I watched the game. This needs to be fixed somehow.
If you saw the replay, the batter knew he was out and had a look of disbelief on his face.
The umpire even admitted he blew the call.
Agreed. Whatever the rules are, the ump was clearly wrong (as he himself admits).
The guy pitched a perfect game, so give it to him!
Well he obviously is caving into the pressure. I think his initial call was the right one. The baserunner was clearly touching the base a split second before the ball entered the first baseman’s glove.
wow...this ump blew this call. He will feel sick about this for a while...human error. Obama will save the day and ask for a congressional hearing on instant replay.
Maybe after that he’ll want to try and cap a geiser in the gulf.
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