Galarraga loses perfect game with 2 outs in 9th

Associated Press ^ | June 2, 2010 | LARRY LAGE

[Free ThinkerNY]

DETROIT (AP) -- Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers lost his bid for a perfect game Wednesday night with two outs in the ninth inning on a disputed call at first base. Replays appeared to show Cleveland hitter Jason Donald was out.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland immediately argued the call with first base umpire Jim Joyce, and was joined by several Detroit players who surrounded the ump after the Tigers beat the Indians 3-0.

[bobby.223]

you are correct reg. that game. great series by the way, In this instance tho,the game’s continuance was not changed, the outcome or possible outcome, is not changed. there is no reason MLB can’t give that classy young man his perfect game. he was just on with Suttcliffe on the national game....damn what an outstanding young fellow. pure class and sportsmanship. great to see. did not bang on the ump at all. then ya have the thugs in the NFL and the NBA................

[hole_n_one]

Regarding the pic you posted.

If relevance were water, you'd be dying of thirst.

[whence911]

Have you watched the replay from the second base angle. Did the pitcher bobble the ball once just within his glove?

[bobby.223]

but it could be more fair...with just a slight adjustment, not routine balls and strikes or routine outs at bases or the plate...but in critical late moments only, where a games outcome is in the balance, in the ninth or extras. and that is from an old purists, but one who thinks just a BIT of ‘non purist’ change would not hurt.

[flintsilver7]

Bobble, no. Did it bounce within the pocket? Yes, once, but the ball never left the glove.

I should note that video replay still clearly shows the ball was secure long before Donald touched the bag.

[whence911]

If the ball bobbled, bounced or whatever in the pocket, which is what I saw, the player did not have control of the throw and the catch was not made until the ball was caught after the bobbled and the ball was securely in the glove. A bobble or bounce in the gooce is no control. Basic rule Definition of a catch.

[whence911]

Then the questions are: did the pitcher have control of the ball (after the bobble) and his foot on the base at the same time? Did the pitcher have control and his foot on the base before the runner touched the base? I need a frame by frame on this.

[bobby.223]

you are correct BUT the bobble was controlled before the runners foot tapped the bag.

[whence911]

Probably, just want to see it for myself freeze frame with a quality picture.

[flintsilver7]

I think the general rule would be that when the ball is finally secure, the catch is made. This is ultimately irrelevant, though, as like I said the ball was secure long before Donald reached the bag.

[bobby.223]

the live ESPN wed. night BB did show a slight bobble, in my mind, (the announcers did not mention it tho), but I felt there was, but even WITH that I felt 100% control was established far in front of the runner hitting the sack. good talking with you by the way.

[flintsilver7]

I should note the “bobble” is only being mentioned as a possible explanation for Joyce’s bad call. Joyce did not call a bobble. I don’t even know if that sort of situation (the ball moving within the glove) is defined in the rulebook, but again it’s of no relevance.

[whence911]

It should be noted that the bobble was mentioned in the spirt of getting the play right and not to cover for the umpire. You turned out to be a guesser after all. And yes it IS defined in the rule book. You had a good discussion going until you decided to cast aspersions. Good-bye.

[flintsilver7]

Where did I cast aspersions?

Also, can you show me where in the rulebook such a situation is defined? Here's what I see:

"A CATCH is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it; providing he does not use his cap, protector, pocket or any other part of his uniform in getting possession. It is not a catch, however, if simultaneously or immediately following his contact with the ball, he collides with a player, or with a wall, or if he falls down, and as a result of such collision or falling, drops the ball. It is not a catch if a fielder touches a fly ball which then hits a member of the offensive team or an umpire and then is caught by another defensive player. If the fielder has made the catch and drops the ball while in the act of making a throw following the catch, the ball shall be adjudged to have been caught. In establishing the validity of the catch, the fielder shall hold the ball long enough to prove that he has complete control of the ball and that his release of the ball is voluntary and intentional.

Rule 2.00 (Catch) Comment: A catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though juggled, or held by another fielder before it touches the ground. Runners may leave their bases the instant the first fielder touches the ball. A fielder may reach over a fence, railing, rope or other line of demarcation to make a catch. He may jump on top of a railing, or canvas that may be in foul ground. No interference should be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to catch a ball. He does so at his own risk. If a fielder, attempting a catch at the edge of the dugout, is “held up” and kept from an apparent fall by a player or players of either team and the catch is made, it shall be allowed."

[r9etb]

These umpires stink and are arrogant!

The umpire in question acknowledged that he blew the call and felt terrible about it. Reading the article can be helpful...

[bobby.223]

oh my yes it is in the MLB Rule Book Flint.. the ball in the receiving fielders glove HAS to be secure at the time of the called safe or called out determination by the arbitrator either at the sacks or the dish. it has been that way since, well, before I started to follow the game for sure....and that was a bit ago. if those long time rules have been modified... I am not up to speed then I guess.

[flintsilver7]

Please enlighten me as to where I’m being a “guesser” and also where I started to “cast aspersions.”

Alternately, you can just throw mud and leave. Suit yourself.

[flintsilver7]

I did just post the rules regarding a catch, and I’m asking where anything is mentioned about a ball moving while being in the glove. It’s impractical to expect a ball to hit the mitt and just “stick.” It doesn’t happen. Bobbles are generally obvious. This was far from it. Force plays are the only relevant situation where the definition of ball security would come into play, and I’d like to know the answer to this myself. I suspect it’s not something anybody can definitively answer. I’d be willing to guess there’s some ball movement on a majority of force plays, and the case could be made that if the ball never leaves the glove (it didn’t) then the catch is made when the ball hits the glove. I mean, we’re talking in hundredths of a second here.

[Batman11]

“The umpire in question acknowledged that he blew the call and felt terrible about it. Reading the article can be helpful...”

Thanks for the snide comment. My comment was meant to refer,in general, to most of the MLB umps who are consistently awful yet think they are above scrutiny and reprimand. Angel Hernandez, Joe West, CB Bucknor and many others have been awful and arrogant for years with no negative repercussions. Something needs to be done about it.

Joyce acknowledged that he blew the call because he had no choice. Evidence of his blatant mistake is available for all to see.

[flintsilver7]

I made this argument above. Joyce’s admission that he blew the call is of no consequence - everybody can see that he blew the call. You’re exactly right - he has no choice. He could say he made the right call and it still wouldn’t change the fact that video replay shows he obviously made the wrong one.

I’m also in agreement that MLB umpires are generally arrogant and confrontational - look no further than Joe West’s recent phantom balk calls and subsequent inappropriate ejections. The Red Sox were the victim of some terrible calls last year. Joe Mauer hit a double that was obvious on two levels (first, it hit Cabrera’s glove in play, which makes it automatically fair even if it lands foul, and second, it landed clearly fair anyway). Robinson Cano was called “out of the basepath” in the 2005 postseason when he wasn’t. Umpires only admit their mistakes when they’re completely and totally obvious, and even then it’s like pulling teeth.