Armando Galarraga has Perfect Game Stolen by Bad Call

[ctownboy]

1) THAT was a bad call.

2) For those who don't like the idea of instant replay THAT call might just force baseball to introduce even MORE areas for instant replay.

3) Someone brought up Larsen's perfect game in the World Series and how it ended on a questionable third strike call. Well, that was back then and technology wasn't that great to show whether it was a strike or not. Tonight's call was CLEARLY wrong and the technology is there to prove it.

Also, unlike a bad ball or strike call, Outs on the basepaths CAN be argued about and they CAN be overturned. In this instance, the umpires should have gotten together and discussed things.

Since they didn't overturn it, Selig should grow a pair and overturn the call. It wont change the game because THAT should have been the last out and the Tigers won anyway. Unlike the 1985 World Series when the bad call was made.

David

[nolemmings]

The umps could and probably should have discussed that call themselves. That opportunity is gone. The play stands.

BTW, the Twins just got used on a blown call in the 10th in Seattle. These (ch)umps had better get their act together or be reminded in no uncertain terms that they are replaceable.

[Anthony S.]

Ah, for the good ole days when Richie Phillips would have called a press conference tomorrow and insisted that Joyce got the call right.

[ctownboy]

You know it is a BAD call when the Umpire publicly admits NUMEROUS times he blew the call and he apologizes to the player personally for blowing the call.

If Selig has the cahones to change the call, WHO is going to stand up and complain?

The Tigers know the Ump messed up. The batter knew he was out. THe Unp has said he was wrong, so WHo does that leave to complain?

If this were a disputed play that ended an NFL, NBA or NHL game, the officials would just go to instant replay and get the call right. Since the 28th batter ALSO made an Out and the outcome of the game would NTO be affected by a chagned all, I do NOT see why Selig couldn't change this ONE call.

I mean, WHEN is something like this going to happen again? It has been over 20 years since the Pine Tar game and nothing like THAT has happened since then.

Pro sports are ALWAYS telling kids to "do the right thing". Well, I think Selig changing the call would be the right thing to do and I am not even an American League baseball fan.

David

[ctownboy]

Oh yeah, one other thing.

With all the crap that has gone on recently with Umpires, I think it would a REAL good PR move on their part if they were to ask Selig to change the call. It would show that they KNEW one of their own messed up and that they were NOT above the game, as some seem to think they are.

David

[ethicsprof]

a horrible call.
i must say that i do like the ump's sincere tone in his confession.
still doesn't do much for the one who threw the perfect game though.

best,
barry

[calvindog]

The call shouldn't be changed. One of the 'charms' of baseball is its history of interesting calls, blown calls, statistical oddities; this is one of them. This game will be a part of baseball history more remembered than the great majority of all the perfect games pitched. Once you start changing calls a day after a game is over where do you draw the line?

[barrysloate]

I also thought that if the second baseman fielded it it would have been a routine play. But the adrenaline is surging in a situation like that so I understand why Cabrera charged the ball. What a shame.

[Tim Fritz]

I agree that I think this will push MLB towards using replay for more than just homerun calls. Watching the fallout will be real interesting. I just can't see how baseball will be able to hold off using it when most other big time sports do.

I don't see how Selig can overturn the call. I think that would set a bad precedent.

[pgellis]

Originally Posted by ctownboy

1) THAT was a bad call.

2) For those who don't like the idea of instant replay THAT call might just force baseball to introduce even MORE areas for instant replay.

3) Someone brought up Larsen's perfect game in the World Series and how it ended on a questionable third strike call. Well, that was back then and technology wasn't that great to show whether it was a strike or not. Tonight's call was CLEARLY wrong and the technology is there to prove it.

Also, unlike a bad ball or strike call, Outs on the basepaths CAN be argued about and they CAN be overturned. In this instance, the umpires should have gotten together and discussed things.

Since they didn't overturn it, Selig should grow a pair and overturn the call. It wont change the game because THAT should have been the last out and the Tigers won anyway. Unlike the 1985 World Series when the bad call was made.

David

So you want to institute instant replay to look at judgement calls like an out at a base? Where does it end? Do you want balls & strikes looked at too? That is a joke, just because a perfect game was lost on a bad call, you want to start looking at everything and you want it overturned?

[pgellis]

Originally Posted by Oldtix

The more I think about it, if the Tigers protest the game the commissioner will have to make a ruling and is sure to overturn the decision. Clearly, the pitcher has been robbed of the celebration but he'll gain immortality.

I'm still in disbelief. I was at Game Six of the 1985 Series and saw the Denkinger call; at least in that one the error didn't end the game. This one is cut and dry.

You can only protest a rules interpretation:

See MLB Rules:

4.19
PROTESTING GAMES.
Each league shall adopt rules governing procedure for protesting a game, when a manager claims that an umpire’s decision is in violation of these rules. No protest shall ever be permitted on judgment decisions by the umpire. In all protested games, the decision of the League President shall be final.
Even if it is held that the protested decision violated the rules, no replay of the game will be ordered unless in the opinion of the League President the violation adversely affected the protesting team’s chances of winning the game.

[sbfinley]

Just caught the start of today's game. I take back everything I said aloud and quietly about Joyce. He's a class act. And he's human.

[Butch7999]

Just a footnote, and not at all to derail the discussion here, but:

ctownboy: "If this were a disputed play that ended an NFL, NBA or NHL game, the officials would just go to instant replay and get the call right."

The 1999 Stanley Cup Final was decided on an egregiously blown call -- the infamous "No Goal" non-call in sudden-death overtime of Game 6, when Hull, with his foot well inside the crease and the puck well outside it (not merely illegal, but the controversial new rule that had all but defined that season), slid the puck in to wrongly end the game, the series, and the season. Instant replay in the NHL was de rigueur then, sickenly overused in fact and for exactly those sort of infractions, but with the Cup itself at stake, the officials never went to the video on the biggest play of the entire year.

As a footnote to that footnote, consider too the countless plays subjected to video review in the NFL over the past several years. How many times, despite it, have blown calls been held up and even correct calls been overturned? -- including some on huge game-turning, game-deciding plays... Too many to count...