The Imperfect Game Will Not Be Changed
The Con
Armando Galarraga was perfect up until batter #27 on June 3, 2010. 26 men up, 26 men out. When Cleveland Indian Jason Donald hit his dribbler to Detroit Tiger first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who threw to Galarraga and beat him by two feet. 27 men up, 27 men out. Baseballs 21st perfect game, the third inside of a month, and the first perfect game in thrown by a Detroit Tiger in their over 100 year history.
Unfortunately, Umpire Jim Joyce saw something no one else in free world did: he called batter number 27 Jason Donald safe. The replay has been shown millions of times. The Tigers screamed. Joyce watched the replay, saw his error and apologized, profusely to anyone who would listen. Galarraga laughed and graciously accepted the apology.
The media lauds the Detroit Tigers and Umpire Jim Joyce for showing the utmost graciousness, professionalism and class in an obviously impossible circumstance. The question at the forefront of everyone’s mind is since Jim Joyce admitted his call was in error, the video technology shows the call was wrong and the outcome of the game wouldn’t be altered in any way (the next batter bounced out to Detroit Tiger third baseman Brandon Inge), can/would Commissioner Bud Selig change the outcome of the game and award Armando Galarraga his perfect game?
There is no precedent for Selig to change Jim Joyce’s call, although the the media pulse is for the Commissioner to step in and do the right thing. Sports Illustrated’s Frank Deford, Fox Sports.com Jon Paul Morisi, and the Detroit News’ Tony Paul, among others, urged Selig to make the change. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm made her decision early on June 3, 2010:
“Whereas, pitching a perfect game is considered one of the crowning achievements of sport, attained only 20 times in the history of Major League Baseball; and,
“Whereas, a perfect game is defined as when a pitcher or pitchers retire each batter during the course of a game lasting at least nine innings; and,
“Whereas, Armando Galarraga retired all 27 players in order, a feat no Tigers pitcher has ever accomplished; and,
“Whereas, an umpire’s missed call resulted in Armando Galarraga being charged a hit that clearly should have been an out; and,
“Whereas, the umpire graciously admitted his mistake after the game ended; and,
“Whereas, video replays unmistakably show Galarraga to have retired all batters;
“Now, Therefore, be it Resolved that I, Jennifer M. Granholm, governor of the state of Michigan, do hereby declare Armando Galarraga to have pitched a perfect game, and I join Tigers fans all across the globe in saluting his unassailable accomplishment – the first perfect game in Tigers history.”
A nice touch that brought tears and cheers to all Detroit Tiger fans across the globe including your occasionally intrepid blogger. However, the only person with the power to make the change from a faux one hitter to the perfect game hadn’t weighed in, yet.
Around 3pm EDT, we got our answer from Bud Selig, the Commissioner of Baseball.
First, on behalf of Major League Baseball, I congratulate Armando Galarraga on a remarkable pitching performance. All of us who love the game appreciate the historic nature of his effort last night.
The dignity and class of the entire Detroit Tigers organization under such circumstances were truly admirable and embodied good sportsmanship of the highest order. Armando and Detroit manager Jim Leyland are to be commended for their handling of a very difficult situation. I also applaud the courage of umpire Jim Joyce to address this unfortunate situation honestly and directly. Jim’s candor illustrates why he has earned the respect of on-field personnel throughout his accomplished career in the Major Leagues since 1989.
As Jim Joyce said in his postgame comments, there is no dispute that last night’s game should have ended differently. While the human element has always been an integral part of baseball, it is vital that mistakes on the field be addressed. Given last night’s call and other recent events, I will examine our umpiring system, the expanded use of instant replay and all other related features. Before I announce any decisions, I will consult with all appropriate parties, including our two unions and the Special Committee for On-Field Matters, which consists of field managers, general managers, club owners and presidents.
There have been screams, rants and I’m sure threats, from those who do not agree with Selig. Those who do agree, including pundits, Tom Verducci and Tim Kurkjian, are pleased and will go off and find new stories to cover.
I wasn’t shocked at Selig’s decision to leave Joyce’s call in place. Not because he’s a baseball purist or this was ‘the right thing to do for the integrity of the game.’ No, because I remember a chatting with Bud Selig in the spring of 2001 when I was the head bartender at the Park Avenue Country Club when he told me “no one cares about baseball in Detroit.”
Although Pat Courtney in MLB’s PR office was kind enough to tell me otherwise during a short interview I posted in my May 10,2009 blog, I never believed him. It’s hard not to believe a man who looks you in the eye and tells you no one, including him, the Commissioner of Baseball cares about the game he lords over in your hometown.
This was the chance for Selig to do the right thing and bring baseball into the 21st Century. He should have awarded Galarraga the perfect game citing Jim Joyce’s statements, the video of the play, when it occurred in the game etc. Then Selig should have announced he wants replay brought into every MLB game. Although replay may come to Major League Baseball, Armando Galarraga was never going to get the proper satisfaction. His sin? He pitches for the Detroit Tiger and the Commissioner of Baseball doesn’t care about baseball in Detroit.
Makes you proud to be an American, huh?
Ads
Denizens of the Zola System
- A Visual Identity
- Ashley Morris
- Clip It Baby
- CNN
- Dennis Machinegun Thompson
- Detroit Free Press
- Detroit News
- e3 Your LIfe
- Fox News
- Henry Mena
- Hollywood Gem
- Jewish World Review
- Jimmy Fallon
- Mick Farren
- New York Daily News
- New York Post
- New York Times
- Open Salon
- Sacred Fools Theatre
- Scoop Momma
- Skip Williamson
- SPIN Magazine
- The Blacklisted Journalist
- The Choke
- The Financially Troubled Arizona Republic
- The Los Angeles Times
- The Nearly Famous Barry Young Show
- The Purple Gang
- The Wall Street Journal
- The Washington Post
- The Washington Times
Categories
- Alpha Female/Beta Male
- Assholes Anonymous
- Character Sundays
- Detroit Stories
- G-d's Guide To Home Appliance Repair and Sports Betting
- How Drunk Do You Have To Be To Get The Joke?
- Jimmy Fallon
- Overheard in a Los Angeles Bar
- Overheard in a New York Bar
- Overheard on the Subway
- Post Urban Culture
- Quotes from How To Fix a Horserace
- Rachel Kramer Bussel
- Skip Williamson
- Sleaze Culture
- The Best of the Zola System
- The Con
- The Core Belief
- The First Essential Scary Truth
- The Magic Bullet Theory
- The Martini Chronicles
- The Second Essential Scary Truth
- The Street Hustle
- The Summer Of 1992
- The Zola System In Action
- The Zola System On The Road
- Uncategorized
- What's in Your Fridge?
Archives
- February 2017
- May 2016
- May 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- March 2014
- January 2014
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008