Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga. Photo courtesy customauthenticjerseys.com.Last night, Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was on the brink of the 3rd perfect game this season, but his bid was derailed by one Jim Joyce. A perfect game is one of the rarest feats in baseball, and this season there have already been two (Oakland's Dallas Braden against Tampa on May 9 and Philadelphia's Roy Halladay against Florida on May 29). Last night, with two out in the bottom of the 9th, one batter away from the perfecto, Galarraga pitched to Jason Donald and made the out at 1st, but umpire Jim Joyce called Donald safe, spoiling the perfect game. Video replays clearly showed Galarraga had Donald out at 1st.
There has been a lot of debate as to whether or not instant replay should be used in baseball. Currently, it is only selectively used on home run calls but it should be expanded to safe/out calls on the basepaths. With expanded instant replay, calls like the one last night will happen less and umpires like Joyce won't have to deal with the public backlash like he and his wife have today (he's behind home plate in today's Tigers-Indians game).
I thought for sure that you would comment on the class in which Galarraga and Joyce have handled this situation. Joyce openly and emotionally has admitted he made a bad call. Shouldn't there be some way for that call to be overthrown without having to implement instant replay? This is a rare situation and all involved know without a shadow of a doubt that Gallaraga deserves the perfect game, yet MLB and other leaders in the sport won't overturn the call at first. I'm not all that interested in tarnishing the classic sport of baseball with the delays and controversy and technology infusion of instant replay, but at the same time.. there should be some kind of ruling to allow this kid to have his perfect game. Nevertheless... he has handled all of the events and attention with such class and Joyce has been immensely humble and apologetic. I hope that character is what history remembers.
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