Man I hate Umps: Blown call costs Tigers' Galarraga perfect game

[Bonecrusher#31]

Blown call costs Tigers' Galarraga perfect game

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300602106

DETROIT -- 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.

Galarraga (2-1) was in complete control throughout the night and on track for the third perfect game of the season. Then Donald's groundball became the flashpoint of the night.

With two outs, Donald hit a bouncer that first baseman Miguel Cabrera fielded to his right. He took his time and made an accurate throw to Galarraga covering the bag.

The ball appeared to be in Galarraga's glove just before Donald made it to first base, replays indicated. Galarraga smiled, held up his glove hand and started to make an out call with his right hand.

But Joyce, a veteran umpire, made an emphatic safe call and Comerica Park went silent in disbelief. A couple of Tigers put their hands to their heads.

Galarraga merely smiled and went back to work as the crowd started to boo. Cabrera continued to argue the call as Galarraga quickly retired Trevor Crowe for the one-hit shutout.

 

[Dawgs0916]

I saw that. That was beyond ridiculous. If that call is even semi close, which it really wasn't in baseball terms, you give him the out!

Wow, I am furious, and sad for Galarraga. Wow wow wow.

 

[miamicowboy21]

Joyce needs to be suspended for at least 2 weeks. That wasn't even close. The guy was out by a full step.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Wahh.

Edit: I just saw what happened. Wow..that's unreal. I hope he gets a perfect game rewarded to him. He even lost his no hitter.

 

[peplaw06]

I saw that. That was beyond ridiculous. If that call is even semi close, which it really wasn't in baseball terms, you give him the out!

Wow, I am furious, and sad for Galarraga. Wow wow wow.

This.

 

[jimmy40]

and yet to turn a double play all short/2nd have to do is be within eyesight of second base when they catch the ball. freakin umps

 

[SA_Gunslinger]

Saw it live, and two hours later I am still blown away by this. Unreal.

 

[Phoenix]

Wow.

I agree. Hope it somehow miraculously gets overturned but it won't.

 

[Hostile]

Holy Moses. Welcome back Don Denkinger.

 

[Alumni2k11]

Wow, that sucks.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

**** happens I guess. It's just too bad that they don't have a way to review the play in baseball.

 

[DFWJC]

**** happens I guess. It's just too bad that they don't have a way to review the play in baseball.

That was my thought as well.
The ump made a horrendous call and after the game actually apologized to the pitcher and said on the news that he blew a call that "cost that kid a perfect game". I do think they should be able to overturn critical calls like that during a baseball game.

Gallaraga basically said the same thing---that he could tell the ump felt terrible but that he wished they had some sort of usable replay.

 

[jimmy40]

lost in all this is the fact that the first baseman turned the most routine ground ball to the second baseman into a blown perfect game.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Can't help but feel bad for the kid. I mean, you maybe get one chance in your whole life for something that is perfect in anything.

I actually feel bad for the Ump as well. You could see that he felt badly and it's just a shame. You can't take it back. It was a bad call, everybody knew it and you can't undo it.

 

[Yeagermeister]

lost in all this is the fact that the first baseman turned the most routine ground ball to the second baseman into a blown perfect game.

How so? He caught the ball and touched the base well before the runner. It doesn't matter if he snow coned it. He caught the ball and held on to it. The ump is at fault.

 

[DMOB]

Bud Selig has the power to over turn the play. I would not be suprised if he didn't. It was wayyyyyy to obvious.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Bud Selig has the power to over turn the play. I would not be suprised if he didn't. It was wayyyyyy to obvious.

And the right thing to do

 

[Phoenix]

That pitcher was the epitome of class with the way he handled the situation. Kudos to him.

Meanwhile, the governor of Michigan, I saw, issued a proclamation that the kid did in fact pitch a perfect game, not that that does much good, but it was a nice gesture on her part, I thought.

 

[Phoenix]

I knew it. Stupid MLB commish refuses to reverse the call. What a *****bag.

 

[jimmy40]

How so? He caught the ball and touched the base well before the runner. It doesn't matter if he snow coned it. He caught the ball and held on to it. The ump is at fault.

it was the second baseman's ball I thought.