Wow! Still trying to find the words to properly express my feelings on last night's game in Detroit. Tigers' starter Armando Gallaraga retired the first 26 batters he faced before Indians short stop Jason Donald reached base on a blown call by first base umpire Jim Joyce. Donald hustled hard down the line after chopping a ball near the hole between first baseman Miguel Cabrera and second baseman Carlos Guillen. Cabrera got to it and after settling himself fired a perfect strike to Gallaraga who was covering the bag. Joyce was in position, yet ruled Donald safe when clearly he was out by one-half step. The term 'bang-bang' is used to describe a play close enough to go either way. This was no such play. Donald was out and it wasn't close.While Tigers skipper Jim Leyland argued profusely after the game concluded, it was too late for anything to be done. Gallaraga admitted his disappointment but also recognized that umpires are human and mistakes are made. Joyce ran back to the clubhouse and watched the replay. Upon realizing his error he apologized immediately and publicly. The emotion in his voice was genuine and sincere. No one feels worse than Joyce that he robbed this kid of something that only 20 men have done in the lengthy history of this game. Leyland even admitted that Joyce is one of the better umpires in the game and he was merely protecting his player and venting his frustration when he confronted Joyce after the game.
Today, every media outlet that covers sports is talking about this tragedy. As I'm writing this, Commissioner Bud Selig is discussing the possibility of reversing the call. This is a dicey situation. First of all, the main glory in tossing a perfect game is being mobbed by your teammates and receiving a standing ovation from the fans. Reversed call or not, Gallaraga will never have that feeling. Secondly, while I think all of Major League Baseball would agree that reversing the call is the right thing to do to get this kid what he deserves, the precedent being set is volatile. This is a very special circumstance where an epically historical moment took place. The call in question didn't happen in the third inning or sixth inning, or even on the first batter in the ninth inning. It happened on the the would-be 27th out. Had the call been made correctly, the game is over and history is made. In this circumstance alone, I agree with over-turning the call and making things right. However, this should not and cannot be an everyday thing. When video footage clearly shows a call was kicked, the Commissioner cannot reverse every ruling. I fear that teams will get too loose with their requests for review. That will ruin the game of baseball.
The kid pitched one hell of a game; an absolute gem. He deserves to have his performance recognized as perfect. Selig has to make a tremendously difficult decision. I just hope this phenomenal moment doesn't alter the way games are officiated from here on out.
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