Blown call costs Tigers' Galarraga perfect game in 9th

[Tweety]

We've already had two perfect games this season, and should have had a third one tonight!


Blown call costs Galarraga perfect game in 9th

By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer


DETROIT (AP)—Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers lost his bid for a perfect game Wednesday night with two outs in the ninth inning on a call that first base umpire Jim Joyce later admitted he blew.

First baseman Miguel Cabrera cleanly fielded Jason Donald’s grounder to his right and made an accurate throw to Galarraga covering the bag. The ball was there in time, and all of Comerica Park was ready to celebrate the 3-0 win over Cleveland, until Joyce emphatically signaled safe

The veteran ump regretted it.

“I just cost that kid a perfect game,” Joyce said. “I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw, until I saw the replay.”

“It was the biggest call of my career,” said Joyce, who became a full-time major league umpire in 1989.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland immediately argued the call and was joined by several of his players after the final out. Galarraga was trying to pitch the third perfect game in the majors this season.

Galarraga (2-1) was in complete control throughout the night. Then Donald’s groundball became the flash point of the night, and perhaps the season.

After center fielder Austin Jackson made a spectacular catch on Mark Grudzielanek’s leadoff fly in the ninth and Mike Redmond grounded out, Donald came up with two outs.

Galarraga caught Cabrera’s toss and smiled, knowing what he’d just done. He held up his glove hand and started to make an out call with his right hand.

And then Joyce made his call. Galarraga looked stunned and Comerica Park went silent in disbelief. A couple of Tigers put their hands to their heads.

Galarraga quietly 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.

Joyce faced a group of hostile Tigers—led by Leyland—between the pitching mound and home plate after the final out and was booed lustily by the crowd of 17,738 as he walked off the field.

“I don’t blame them a bit or anything that was said,” Joyce said. “I would’ve said it myself if I had been Galarraga. I would’ve been the first person in my face, and he never said a word to me.”

Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched a perfect game Saturday night at Florida, and Dallas Braden of the Oakland Athletics did it against Tampa Bay on May 9. Until then, there had never been two perfect games in the same season in the modern era.

Colorado’s Ubaldo Jimene pitched a no-hitter, too, at Atlanta on April 17.

Galarraga struck out three and walked none, and was a most unlikely star. He was recalled from Triple-A Toledo on May 16 after pitching poorly during spring training, losing out in a competition for the final spot in the rotation to Dontrelle Willis, who was traded Tuesday, and Nate Robertson, who was dealt to Florida toward before the team broke camp.

The 28-year-old native of Venezuela had success in 2008, going 13-7, but he had done nothing quite like the masterful performance he had against the Indians.

He started with a 2-0 count against Crowe, then attacked the strike zone and kept most of the weakly hit balls on the infield.

Cabrera hit his 15th homer to give Detroit a 1-0 lead in the second inning and Magglio Ordonez had an RBI single in the two-run eighth.

Fausto Carmona (4-4) pitched well. He gave up three runs—two earned—on nine hits and no walks.

The Indians came close to getting a hit twice before their disputed single.

Galarraga almost became the first Tiger to throw a perfect game. Justin Verlander threw the sixth no-hitter in franchise history on June 12, 2007.



Here's a video from youtube, taken on a home video camera pointed at a TV screen

[Big C]

I'm sure the Cleveland fans on here will be relieved to know they weren't on the wrong end of history.

[Marvo301]

I wonder if Major League Baseball has any mechanism in place for overthrowing this umpire's blown call and putting this one in the books as a perfect game? It would only be fair.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Big C

I'm sure the Cleveland fans on here will be relieved to know they weren't on the wrong end of history.

For once!! Seriously, I was watching the replays and there is no doubt that the ump blew the call. I am sure that the call will be overruled and he'll get credit for the perfect game, but I feel bad that he won't be able to have celebrated it in the moment, you know? I don't blame the Tigers fans in attendance for being angry. If the game was played in Cleveland and our pitcher had gotten the shaft - we'd be all over the umps, too!!!

Plus, let us not forget one event where the Cleveland faithful left no doubt as to our feelings about a bad call - I was actually at the stadium to witness it!!!

December 16, 2001, Cleveland Browns Stadium -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br6F0RnETwU

[Marvo301]

Originally Posted by catlover79

For once!! Seriously, I was watching the replays and there is no doubt that the ump blew the call. I am sure that the call will be overruled and he'll get credit for the perfect game, but I feel bad that he won't be able to have celebrated it in the moment, you know? I don't blame the Tigers fans in attendance for being angry. If the game was played in Cleveland and our pitcher had gotten the shaft - we'd be all over the umps, too!!!

Plus, let us not forget one event where the Cleveland faithful left no doubt as to our feelings about a bad call - I was actually at the stadium to witness it!!!

December 16, 2001, Cleveland Browns Stadium -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br6F0RnETwU

Wow! I think that may the worst job of officiating I have ever seen! If it wasn't for bad luck the Browns would have no luck at all!

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Wow! I think that may the worst job of officiating I have ever seen! If it wasn't for bad luck the Browns would have no luck at all!

That was the last home game the Browns had that year (the last two were played on the road - I think Green Bay and Tennessee, but I'm not sure).

The next season - there were no more beer bottles served at Cleveland Browns stadium!!!

It was stupid, but I felt kind of special in a way that I had attended the worst case of fan rioting at a Cleveland sporting event since the Indians had the nickel beer night back in '74. The fans in attendance were so tanked that they started to storm the field and the Indians had to forfeit the game. Needless to say, they never tried that promotion again.

To this day, December 16, 2001 in Cleveland has been referred to as "Bottlegate".

[Marvo301]

Originally Posted by catlover79

That was the last home game the Browns had that year (the last two were played on the road - I think Green Bay and Tennessee, but I'm not sure).

The next season - there were no more beer bottles served at Cleveland Browns stadium!!!

It was stupid, but I felt kind of special in a way that I had attended the worst case of fan rioting at a Cleveland sporting event since the Indians had the nickel beer night back in '74. The fans in attendance were so tanked that they started to storm the field and the Indians had to forfeit the game. Needless to say, they never tried that promotion again.

To this day, December 16, 2001 in Cleveland has been referred to as "Bottlegate".

You can definitely say you were part of history! Maybe not Cleveland's proudest moment but an historic night none the less. Is it just me or do Clevelanders drink a little? Okay a lot!

[catlover79]

For the record, I did not drink a drop (even if I wanted to, the prices were ridiculous!!), I was not swearing (hear the chants of "BS" in the background?), and neither was my friend Steve that I happened to attend the game with. We were in the upper deck and watching those bottles fly onto the field was like watching a chain reaction. Both of us just sat there open-mouthed, in shock. No announcement was made over the PA imploring people to stop (even though it wouldn't have made any difference). So I turned to Steve and said, "are we going to forfeit?" and that's when the ref said that was the end of the game.

Steve and I attended the same church at that time, so we went to the service and then drove to a nearby plaza, left the car and got on the bus to get to the stadium in downtown Cleveland. We didn't want to pay for parking and then have to walk a million miles to an from the garage.

So as we quiet and chastened fans (mainly elderly folk and middle-aged married couples with some college kids like us mixed in) climbed onto the bus after the game, I kept expecting the bus driver to yell at us (like if you and your class misbehave on a field trip and a teacher or bus driver yells? ) But of course he didn't, but it was a pretty quiet ride back anyway. I think everyone was worn out!!

So I think that umpire in Detroit should be happy that he wasn't in Cleveland and blew a call for a Cleveland team!!!

[Tweety]

Unfortunately, a judgment call can't be reversed. Galarraga's game will simply go into the record books as a 1-hitter.

I remember Milt Pappas missing a perfect game in 1972 when he walked a batter with two out in the ninth on a 3-2 pitch that was very close. The count on the 27th batter (Larry Stahl) was 2-2 and the ump (Bruce Froemming) called two straight balls on very close pitches. That marked the only time in history that a perfect game was broken up by a walk to the 27th batter. Pappas still got the no hitter. That would have been the only perfect game of the 70s.

Galarraga was certainly a good sport right after the call was made. I guess he was just incredulous.

I'm pretty sure that this will lead to the use of instant replay on a wider scale in baseball...the only question is, will they start right away, or perhaps after the all star break, or wait until next season?

[TVFactFan]

It was reported on Foxsports.com that Bud Selig may reverse the call today and give Galarrage the no-hitter


Let's see what happens

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Tweety

Unfortunately, a judgment call can't be reversed. Galarraga's game will simply go into the record books as a 1-hitter.

I remember Milt Pappas missing a perfect game in 1972 when he walked a batter with two out in the ninth on a 3-2 pitch that was very close. The count on the 27th batter (Larry Stahl) was 2-2 and the ump (Bruce Froemming) called two straight balls on very close pitches. That marked the only time in history that a perfect game was broken up by a walk to the 27th batter. Pappas still got the no hitter. That would have been the only perfect game of the 70s.

Galarraga was certainly a good sport right after the call was made. I guess he was just incredulous.

I'm pretty sure that this will lead to the use of instant replay on a wider scale in baseball...the only question is, will they start right away, or perhaps after the all star break, or wait until next season?

On our local news, our sports anchor was saying the same thing. He said, it's reasons like this that you need instand replay in baseball. I'm guessing if they do put it into effect, it won't be for awhile.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

It was reported on Foxsports.com that Bud Selig may reverse the call today and give Galarrage the no-hitter


Let's see what happens

Should be interesting!!

[Chelsea]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5248118

Baseball comissioner Bud Selig said he would look at the game's umpiring system and the expanded use of instant replay, but would not reverse the blown call that cost Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers a perfect game on Wednesday night.

"While the human element has always been an integral part of baseball, it is vital that mistakes on the field be addressed," Selig said in a statement. "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."
---------
And, Selig being Selig, absolutely nothing will change ultimately. From everything I can recall hearing, Selig absolutely abhors the idea of instant replay in baseball.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Seth

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5248118

Baseball comissioner Bud Selig said he would look at the game's umpiring system and the expanded use of instant replay, but would not reverse the blown call that cost Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers a perfect game on Wednesday night.

"While the human element has always been an integral part of baseball, it is vital that mistakes on the field be addressed," Selig said in a statement. "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."
---------
And, Selig being Selig, absolutely nothing will change ultimately. From everything I can recall hearing, Selig absolutely abhors the idea of instant replay in baseball.

I knew it wouldn't be overturned because there is no such thing as a "delayed perfect game"

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Seth

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5248118

Baseball comissioner Bud Selig said he would look at the game's umpiring system and the expanded use of instant replay, but would not reverse the blown call that cost Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers a perfect game on Wednesday night.

"While the human element has always been an integral part of baseball, it is vital that mistakes on the field be addressed," Selig said in a statement. "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."
---------
And, Selig being Selig, absolutely nothing will change ultimately. From everything I can recall hearing, Selig absolutely abhors the idea of instant replay in baseball.

I'm still baffled as to why he is still MLB commissioner. He's to MLB what Jeff Zucker was/is to NBC.