Apparently, MLB is looking into it... [rquoter]MLB deciding whether to review blown call NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball was still deciding Thursday morning whether to review the umpire's blown call that cost Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game. Commissioner Bud Selig has the power to reverse umpire Jim Joyce's missed call that came with two outs in the ninth inning Wednesday night in Detroit. Joyce ruled Cleveland's Jason Donald safe, then admitted he got it wrong. Selig would likely consult with his top advisers before making such a ruling. St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa says the call should be overturned. Joyce was scheduled to be back at work Thursday afternoon, umpiring at home plate in the game between the Tigers and Indians. In 1991, a panel headed by then-commissioner Fay Vincent took a look at the record book and decided to throw out 50 no-hitters for various reasons. The instantly infamous play, which had social networking sites all abuzz, will add to the argument that baseball needs to expand its use of replays. As of now, they can only be used for questionable home runs. Galarraga bitterly sipped a beer minutes after the blown call negated his place in baseball history. An apology and hug changed his attitude after Joyce, in tears, asked for a chance to apologize after the Tigers beat the Indians 3-0. It's rare for an umpire to acknowledge a mistake in one of the few sports that relies heavily on the human eye, but Joyce did to reporters and later to Galarraga. "It was the biggest call of my career, and I kicked the [stuff] out of it," Joyce said, looking and sounding distraught as he paced in the umpires' locker room. "I just cost that kid a perfect game." Leyland was livid during the game when he charged out of the dugout to argue the call and got in another heated discussion with Joyce after the final out. Later, though, Leyland tried to give Joyce a break. "The players are human, the umpires are human, the managers are human," Leyland said. Galarraga tried to calm his nerves with a beer after the game after almost getting to celebrate the first perfect game in franchise history. "You don't see an umpire after the game come out and say, 'Hey, let me tell you I'm sorry," Galarraga said. "He felt really bad. He didn't even shower." Galarraga, who was barely known outside of Detroit a day ago, and Joyce, whose career had flourished in relative anonymity, quickly became trending topics on Twitter. At least one anti-Joyce Facebook page was created shortly after the game ended and firejimjoyce.com was launched. "I worked with Don Denkinger, and I know what he went through, but I've never had a moment like this," Joyce said. Denkinger didn't have to deal with the wrath of fans on Twitter or Facebook. Denkinger helped tilt the 1985 World Series by blowing a call as a first base umpire, and that followed him throughout his career. Joyce has been calling balls and strikes and deciding if runners are out or safe as a full-time major league umpire since 1989. He has been respected enough to be on the field for two World Series, 11 other playoff series and a pair of All-Star games. A split-second decision he made will probably haunt him for the rest of his career. Joyce emphatically signaled safe when Donald clearly didn't beat a throw to first base for what would've been the last out, setting off a chorus of groans and boos that echoed in Comerica Park. Chuck Klonke, the official scorer Wednesday night with nearly three decades of experience, said he would not change the disputed play to an error from a hit to give Galarraga a no-hitter. "I looked at the replay right after it happened, and Miguel Cabrera made a good throw and Galarraga didn't miss the bag so you couldn't do anything but call it a hit," Klonke said Thursday morning. "I watched the replay from the center-field camera, which some people thought showed Galarraga might've bobbled the ball, and I didn't see it that way at all. I have 24 hours to change a call, but I wouldn't consider it. More on ESPN.com Curt Schilling Curt Schilling feels bad, both for Armando Galarraga because he missed a perfect game and for umpire Jim Joyce, who is about to hear a lot of nasty things over the next few days, weeks and months. Story Jerry Crasnick Armando Galarraga and Jim Joyce will forever be linked thanks to one unfortunate moment on a night that should have been about the celebration of perfection. Story Jayson Stark ESPN.com's Jayson Stark thinks it's time once again to say those four words Bud Selig doesn't want to hear: We need more replay. Story Jayson Stark ESPNNewYork.com's Ian O'Connor says Bud Selig has a chance to right a wrong and award Armando Galarraga a perfect game. Story "End of story." Not quite. The story has transcended sports, becoming a topic on NBC's "Today" show Thursday morning and among parents dropping off their kids at the bus stop. Galarraga was vying for the third perfect game in the majors this year, including Roy Halladay's gem last Saturday night. He seemed to do his job for the 27th out along with first baseman Cabrera on a play teams work on often in spring training. Donald hit a grounder in the hole between first and second, Cabrera fielded it and threw to first, where Galarraga caught the ball at least a step ahead of Donald, replays showed. "I feel sad," Galarraga said. Cabrera said he didn't want to talk about it and Donald answered questions from reporters after a long soak in the tub. "I didn't know if I beat the throw or not," Donald said. "But given the circumstances, I thought for sure I'd be called out." The Tigers huddled around one of the two big-screen televisions in their clubhouse, standing stoically and silently as the play was shown over and over. "I know I played in a perfect game," Detroit shortstop Ramon Santiago said. "In my mind, on June 2, Armando Galarraga threw a no-hitter. I'm going to get a ball signed by him."[/rquoter]
I feel like there's an easy caveat here. "If the play in question would have ended the game but did not, we can take a look since, if the play is overturned, the game would have been over and nothing could have possibly happened afterwards"
I agree completely. It's a travesty and sucks for all involved...but you can't change what happened. Today's game should be interesting with Joyce behind home plate. Hopefully, the fans leave him alone.
That negates the importance of every other play in the game. Assume the exact same call is made in the 8th inning and ends up costing the team 4 runs and eventually the game. Why is a call that costs a pitcher a perfect game, more important than one which could very well have cost them the game? Simple fix which already exists. Ask the other umpires for help on questionable calls. The second and third base umpires probably had a pretty good view, maybe even better than the first.
It's not negating the importance. It's just saying that, the rules will not allow us to change things that already happened. But, if there happens to be a situation which, if correct, would conclude that nothing would have ever happened...then we make the change. Yes, the 4 run 8th inning gaffe would suck...but who knows how anything would have played out had the call been correct? For that matter, if this same Galaragga/Joyce play happened with only 1 out in the inning...I'd say, "No, you can't change it". But give that there were 2 outs in the 9th.. I think the inevitability of the following events makes it allowable.
And if they want to create that rule going forward, I am O.K. with it. Just don't retroactively apply it. I am sure there have been a number of game ending plays that could have been reviewed this year. It would be unfair to all of those situations to apply it retroactively for one team, but not another.
reviewed the day after? i.e. they would have to be plays that would have ended the game, but didn't (due to a bad call). If so, I'm with you. I just think that's not so common. (Because if it's the reverse...if it's a play that ended the game, but shouldn't have due to a bad call.. then you can't change the call the next day. You would have to go back and play the rest of the game. That's more than just a decision...that's logistics, playing a game at a different time, etc. Now you're changing the variables, and that's something that I think needs a vote type thing as much as many other possibilities.)
So what happens, for example, if its game 7 of the World Series. Bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, home team down 1-0. A runner is called safe like yesterday on a call that would have ended the game. Next batter hits a HR to win the game and the World Series. Does MLB, the next day, change it since we conclusively know the game would have been over, and award the entire series to the other team?
Getting it right is more important...Selig can overturn it, that is indisputable. Whether he should can be debated, but IMO, it is 100% the RIGHT thing to do. No one gets hurt and MLB comes off looking better. I would bet even the Umpire would agree. And saying it opens a can of worms...lol....people question calls all the time..so what? DD
WTF? Are you kidding me? The ump should call the right call every time. Forget all that situational crap. If he would have been safe, I would expect the fair call...who are you, David Stern's brother?
Why Selig shouldn't make an one-time exception to overturn call By 'Duk http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/bi...t=ApBZrxrmepO76ryY9bhS2qc5nYcB?urn=mlb,245450 This is exactly how I feel about this.
sadly, i think yes, they should overturn it. though hopefully before that situation comes up, replay will be instituted in some fashion (maybe 9th inning calls, maybe specific types of calls, maybe manager's challenges..who knows)
I'd be curious about the history behind this? I don't particularly care about the other past games - that's no different than changing rules on replay for example. Just because we allow replay of HRs now doesn't mean we go back to the Yankees-Orioles playoff series and look if that guy reached over to catch it. But I do think there's a lot of issues going forward. I think it would be a horrible precedent to start saying we're going to change outcomes of the games after the fact - it ruins the whole game experience if you don't know for sure what you're celebrating. What if Joyce had ruled the guy out when he was safe? Is that worthy of then deleting the perfect game (that goes back to my initial question above)?
Just do what the NBA does allow teams to protest it, and then decide whether to uphold the protest or not. Leave the power with the commissionars office. DD
Man i was watchin this last night and couldnt beleive that terrible call imo i think it should be over turned its the right thing to do the guy deserved it. What really shocked me was how well gallaraga took it class act i tell ya.
It wouldn't be a big deal if they overturn this AND create a solid new 'play review' rule for future issues. But I agree that they can't just change the rules for this one instance.
Sure they can, at the end of the day who cares? The game had the same score, the outcome the same, so what? The important thing to me is just getting it RIGHT......nothing else matters. At least to me. DD
It seems like the pine-tar game provides precedent for reversing the call. Of course, the big difference with that case was that the ump misinterpreted the rule instead of blowing a call. However, I think the AL President reinstated George Brett's home run and had the teams finish the game.
And that question is very relevant to this. People are basing their opinions on emotion rather than logic and the facts. If Joyce blows the call and the guy ends up safe, the Indians make a little stink about it, the Tigers celebrate, ESPN has another great headline, nobody gives a crap about it.
