Galarraga and Tigers robbed in 3-0 "perfect game" victory over the Tribe
by BigAl on Jun 3, 2010 6:17 AM EDT
in News
81 comments
Armando Galarraga pitched the best game I've ever personally seen. He was dominant, from first pitch to last. 88 pitches, 67 strikes. Galarraga pitched the game of his life against the Indians, as he tossed Major League Baseball's 21st perfect game.
28 Indians up. 28 Indians down.
What? How could there be 28 outs in a perfect game?
There is when the 1st base umpire, Jim Joyce, blatantly blows the call on what should have been was the 27th out.
I feel as if something was robbed from me. Something I'll never get back, and never see again in my lifetime. I cannot even fathom how Armando Galarraga and the Tigers must feel.
As I'm still livid, I could care less as to how Joyce feels, apologetic as he has been, despite his being considered one of baseball's better umpires...everywhere but in Detroit.
Via Lynn Henning of the Detroit News:
"I missed it, I missed it," Joyce barked, his voice at the extreme end of anguished.
"I took a perfect game from that kid who pitched a perfect game.
"It was the biggest call of my career and I kicked the (stuff) out of it.
"I'm sorry. I had a great angle and I missed the call."
"It was the biggest call of my career," said Joyce, who became a full-time major league umpire in 1989.
Joyce blew the biggest call of his career, and his legacy will live on in infamy, with the likes of Don Denkinger.
But you know what? It won't cost Joyce a thing in the eyes of Bud Selig Lite and MLB, who continue to defend the "human element" in baseball. Being a respected umpire, botched call be damned, Joyce will still get choice gigs, like working the ALCS and World Series.
But Galarraga will NEVER a chance at immortality again.
Doesn't seem fair, does it?
Galarraga will still go down in history. His getting screwed out of an "official" perfect game will hopefully be the impetus for instant replay throughout baseball...despite the technology being available for YEARS. I'm sure the NFL, NBA, NHL and NCAA could give Bud and the gang a few tips on implementing replay.
We can only hope.
After the game, everyone, from Galarraga,to Joyce, are saying the right things. Everyone is apologetic and trying to keep a stiff upper lip.
The Tigers can forgive Joyce. Personally, I want my pound of flesh.
Even though it was a night to remember at Comerica Park, there's pair of efforts being overlooked.
Lost in the post game controversy is a marvelous catch by Austin Jackson (Video at MLB.com) for the 1st out in the 9th inning. Jackson covered an amazing amount of ground to run down Mark Grudzielanek’s long drive to deep left center, then made a remarkable over the shoulder catch.
After Jackson saved the perfect game, I thought it was destiny for Galarraga. We all did. Joyce, apparently, felt differently.
Also glossed over is Miguel Cabrera continuing his run to the top of the short list for AL MVP. In the 2nd inning, Miggy gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead with his 15th home run of the season, and league leading 49th RBI. His 2 hit game raised his average to .351. He also made a slick fielding play on what should have been the final out of the game.
In the end, what was to be a celebration at Comerica Park was turned into a wake for what should have been. All due to MLB's much embraced human element.
In my eyes, in the eyes of Tigers fans, in the eyes of baseball fans everywhere, Armando Galarraga pitched a perfect game...even if MLB says otherwise, and refuses correct an crushingly obvious wrong.
Bud Selig can go to Hell.
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I think Armando is smiling
not only because, he has class, but he knew what we all know. It was a perfect game.
Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed
At any rate...
It’s good to finally see the AG of 2 years ago, when he won more games than Verlander that year!
My Tiger
I never had strong feelings one way or the other about Armando before tonight. The way he handled this has been pure class. Repost that poll on who everyone’s Tiger is and I bet Armando gets a few votes (including mine).
While Joyce clearly blew the call
From what I can tell, he dealt with his own error about as well as you could expect; to track down Galaragga and apologize in person was a classy move on his part.
He’s human, he erred.
The real issue here is the MLB’s replay rules, and the stick up Bud Selig’s ass. It’s just crazy to see Joyce call that “safe” and then watch the replay and see him wrong and then NO ONE can do anything about. Everyone, joyce included, agrees it was a bad call. Donald was out.
Nothing can be done.
That pretty much breaks down the legitimacy of a professional sport.
I feel terrible for Armando
horrible because he lost his chance at history and likely millions of dollars on his next contract. However, I also feel bad for an umpire. The first one of you who has never made a mistake at their job can jump all over Joyce. The rest of us need to mourn the loss and move on.
I'm not gonna hate on Jim Joyce
He’s generally a good umpire, even though he totally blew this call (how you can ignore the human urge to give the benefit of the doubt in that situation is beyond me, though). All I want is for Galarraga to get the official recognition that he deserves.
Doña of the VZ Mafia
by SabreRoseTiger on Jun 3, 2010 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
I feel terrible for Joyce too
He said he was convinced Donald beat the throw – there was no benefit of the doubt to be had.
i think in that split second
he talked himself out of it too. look at the replay – he was winding up for the punch out. then all of a sudden – boom! safe call.
What we saw tonight was a first, but the closest was in 1972...
The Cubs Milt Pappas was 1 strike away from a perfect game, and Bruce Froemming called 3 consecutive pitches balls for a walk. At least Pappas still got the no-hitter.
I'm owner/editor of The Wayne Fontes Experience a deputy editor at Bless You Boys and co-host The Knee Jerks podcast.
I don't want to pile on the umpire or insist he be perfect.
But I do want his mistake fixed; I don’t care how it gets done.
2 cents
I’ve heard him apologize and he genially feels bad and wish’s he could redo it, and I know if he could redo it he would and get the call right. I know all this and I do feel bad for him but part of me just can’t let it go.
It was the only thing stopping the perfect game the one call changes all of history for not only the Tigers (their first) but for MLB (3 Perfect Games in 1 season, 2 in 4days, all 3 in under 4 weeks) The call represents whats wrong with baseball (no video review) and all of sports when the players don’t decide the game but those officiating do. Unless they make this right it will leave a bitter taste on every fan and a black mark on baseball.
This was Galarraga’s night that was tarnished by the failures of mlb rules and their unwillingness to adept to today’s technology.
Since I'm not exactly a baseball historian, I'll ask this
Has a perfect game (or even a no-hitter) been lost on a blown call before, or is this the first time?
Doña of the VZ Mafia
It'd be impossible to know for sure, with all the ways umps affect games.
But certainly not in this fashion, on the 27th out. The closest thing I found – in 1908, umpire Cy Rigler admitted that he should have called Hooks Wiltse’s 1-2 pitch strike 3 – Wiltse then hit the batter on the next pitch. But who knows what actually happened in 1908…
I was at the game, just got back
Wow, I don’t even know what to say. The emotions were so high. I’m still sick about it. I’m uploading a video right now, I’ll link it when it finishes.
My impressions:
The crowd was amazing the last two innings
I thought that ball that Jackson caught was going to be a home run
When cabrera fielded that ball it was like in slow motion. When Galarraga covered and got the ball I thought it was out and started cheering. When the safe call was made I figured he had bobbled it.
The booing was so intense and wouldn’t go away even long after. There was a slight puase to cheer when the last out was recorded, then more booing
Cabrera was giving Joyce crap between each pitch, everyone was cheering him on.
Amazing….I just wish it was a perfect game. I could say I was at the only Tigers perfect game in history….I still feel so sick about it. Still keeping my ticket.
Riding shotgun on the Boesch Bandwagon!
by 30% Stud - 70% Muffin on Jun 3, 2010 12:18 AM EDT reply actions
Here's my video
Riding shotgun on the Boesch Bandwagon!
by 30% Stud - 70% Muffin on Jun 3, 2010 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Joyce said
“no one feels worse than me about that call”…………. Um, what about Armando, I bet he feels worse than you Jim Joyce – ass.
Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed
Armando did nothing but pitch one of the greatest games of all time
Joyce did nothing but completely, utterly fail at his job in a massively huge moment.
He's probably right, but it's still not the right thing to say
everything else he’s said, though, have been stand-up.
The thing that annoys me about the “Joyce feels so bad, what a stand-up guy” story is that he is doing the ONLY thing he could possibly do in this situation. I think he’s being genuine, but he had no choice but to get out in front of this thing and apologize ASAP.
One thing's for sure...
I never thought I’d see the day that “Armando Galarraga” would be a trending topic on Twitter.
Doña of the VZ Mafia
Let's hope he doesn't ask Bettman for tips...
Selig: Okay, guys, I have totally* called this meeting to get your ideas on how MLB should implement Instant Replay.
Goodell: Well, Bud, what you should do is leave this up to your coaches, but they have only a limited amount of challenges each game, and they lose their timeout if they’re wrong, and….
Selig: But then they’ll only get like 1/3 of the calls right. How do you guys do it in the NHL?
Bettman: Oh, what you do is send the tape to Toronto, at which point your team of experts will determine which team is wearing a Red Wings logo. The call is then returned to the refs, who may then judge the call to be whatever they think makes them not look bad because they intended to blow their whistles sometime in November of 1994.
Selig: Doesn’t that take a long time?
Bettman: Yes, but who cares about the teams playing anyways? Fans love the long breaks because that’s when we can play Sidney Crosby clips. That’s all our fans really want: Sidney Crosby….and Nascar. DUDE!!! Sidney Crosby in a NASCAR!!!
Selig: Oooookaaaay….Roger, got any advice?
Stern: Sure do. Keep it simple — use it only for plays that occur after the game ends.
Selig: That doesn’t really help us.
Stern: Oh. In that case, just have your refs call everything for the team that’s losing. Don’t want fans to turn off their TVs…
Selig: Fellas, this is not helpful. You - Big Ten guy over there — you guys do Instant Replay officiating. What do you do?
Delaney: Well, we have a guy sitting in a room with a DVR.
Selig: That’s it?
Delaney: That’s it.
Selig: A guy in a room with a DVR.
Delaney: Yup.
Selig: How is that going to satisfy your fans?
Delaney: Dude, that IS your fans.
Selig: This makes sense somehow. What can you do with it?
Delaney: What we try to do every time we change something….Try to Take Over the World!
*Use of “totally” in hopes of this becoming a Dinosaur Comics strip.
When the weird turn pro, the going get tough.
by Misopogon on Jun 3, 2010 12:20 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Funny...cause it's true!
I'm owner/editor of The Wayne Fontes Experience a deputy editor at Bless You Boys and co-host The Knee Jerks podcast.
Extended a bit...
Because that’s my favorite spot and I could edit it there, I posted a fuller version on MGoBlog:
When the weird turn pro, the going get tough.
I feel sorry for Joyce...
That being said, he deserves all the crap that people dish out on him. You make a sh!t call, you better be prepared to take the heat.
And yeah, Bud Selig better at least start considering replays.
Too bad that AJax catch is gonna be forgotten. And Griffey’s retirement got overshadowed by Joyce’s f**k up. Dang. This was a bad night.
But we won…
by DetroitTigersGeek on Jun 3, 2010 12:35 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Couple thoughts, since I was at work
1. Armando got boned. I’d use stronger language to describe Joyce but this is a family friendly site.
2. Why is it that as soon as I get off the Armando Galarraga bandwagon he throws a perfect game?
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys
Also
If we don’t get every call tomorrow with Joyce behind the plate, I’ll be shocked.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Jun 3, 2010 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Nah
I already read through. I know, trust me.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys
Note To Kurt, Al, and Co...
Next time Armando pitches, can you use that pic of Mr. Perfect again that you used for Dallas Braden?
/still in shock at almost 1am
http://designaterobertson.blogspot.com
Mr. Perfect is dead
that’s creepy.
by ChrisDTX on Jun 3, 2010 12:50 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Wrestling buries its own young and often.
Almost all my childhood wrestling heroes are dead or have stayed too long.
Dontrelle Willis apologist.
I think the Venezuelan Mafia
should make Mr. Selig an offer he can’t refuse
Silver lining
the Twins just lost on a similarly blown call. Literally the same call. Sweet!
by ChrisDTX on Jun 3, 2010 12:59 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Horrible call,
but the Tigs got the win, Galarraga and Bondo look real good lately, and hopefully this will be the spark the Tigs need to run off some wins.
Fangraphs response
Here. Totally agree.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys
i think you all need to chill out
bud selig hasn’t made any comments on tonight’s happenings. you end your article by telling him to go to hell? we can all read unfounded drivel somewhere else, just cover what happened tonight and wait until tomorrow to see what happens.
The next time Selig does something good for baseball, it will be the frist time...
Till then, my so-called “drivel” stands.
And Selig can go to Hell, because I know, deep down, nothing will be changed. Galarraga will still be screwed over, Joyce will still get to work the postseason, and MLB won’t do a thing about replay.
I'm owner/editor of The Wayne Fontes Experience a deputy editor at Bless You Boys and co-host The Knee Jerks podcast.
Keep the drivel
Selig screwed up by not having replay to prevent this from happening. And hey, what are blogs but “unfounded drivel” from people who just like to write about sports? If I wanted someone to just cover what happened tonight and wait til tomorrow, I’d read the official stuff. There’s a place for being a little over-the-top and visceral, and it’s right here.
"A little over the top"....sure
but we shouldn’t be ignoring the classy way this was all handled last night. Galaragga smiled. Joyce apologized. And Selig hasn’t had time enough to take action on anything. So let’s let it play out, that’s all I’m saying.
Disagree that MLB won't do a thing
I have a hard time believing they’ll overturn the call, but this will lead to something. We’re talking about a guy who instituted the idiotic All Star Game/World Series homefield advantage rule just because of a tied exhibition game in which there was no one left to pitch.
He’s not a great commish, but he knows when he has a shitstorm on his hands. This qualifies. He’ll do something.
"But he knows when he has a shitstorm on his hands"
…yet he sat on his hands and let the whole steroids era play out?
by handsomerob1 on Jun 3, 2010 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Jim Joyce should be banned from baseball umpire, seriously
Major League Baseball Commissioner – Bud Selig absolutely has to apply common sense here, a Award Galaragga a perfect game, Selig must use his authoritive powers and overrule the blown call by Jim Joyce – umpire…It wasn’t that close, the hold world seen it expect Jim Joyce – umpire…too bad for Armando – this time it’s time to instant replay
I just relized after several times watching the replay, I relized Jim Joyce was watching guillen or cabrera instead of watching the play at IB, omg then Jim Joyce relizing the play is over with he never saw really happened, thats why the call was made ‘’ safe ’’ neverless, play as an umpire always looks too play in front of him he can’t do that!..thusly, the perfect game was ruined…
Same here.
And I have to work in 5 hours. It’s just so aggravating.
I really hope Selig does something. I don’t see what he gains by just sitting there.
by Terrence J. Lynch on Jun 3, 2010 2:49 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree
I mean, he has to take some kind of action. He will lose any shred of credibility he might still possess if he doesn’t.
by kendra.michelle on Jun 3, 2010 2:58 AM EDT up reply actions
My issue is that he's got to protect his ump here.
Right now, he’s Public Enemy #1 in Detroit and he still has to ump another game there. The best thing he can do is correct the mistake so the guy doesn’t have to live with that the rest of his life. And especially not when it’s going to put himself and his family in danger. Selig has a chance to fall on his sword for his ump’s mistake.
by Terrence J. Lynch on Jun 3, 2010 3:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I've calmed down a lot
but I’m not tired at all.
by kendra.michelle on Jun 3, 2010 2:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Not me, I'm full of piss and vinegar.
Before it was just vinegar!
by Terrence J. Lynch on Jun 3, 2010 3:01 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm to the point where I can hardly believe it actually happened
Then I just watch more coverage or read more about it and my heart breaks all over again.
by kendra.michelle on Jun 3, 2010 3:02 AM EDT up reply actions
When ESPN played the reactions of other announcers
I felt sad and angry all over again.
Part of me feels, though, that it would have to be the Tigers for this to happen. Only other Tigers fans know what I mean by that though.
Dontrelle Willis apologist.
by 13194013 on Jun 3, 2010 3:06 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I know exactly what you mean
I had the same thought earlier today.
by kendra.michelle on Jun 3, 2010 3:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Honestly, the only way I will ever get over this is if we win it all this year.
And as much as I’d love that to happen, it’s not exactly the odds on favorite for this year.
I hope we just start kicking ass for a while after this debacle.
by Terrence J. Lynch on Jun 3, 2010 3:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe this'll light a fire under their asses
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys
Still pissed off
And it’s the next day already… Dang.
by DetroitTigersGeek on Jun 3, 2010 4:30 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
wait.
what is preventing MLB from simply CHANGING the call? why can they not go back and fix it? why are they clinging to a rule in the face of how wrong it is? it makes me worried.
by the way,
in one sense it was the greatest game ever pitched: i doubt anyone else has ever gotten more than 27 outs in a perfect game.
On May 26, 1959, Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitched what is often referred to as the greatest game in baseball history.47 Haddix carried a perfect game through an unprecedented 12 innings against the Milwaukee Braves, only to have it ruined when an error by third baseman Don Hoak allowed Felix Mantilla, the leadoff batter in the bottom of the 13th inning, to reach base.
So, while in the end it wasn’t a perfect game, he did go more than 9 innings of perfection. Of course, being the Pirates, they couldn’t help him out.
Wow
Doing some reading on Wikipedia, this is the 3rd time the Tigers have lost a perfect game on the 27th batter.
On August 5, 1932, Tommy Bridges of the Detroit Tigers gave up a pinch-hit single to the Washington Senators’ Dave Harris.
On April 15, 1983, Milt Wilcox of the Tigers surrendered a pinch-hit single to the White Sox’ Jerry Hairston, Sr.
It's time...
With so much on the line, its time for baseball to join all other sports and allow the ability to overturn obviously incorrect calls such as this. There’s no need to delay the game more than a few seconds with a replay official upstairs to review and confirm the call within moments, when all of us at home saw the call was wrong.
Joyce blew TWO calls within an inning, as Damon was out in the bottom of the 8th, which led directly to two insurance runs…had that been the difference in the game, the Tribe fans would be crying about that now. To have games – and therefore, careers & salaries, subject to random incorrect calls is tragic.
To that end, in modern sports, this blown call costs MONEY. AG would’ve joined history with a perfect game – signing autographs for the rest of his life – and this probably costs the Tigers about $1m in gate & lost trinket sales over the rest of the season in celebration.
If this had been NYY-BOS, you can bet there would be a frenzy over this until the rules were changed, but because it was DET-CLE, and a nobody named Galarraga, it will be a fuss for a couple days, then forgotten as "part of the game."
The world's greatest wiffle ball tournament! TheFatty.com
i like that you reference the damon call
i thought he was out too.
by redwingxviii on Jun 3, 2010 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions
progressive replay?
History teaches in political thought and deed that liberal thinking brings changes and that conservatives will do anything to stop the changes , They always use the the 4 D’s-decieve, distort, degrade and if nothing else they destroy. And sooner or later the liberal thinking wins out and the ideas are carried out over the objections of the dinosaurs in charge. Mr. Selig , you may not give us instant replay during your tenure but we will get it in the future, And like the Judge who kept blacks out of the Major leagues – you will go down in history as a JOKE. Too bad for you are also the one responsible cleaning up the steroid mess. Now critics will twist it as you had no courage or vision of equity in anything. Grant
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