Unofficially perfect, Armando Galarraga and Jim Joyce meet again

by Kurt Mensching on Sep 10, 2010 6:00 AM EDT in Detroit Tigers Analysis

Three months ago, we learned the only thing that could derail perfection was imperfection.

Twenty-seven batters came up to bat against Armando Galarraga, and 27 batters were, by rule, put out. However, the last, by way of Jim Joyce's human element, was ruled safe. You know the rest of story. Galarraga smiled a confused smile, stepped back on the mound, and retired a 28th consecutive batter.

Debate erupted in the media what to do about the perfect game gone awry, what to do about possibly the most visible error by an umpire in the history of the game. But Galarraga cut through all of it by accepting the result with class, accepting Joyce's contrition and reminding all of us: It's just a game. We're all human. Mistakes happen. Life, and baseball, keep marching on.

Soon, the moment faded. Joyce shook the guilt of the mistake, and actually found himself officiating another no-hitter not too much later. Galarraga reverted to an inconsistent pitcher who seemed to lack confidence in his perfect stuff. The record books show a one-hitter. There's 20 perfect games. How many one hitters are there ... in a season?

Well, if you've read the headline, you know what's tonight. Armando Galarraga is scheduled to take the mound for the Tigers and Jim Joyce is scheduled to stand behind home plate calling his game. (He was the first base umpire on the fateful night that forever linked the duo.)

These few months later have your feelings changed about the imperfect episode?

It's difficult.

Me, I get the human element. I get that it was a beautiful lesson for sports parents that if a guy at the top level of the sport loses the opportunity to have his name in the history books, and he does so with grace, maybe you shouldn't be so hard on the volunteers that make sure Little Johnny can play a game with his friends. (To continue that thought: You shouldn't be as hard on the sportswriters, bloggers or fellow commenters, either).

Put it behind us? I still haven't seen a pitcher for my team throw a perfect game. "Almost perfect"? No, I am not going to accept that phrase, no matter how many times it is autographed and sold for $100. "Unofficially perfect" it is. I can't help but wish that the MLB had done something to make it right. When we all see it. When we all know it. There's just something unpalatable about accepting the perfect footnote, if it remains even that in the years that will follow.

I hold no grudge against Joyce. I hold no grudge against baseball. I remain disappointed, but I suppose that will fade with time. It's a shame that one of the great memories in the team's modern history has to be relegated to fading with time, but that's the way it is.

What else is there to do but accept it for what it is? So I do.

Unofficially perfect, the story of Galarraga and Joyce may be a good story, but it remains a disappointing ending.

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I was there that night

section 118 row 23 and i know what I saw. It was perfect. Doesnt matter what the history books say or whay kind of media hype came afterward. Armando and Cabrera were standing in the correct view of the ball and they knew, like everyone else who was sitting on the first base side, Jason Donald was out. I don’t hate Jim Joyce now, but I did for a minute. Now I actually blame Bud Selig for not overturning the ruling. But whatever. I saw the 21st perfect game ever pitched and it was awesome!

I'm going down with this ship. I may as well, I got nothin' better to do.

by Detroitchik on Sep 10, 2010 9:10 AM EDT reply actions

You saw the only 28 out perfect game ever pitched, too!

If you survived 2003, you can get through this!

by Tigerdog1 on Sep 10, 2010 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Just watched all the old videos from the game on the link above.

Now I’m depressed.

by rcpratt on Sep 10, 2010 9:39 AM EDT reply actions

Forgive and Forget

Never. Not in my lifetime. At my age the odds of me ever having a chance to see a Tiger pitch a perfect game is probably about a billion or so to one. I was watching the game on TV and thought to myself, here it is, Number 21 in the history of a game that dates back to the 1800’s. Jim Joyce took that away from me. I will never forgive him. Every game that he’s behind the plate I hope he takes a foul ball someplace painful.

And don’t get me started about that slimy weasel Budroid Selig.

by KeystoneTiger on Sep 10, 2010 10:50 AM EDT reply actions

I think I'd be more pissed off had I actually caught the game

Had a softball game that night, and even though it wasn’t a late game, I didn’t make it back home until after the Trigers game had ended. If I’d actually listened to the contest, and shared it with you guys, or watched it at a bar, I think I’d feel more strongly about it. Instead, it was something extraordinary that I missed out on.

As a Tigers fan, and someone who wants to see Armando succeed, I’m still pissed off that he was denied official recognition of his accomplishment THAT NIGHT.

But I’m glad that Selig did NOT go back and put an asterisk on the contest, declare it perfect by fiat of the commissioner’s office and all the powers it holds.

We all know what it was, and all baseball fans who heard of it will remember it for what it actually was, and every time a perfect game is thrown, Galarraga’s name will be included in that discussion. As far as baseball lore goes, it is the mythical perfect game, and you hear references to it every time someone gets close to a no hitter, etc. The way it turned out, this game will live on in the minds of baseball fans, and leave an imprint perhaps stronger than if it were an officially perfect game, just a line in a record book with nothing particularly memorable about it.

I'm expecting 100% improvement from the Lions this season.

by ahtrap on Sep 10, 2010 12:06 PM EDT reply actions

Here's your chance, Joyce

Stretch that strikezone by a foot or two on each side of the plate, and Perfecto could be perfecto tonight.

Just kidding, but seriously, stretch the zone :)

I’m bummed that he didn’t get his due spot in the books, but it’s certainly been an interesting discussion point this summer. I’m glad that Selig didn’t overturn the call, even though part of me hoped he would. I’m glad that there’s been a teachable moment in how to handle human error. I’m glad that Armando has shown us what a class act he is.

Beyond that, I’d say that he’s actually be a very steady #5 starter this year. I think Galarraga has shown he deserves a spot next year.

Granderson was my Tiger, then Sizemore, then Willis. Since they're all gone, I'm taking Raburn and hoping the pattern holds.

by momotigers on Sep 10, 2010 2:54 PM EDT reply actions