Major League Baseball just came one out away from having its third perfect game this year. Detroit Tigers hurler Armando Galarraga had a perfect game going against the Cleveland Indians through 8 2/3 innings when Cleveland shortstop Jason Donald chopped a grounder toward first base. The perfect game seemed like a certainty as Miguel Cabrera fielded the grounder and threw to a covering Galarraga for the out. First base umpire Jim Joyce didn’t see it that way and called Donald safe on the play. Just look at the picture above.
This is one of the worst calls — if not the absolute worst — I have ever seen in a baseball game. Not only was the runner out by a full step, but in a situation like this even if it were a tie the call should go to the pitcher. He’s one out away from a perfect game. I can’t even imagine how mad Galarraga is right now. What an absolute atrocity. My guess is Jim Joyce won’t get much sleep tonight once he sees the replay of his call.
UPDATE: Here’s video of Jim Joyce’s blown call on Armando Galarraga’s perfect game
UPDATE (10:27 EST): People make mistakes. Jim Joyce happened to make a huge one. But I do want to mention that I admire the way he owned up to it after the game. Joyce found Galarraga as quickly as he could once he saw the call he made and apologized to him, telling him he cost him a perfect game. Galarraga was beyond classy in a post-game interview, saying he doesn’t blame Joyce and it was an honest mistake. None of this crap changes the fact that Galarraga’s name should be in the record books and won’t be, but I respect Jim Joyce for not hiding from his screw-up.
Source:
Jose3030 on Twitter
