Selig blows the call worse than umpire on ‘imperfect’ game
Umpire Jim Joyce was still in tears Thursday when Detroit's Armando Galarraga and Cleveland coach Tim Tolman brought out the lineup cards. (Detroit Free Press)
Let’s start with this: Umpires and referees make mistakes all the time that affect the outcomes of games, even championships.
We saw it when Don Denkinger blew a call at first base in the 1985 World Series. We saw it when Colorado scored a touchdown on its “fifth down” of a game against Missouri in 1990, leading to a split the national championship that season with Georgia Tech. We saw it when the Dallas Stars won the Stanley Cup finals over Buffalo on a triple overtime goal by Brett Hull (who was standing in the goal crease at the time, a goal that similarly was disallowed all during that season).
Unfortunately, it’s just not feasible to reverse bad calls that impact who wins and who loses.
Never count on this man to do the right thing.
But what happened Wednesday night is different. An umpire, Jim Joyce, blew a call at first base that prevented Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga from throwing a perfect game against Cleveland. That is not in dispute. This is one case where commissioner Bud Selig could have done the right thing and reversed a mistake. He could have done this without affecting the outcome of the game because the Tigers were going to win anyway.
We’re talking about one out. Selig can’t change one out?
Or was it that important for the Indians’ Jason Donald — who has spent most of his five seasons in the minor leagues — to go 1-for-3 instead of 0-3? Because, Bud, dude, did you see the look on Donald’s face after the play? He was embarrassed himself about being called safe by Joyce.
Selig just blew the call. He blew the call worse than Joyce blew the call. Joyce made a spur-of-the-moment decision that he later admitted was wrong. Selig had a day to think about this. He could have changed the final out call and nobody — NOBODY — would have had a dispute.
Fact is, it probably would have given Jim Joyce, who was still in tears Thursday, some peace of mind.
Selig’s statement was accurate: “While the human element has always been an integral part of baseball, it is vital that mistakes on the field be addressed. 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.”
But what he left out was a rational explanation as to why that single play could not have been overturned. The reason is obvious: There is none.
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187 comments Add your comment
johnd
June 3rd, 2010
4:50 pm
Thanks Jeff!! This is too important historically’ Unfortonately we have a weak commish. He should do the right thing and reverse this call! This kid threw a perfect game and should not be denied by an umpire who admitted he blew it! This will not open pandoras box as some have suggested!! DO THE RIGHT THING!!!!!!
Joe T
June 3rd, 2010
4:50 pm
Selig is the BIGGEST idiot!!!!! Why would you not reverse the call? WHY? Tell me why???? A perfect game! Joyce is human…..he admitted he blew the call. Why continue this drama and torture Joyce and Gallaraga! Stupid!! Selig has acted beyond stupid…..I really call into question his Commissioner skills. Aw
ful!!
Jeff Schultz
June 3rd, 2010
4:52 pm
Jeff’s Right — Can we put that on a T-shirt?
Jeff Schultz
June 3rd, 2010
4:53 pm
Michael — No coin flip. I really felt this way and he really felt that way.
Jeff's right
June 3rd, 2010
4:55 pm
We could. I guess all the detractors have never taken a mulligan in golf.
brave1
June 3rd, 2010
4:56 pm
Jeff, I agree 100%.
If we all agree that umpires should not be the focus of any game, that their job is to be in the background, why do people embrace “the human element” so much?
I’d be happy if robots made the friggin’ call.
Mr. Holmes
June 3rd, 2010
4:56 pm
Lots of people are asking, if you make this call, where does it stop?
It stops when you can no longer show *crystal-clear* evidence of a blown call that, had it been made correctly, would have ended the game … Right. There. This is not basketball or football where there’s a game clock and who knows what could have happened in those final 0.3 seconds?
wawel78
June 3rd, 2010
5:00 pm
so there should be some special rule about the 27th out of a perfect game? But not the last inning of a world-series deciding game? that makes no sense to me.
Angus
June 3rd, 2010
5:01 pm
What if, in the same situation, the runner is clearly safe but called out?
Would you support changing that call too?
HugoStiglitz
June 3rd, 2010
5:02 pm
Part of the game of baseball is the umpires and the terrible calls they make sometimes. Therefore, part of pitching a perfect game is getting the right calls from the umpires. It sucks for Galarraga but thats how things fall sometimes. There is no reversing things to make people fell better. If they want to implement instant replay then go for it, I support it and think it is needed, but for now MLB acted as they should have.
Mr. Holmes
June 3rd, 2010
5:03 pm
Angus: No because the correct call would have prolonged the game. Like I said, this situation was unique (or at least quite rare) in that this blown call, had it been correct, would have ended the game. No room for argument about what could have happened–the game was over.
Rob
June 3rd, 2010
5:05 pm
Selig is an ass. He botches every important issue that comes his way. This is the nail in the coffin. This is worse than calling the All Star game.
bvillebaron
June 3rd, 2010
5:10 pm
Jeff:
Selig didn’t blow anything; your kidding got it right. Reversing this call based upon your “it won’t change the outcome of the game” and “personal achievement” rationale would be a horrible precedent to set. If your only defense to the question as to where you draw the line is that you don’t know, but know where not to draw the line, you have an indefensible position.
If this call were reversed, it would only be a matter of time before some idiot like Scott Boras would petition the commissioner to reverse a call that went against one of his clients by arguing that the reversal would not change the outcome of the game, but would result in the realization of a “personal achievement” bonus by his client. Gimme a break!
SA
June 3rd, 2010
5:10 pm
I don’t see any integrity in letting a call that is so obviously wrong stand. Selig could have, for once in his life, shown some integrity and done the right thing by the pitcher AND the umpire by reversing the call.
Tim Pilgram
June 3rd, 2010
5:12 pm
what a meatwagon!! and What a SHAME!!… you honestly have to see it to believe it.. First time I saw it, I was like… no way, and the replay… confirmed it. I’m honestly surprised buddy didn’t get beat down hard… check out the HD video of the blown call here: http://www.lionsdenu.com/umpire-ruins-perfect-game/
Honestly, I am still giving him the perfect game, Congrats Gallaraga… now Selig NEEDS to overrule the call and award it!!!!
wawel78
June 3rd, 2010
5:14 pm
I remember it like it was one the field – a one hitter that stirred a lot of controversy.
wawel78
June 3rd, 2010
5:16 pm
So let me get this straight – if it’s a bad call but it doesn’t ultimately affect the outcome of a game – reverse it.
If it’s a bad call that DOES affect the outcome of a game – DON’T reverse it. Yep, that makes all of the sense in the world.
John
June 3rd, 2010
5:17 pm
As tempting as it may be, I agree with the posters who say the call should stand. I guess for the old slippery slope reason.
You wonder if umps ever gameplan what to do as something like a perfect game unfolds before them.
Somebody mentioned – may have been you, Schulz – that a close call for out #27 of a potentially perfect game should err on the side of the pitcher.
Seems Joyce had time to mull over a few scenarios (including that one).
My heart goes out to the guy (Joyce). And the way Gallaraga handled himself was impressive.
tepatl
June 3rd, 2010
5:17 pm
That ruling by Selig shows why baseball has been left in NFL dust since the mid 1980’s. MLB is a monolith that cannot change with the times and refuses to escape the technological stone age.
JoeV
June 3rd, 2010
5:21 pm
Schultz, you and TB are the only credibility AJC sports has. Bradley could learn a whole hell of a lot from you if he could pull his head out of his…
Kane337
June 3rd, 2010
5:22 pm
I agree with you Schultz. I disagree with Bradley.
wawel78
June 3rd, 2010
5:22 pm
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher (or combination of pitchers) pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base.
No perfect game.
Larry
June 3rd, 2010
5:23 pm
Agreed.
Mitchell
June 3rd, 2010
5:28 pm
As Mark Bradley noted, if you institute instant replay you’ll end up with four and half hour games.
I say, here’s to four and a half hour games!
No. I want neither. It was a close play. That freakin’ guy sounded like he was ready to jump in front of a Marta train afterwards. Get over it. It’s one call.
Human error is no more an intrisic part of the game as disappointment. Deal with it Tigers fans.
I simply cannot accept living in a world where some dude named Andres Gallaraga (oh wait… Armando) has a perfect game and Smotlz, Maddux and Glavine have not even a no-no.
I mean, this is like JoJo Reyes suddenly getting a spot start and throwing a perfect game. Even I might protest that.
It goes against nature. I’m glad he didn’t get it. It wouldn’t be fair to me and other Braves fans who had to endure years of post-season disappointment.
Paul
June 3rd, 2010
5:29 pm
“the very integrity of the game”
What integrity? As a result of the DH for only one league, every WS is tainted (the AL can rightly complain about loss of DH in the NL park and the NL can rightly complain about using their pinch-hitter who would never be the DH on an AL team). Then there’s the era of collusion (when Bud was part of Milwaukee management). With every team purposely not trying to make itself a better team, the result of every game played is tainted. Then there’s looking the other way when balls were leaving the yard at a prodigious pace, and that owing to the interest and money obtained from those who dig the long ball. So, please, spare me the integrity of the game nonsense.
And humans make mistakes, true. That’s why we have appeals in our court cases, so that we might remedy error. If it’s good enough for our courts it ought to be good enough for baseball. Lastly, as someone noted, we don’t even need to get that far, since while the one team’s manager is busy arguing the call to the umpire, the 5th umpire-in-the-booth can be reviewing the play and can call down to the field on completion of review.
Almost forgot, but some seem to have faulty memory, since if we wish to replay game 6 of the ‘85 WS, we’d have to start with Frank White erroneously being called out on his attempted steal of 2B. For why that mattered, next batter, Pat Sheridan, singled to RF, which would have scored Frank White, and so the Royals would not have been down by a run heading into the 9th. So call the blown call late a singular instance of “cosmic justice”.
MightyQuinn
June 3rd, 2010
5:29 pm
Bud Selig is a gutless puppet of management, and what baseball needs most is a REAL commisioners, one who truly acts in the best interests of the GAME first, not ownership. I hate, HATE to agree with him on anything, but on this…I…I…I… dammit I can’t bring myself to say it!
MightyQuinn
June 3rd, 2010
5:30 pm
Thats “commisioner” not commisioners”. Fire my editor!
wawel78
June 3rd, 2010
5:31 pm
Mighty Quinn- i believe the answer to your question is Milt Pappas.
MightyQuinn
June 3rd, 2010
5:33 pm
Dammit again! “Commissioner” No more beer before blogging!
Boob Conflict of Interest Selig is a Pompous A$$
June 3rd, 2010
5:33 pm
I talked with the fly who was on the wall in Boob Selig’s office as he was preparing for his press conference to announce the perfect game call would NOT be reversed. Quote from Mr. Selig, according to the fly:
“I love it when I have a chance to make decisions to make the great game look terrible in the public eye! Just when I thought I’d never have a chance to top my own self, like when I called the All Star game a tie, OR when I decided the all star game winner should determine home field advantage for the World Series, NOW here I have a great chance to out do those things! How exciting, and better yet, when I get done with my statement, just for emphasis, I’m gonna say ‘Harsh as this may sound, IT HAPPENS.!’ Wow, that would even get me a little bit of a Forrest Gump quote in my statement!”
The fly said there was more, but he didn’t want to make Mr. Selig look bad and spread too much inside information.
wawel78
June 3rd, 2010
5:35 pm
and another – On July 4, 1908, Hooks Wiltse of the New York Giants hit Philadelphia Phillies pitcher George McQuillan on a 2–2 count in a scoreless game—the only time a 0–0 perfect game has been broken up by the 27th batter. Umpire Cy Rigler later admitted that he should have called the previous pitch strike 3. Wiltse pitched on, winning 1–0; his ten-inning no-hitter set a record for longest complete game no-hitter that has been tied twice but never broken.
wawel78
June 3rd, 2010
5:36 pm
Why didn’t Bud Selig overturn the ump’s ruling in the Hooks Wiltse game?????? Bud Selig is spineless!!!!!
on a positive, you people make me laugh – a lot.
MightyQuinn
June 3rd, 2010
5:37 pm
Wawel78, uh, did I ask a question? After several beers, I’m not sure.
TROTTINGHOME
June 3rd, 2010
5:37 pm
I repeat…More drama…while poverty grows and children become more certain our system is designed to hold them in bondage.
wawel78
June 3rd, 2010
5:43 pm
Quinn – you asked if this had ever happened before. I even found one where the ump admitted mistake.
MightyQuinn
June 3rd, 2010
5:46 pm
Wawel78, yep, I just saw that on SI.com. Not exactly the same since balls and strikes are openly more subjective than who got to first first. (Hell two umps can’t agree on the strike zone and nobody calls it by the actual rule!) But a good call nonetheless! (By you, that is)
wawel78
June 3rd, 2010
5:47 pm
there was another one – Milt Pappas.
gcs
June 3rd, 2010
5:54 pm
I hate Bud Selig, but he got it right. You do not want to open that can of worms.
You are wrong, Schultz.
.
Jimmy Payne
June 3rd, 2010
5:56 pm
Here’s where your argument breaks down. “it was the last play of the game”. If you started this you would have a ball rolling down hill you couldn’t stop. Well it happened in the 8th inning but he got the next 5 guys out so let’s change it. You simply can’t change the past, just fix the future. You are trying to hit a moving target. Well this time it is this, and next time it is that.
Bad calls are part of the game. A good part I might add. Lord knows what this has done for MLB publicity the last day or so. We should all give more of our attention to the way both the player and the umpire handled themselves in this matter. Not one person would change that.
Matt
June 3rd, 2010
5:58 pm
Enough with the ridiculous “can of worms” arguments. Those were bad decisions YEARS if not DECADES AGO. This was a bad decisions from YESTERDAY.
Georgia Tech | Jeff Schultz
June 3rd, 2010
5:59 pm
[...] ♦ Selig blows the call worse than umpire on ‘imperfect’ game [...]
wayn-o
June 3rd, 2010
6:01 pm
Stupid SOB, I hate Selig. So glad when he leaves. Oh the “human element” this is 2010 moron & a multi-billion dollar industry, bad calls should be kept to a minimum, like every other sport that hast replay!!!!!
Jeff Schultz
June 3rd, 2010
6:05 pm
Johnd — I agree. I don’t really get the Pandora’s Box argument. How many of these situations are there going to be?
Jeff Schultz
June 3rd, 2010
6:06 pm
Brave1 — Robot umps? Better get them off the field quickly when it rains. They rust.
Rob
June 3rd, 2010
6:07 pm
Maybe they should let the players vote on changing the call. Gallaraga not only pitched a perfect game
but set a perfect example of perfectly good sportsmanship with the way he smiled and went right back
to the mound and got the the next guy out. TRUE PROFESSIONALISM AND SPORTSMANSHIP.
wawel78
June 3rd, 2010
6:07 pm
well, Jeff. I’ve found 2 others so far. How many before you decide it would be an issue to change it?
Jeff Schultz
June 3rd, 2010
6:07 pm
Wawel78 — We’re not talking about a rule here. This was a judgment call by Selig. And we’re also not talking about a decision that decides any game, let alone a World Series game. Next?
wawel78
June 3rd, 2010
6:07 pm
let the players vote? Seriously? why don’t we just have them vote on every call?
Jeff Schultz
June 3rd, 2010
6:08 pm
Angus — Great question. Not sure about my reaction on that honestly. I’d have to think about that.
Jeff Schultz
June 3rd, 2010
6:12 pm
Bvillebaron — Don’t tell me I have an indefensible position. You want to disagree, fine, but I stated my position just fine. I’m not prepared to sit here and tell you right now, ‘This is OK, that isn’t OK,’ for every single scenario. What’s the big deal about that. I’m just saying that for the 27th out of a perfect game, it should be reversed. You disagree with that? That’s cool. But tell me what I can and can’t write/say/believe. And by the way, if you’re only defense is that agent Scott Boras would have a conniption because one of his clients got screwed, then you’re the one with a flimsy defense.