Read the opposing arguments from Babe Ruthless and Bleacher Fan.
I am the kind of guy who often gets really upset at officials or referees. To some extent I think we all are.
I can think of many blown calls (in my biased opinion) that cost the teams I was rooting for possible championships, and I really feel that last week’s incident involving Jim Joyce and Armando Galaraga has gotten enough coverage as it is. Part of me feels really bad for Jim Joyce, especially after reading this story, but to me it does not hide the fact that it is without a doubt the biggest officiating blown call in the history of sports.
Like many who were watched live, I remember quite well what I was doing. I was flipping through the channels and received a text saying “Tigers pitcher has perfect game through 8.” I immediately flipped it over to ESPN, knowing they would have live bonus coverage, and was not disappointed.
I watched in amazement as centerfielder Austin Jackson, who was playing in shallow center to take away any bloop hits, miraculously tracked down a fly ball out in the deepest part of left-center field. Then, one out later, came the play that those watching and playing will never forget. Indians batter Jason Donald hit a ground ball to Miguel Cabrera’s right. Cabrera fielded the ball and threw to first, where Galarraga was covering.
Fundamentals had just helped Galarraga pitch the 21st perfect game in MLB history (and the third this year after Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay)…
What? Safe? Are you kidding me? He was out!
A quick replay showed that, indeed, Donald really was out at first. I could not believe I had just witnessed that!
I have actually experienced a perfect game in person, as I was in attendance in Atlanta on May 18, 2004 when Randy Johnson mowed down the Atlanta Braves rather easily. It truly is an amazing experience to witness, and it is something the 17,738 missed out on last week in Detroit. However, if I was a fan that was at the game, I would be bragging that I witnessed a 28-out perfect game!
Unfortunately, that is not how it is going to go down in the record books as Bud Selig has decided to not go back and give Galarraga his perfect game (much to Bleacher Fan’s dismay).
It was a butchered call of epic proportions.
To his credit, Joyce quickly admitted that he blew the call and I really believe he has gained a lot of respect back over the past week. Even the fans at Comerica Park in Detroit mostly cheered for him the following day. But despite the sentimental feelings expressed about the situation, it was still a blown call, and unfortunately for Joyce, it is going to go down as the biggest blown call in the history of sports.
