Umpire apologizes for blown call spoiling perfect game for Tigers
Written by Greg Piatt, Thursday June 03 2010
Major League umpire Jim Joyce apologized to Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga after blowing a call with two outs in the ninth inning and costing the Tiger hurler a perfect game.
“He said he was sorry,” Galarraga said during a post game interview Fox Sports Detroit. “He had watery eyes when he told me. His body language said it all,” Galarraga said about Joyce’s post game apology.
Fox Sports Detroit reported Joyce issued a statement after the game saying, “I cost that kid a perfect game.” Joyce also said he thought Donald beat out the throw, until he saw the replay after the game.
Galarraga was robbed of what would have been the third perfect game in the Major Leagues this year when Cleveland shortstop Jason Donald with two out in the ninth inning hit a ground ball to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.
First-base umpire Joyce ruled Donald beat Galarraga to the bag, even though the TV replays showed the Tiger right handed pitcher recorded the out.
Tigers beat the Indians 3-0.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland and several Tigers argued the call with Joyce.
In post game interviews, Leyland said the blown call was “disturbing” but added Joyce is a “class act” despite missing the call.
“Jim’s a very, very good umpire,” Leyland said. “No ump would want to miss that call. Nobody fells worse than he does.”
Leyland said he is not going to appeal the call saying this was “the human element of the game.”
If Galarraga would have got the call, it would have been the first perfect game in Tigers’ history.
Galarraga, who replaced recently traded Dontrelle Willis in Detroit’s rotation, threw 88 pitches in the game and 67 were strikes. He struck out three.
In the game, rookie Austin Jackson made a spectacular over the shoulder, Willie Mays-type basket catch on Mark Grudzielanek's leadoff fly out in the ninth inning.
Cabrera also hit his 15th home run in the second inning, which put him in second place for home runs leaders in the American League behind Toronto’s Jose Bautista. The Tigers added two runs in the eighth inning.
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In the end, this game will be remembered, whether MLB overturns the call or not, Galarraga's effort last night will be forevered remembered, whether it was dominant or not. I'm most pleased with how he handled it, so modestly. I just hope, while umpire accuracy is in question, isn't Joyce's sincerity after the game enough to forgive and forget? Minus his vulgar apology, Joyce is a good ump and ironically, as Galarraga said, not perfect. The real question is, am I being over analytical tying the rash (3) of perfect games to a lesser roid era? IF not, the future is bright for Baseball.