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TWO blown calls
Bud Selig got it wrong. No two ways about.
It seemed unlikely that there ever could be a bigger mistake in Major League Baseball than umpire Jim Joyce's blown call at first base Wednesday night that denied a perfect game to Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga. But Commissioner Selig's decision on Thursday to let the play stand as called was worse. FAR worse.
This wasn't, as initially described, a "disputed call." This was a blown call. Everyone, including the now-repentant Joyce, knows Cleveland's Jason Donald was thrown out at first after grounding to the right side of the infield with two down in the ninth inning on Wednesday. It wasn't even close. Every video replay shows the same thing: the ball in the mitt of Galarraga - who was covering first - and Galarraga's foot planted firmly on the bag before Donald reached. See picture accompanying previous post. This wasn't one of those too-close-to-call plays. It wasn't a case of the runner getting the benefit of the doubt when the call could have gone either way. This was, plain and simple, an umpire failing to see, and hear, the completion of the out with Donald still a full step away from touching first.
What, then, was the point of Selig not reversing the call and giving Galarraga the perfect game? Who was he impressing, or protecting, by refusing to publicly acknowledge what everyone saw to be true? Was he honestly afraid the game's good name would be tarnished if he took the nearly unprecedented step of overruling an umpire? It seems to me that such a move would have helped the game's integrity, not hurt it.
But then, Selig is the man who thinks baseball somehow benefits from his refusal to expel known steroid users and his refusal to void the records of such juicers as Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. So I guess I shouldn't be surprised by his brainless decision in the Galarraga matter.
I guess it's easier, at least in Selig's mind, to forgive cheaters than it is to acknowledge one of the game's most outstanding accomplishments.
And that's a shame.
It seemed unlikely that there ever could be a bigger mistake in Major League Baseball than umpire Jim Joyce's blown call at first base Wednesday night that denied a perfect game to Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga. But Commissioner Selig's decision on Thursday to let the play stand as called was worse. FAR worse.
This wasn't, as initially described, a "disputed call." This was a blown call. Everyone, including the now-repentant Joyce, knows Cleveland's Jason Donald was thrown out at first after grounding to the right side of the infield with two down in the ninth inning on Wednesday. It wasn't even close. Every video replay shows the same thing: the ball in the mitt of Galarraga - who was covering first - and Galarraga's foot planted firmly on the bag before Donald reached. See picture accompanying previous post. This wasn't one of those too-close-to-call plays. It wasn't a case of the runner getting the benefit of the doubt when the call could have gone either way. This was, plain and simple, an umpire failing to see, and hear, the completion of the out with Donald still a full step away from touching first.
What, then, was the point of Selig not reversing the call and giving Galarraga the perfect game? Who was he impressing, or protecting, by refusing to publicly acknowledge what everyone saw to be true? Was he honestly afraid the game's good name would be tarnished if he took the nearly unprecedented step of overruling an umpire? It seems to me that such a move would have helped the game's integrity, not hurt it.
But then, Selig is the man who thinks baseball somehow benefits from his refusal to expel known steroid users and his refusal to void the records of such juicers as Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. So I guess I shouldn't be surprised by his brainless decision in the Galarraga matter.
I guess it's easier, at least in Selig's mind, to forgive cheaters than it is to acknowledge one of the game's most outstanding accomplishments.
And that's a shame.
Labels: Bozo Bud
posted by Jeremy Schiffres, City Editor at
8:51 PM
2 Comments:
Agreed, Selig should have stepped up here. Would not be the first time the Commish has over ruled a umpire, think pine tar incident Yankees vs Kansas City. Of course that followed a protest by KC. Detroit by the rules of baseball could not protest the bad call. But what is obvious is obvious. Have to say though both the pitcher and umpire involved have showed a lot of poise and dignity in the aftermath. BTW whats with the oriental responses to your blog?
Paul:
No idea re Asian blog comments. I get them from time to time. Perhaps someone understands them. If not, no harm done.
-J
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