Friday, June 04, 2010

Sentiment Is Understood And Why, But I Still Wouldn't Overturm The Call

Bud Selig isn't going to overturn Jim Joyce's decision. Armando Galarraga isn't going to get his perfect game. The official scorer isn't going to come to the rescue like a knight on a white charger (hey, that just isn't Chuck Klonke's style) and call it an error to give Galarraga a no hitter.
And my first inclination is that nothing should change - the game should stand as is.
I just don't see how you can retrace those moments and change them arbitrarily.
There is no way the play can be called an error. Ump missed the call, but there is no replay or protest written in the rules for judgment calls like that.
But I must admit, these circumstances are unique to any other play in baseball history. Nothing has been like it. Ever. What is the saying, the commissioner can rule for the best interest of the game?
I'd be a lot more open to it for this particular incident than virtually any other I can think of.
I do, however, still feel it would open Pandora's Box for similar rulings, on far less compelling plays, in the future.
That's always the danger of such arbitrary decisions. But I confess, it would be more tolerable in this case.

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Thursday, June 03, 2010

Mixed Emotions At Comerica Park Thursday

Jim Joyce was booed Thursday by the crowd at Comerica Park, even though 28-out perfect game hero Armando Galarraga handed him the Tigers' lineup card.
It was a mixed emotion.
On one hand, there were no hard feelings. Whatever bitterness Galarraga, or the Tigers, displayed directly after his near-perfect game Wednesday night, were like a home run call with Ernie Harwell on the microphone - long gone. Joyce was more than contrite. He was devastated. I talked to people here at Comerica Park Thursday who said he broke down emotionally after the media departed the umpire's room Wednesday.
Galarraga, presented with a sparkling cherry red Corvette Thursday, has made the best of the circumstance. He has become a humble hero, who will long be remembered for sportsmanship. Joyce has become a sympathic figure. How can anyone be that angry at him by this point? He certainly has conceded he missed the call and feels terrible about it.
It's difficult, though, not to imagine what a feel good story this would have been for this area had the perfect game not arbitrarily been denied Galarraga.
This is a good story. In some ways a more compelling tale. It's no longer a bitter story. Sure.
But it's certainly not better than what should have been.

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