For everyone that believes Major League Baseball doesn’t need to implement a replay system, look no further than the latest glaring example that occurred at Tiger Stadium on Wednesday.
The Detroit Tigers Armando Galarraga pitched a perfect game against the Cleveland Indians, or at least he should have been credited with pitching a perfect game.
Instead of celebrating what would have been the 21st perfect game in MLB history, Galarraga had to settle for a one-hit shutout after umpire Jim Joyce blew a call at first base to rob the righthander.
And to make matters worse, Joyce blew the call on the 27th and final out.
A ground ball off the bat of the Indians’ Jason Donald was fielded by Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who threw to Galarraga covering the bag.
Replays clearly showed Galarraga with his foot on the bag and possession of the ball, beating Donald by at least one step.
But Joyce – who hesitated ever so briefly – signaled Donald safe on the play.
Galarraga initially smiled believing he’d just achieved one of the great feats in baseball, but his smile turned to a look of disbelief after Joyce made the call.
To Joyce’s credit, he apologized to the Tigers and Galarraga, saying that “I just cost that kid a perfect game.”
But that doesn’t solve the growing problem of MLB umpires blowing calls at an alarming rate.
The current method of hoping an umpire will make the correct call isn’t working and has increasingly proven to be a failure.
If a replay system was in use, Armando Galarraga would have a perfect game and Jim Joyce wouldn’t have committed one of the biggest gaffes in baseball history since Don Denkinger in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series.
Joyce won’t be fined, suspended or fired for blowing the call that cost Galarraga a perfect game.
But the fact he’ll have to live with this for the rest of his life might actually be the worst punishment he could ever be given.
And all of this could have been avoided.
Until MLB implements an effective use of replay, fans, players and teams will continue to be deprived of great moments and championships.
Joyce is widely regarded as being one of the best umpires in the game, but he will forever be linked to Don Denkinger, Tim McClelland and others who have made major mistakes.
Ask Joyce if he would rather be known for blowing a call that cost a pitcher a perfect game, or if he’d rather had the chance to review the play and avoid all of this controversy.
Bet I know what his answer would be.
