NakamuraThe Most Painful Blown Call of the Year . . . If Not Century
Put yourself into the shoes of 28 year old Detroit Tiger Armando Galarraga for a second. You're living the dream. You're living in the moment. Especially if that moment happened to be on Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010.
Galarraga was ready to sign his name into the record books. He had a perfect game going in the 9th inning with 2 outs. 26 up, 26 down. All he needed was one more out and he'd join the list of 20 greats including Sandy Koufax, Randy Johnson and Cy Young.
He gets the count to 1-1. Next pitch is swung on by Indian Jason Donald... hit towards 1st baseman Miguel Cabrera... fields it cleanly... Galarraga covers 1st... the throw is... IN TIME! PERFECT GAME COMPLETE! or at least that's what we think.
Umpire Jim Joyce called Donald safe. Why? Nobody quite knows.
So what happens now? MLB commissioner Bud Selig has reported that he will not reverse the call. So it appears as if the blown call will be the official call in history. But even if it were to be reversed, it wouldn't be the same. Experiencing something like a perfect game is amazing. Whether you're the pitcher, a teammate or a fan. You cherish those moments so you can forever say, "I witnessed a perfect game unravel in front of my very own eyes". When a pitcher throws a perfect game, his teammates jump on him to celebrate and congratulate him. If the call were to be reversed days later, what does the pitcher get? A phone call? A pat on the back? It simply wouldn't be the same. And for that reason, I feel terrible for Galarraga. There are few times when an umpire admits his mistake. There are fewer times when an umpire says they want to take it back. But in this case, it cost Galarraga big time.
Galarraga was ready to sign his name into the record books. He had a perfect game going in the 9th inning with 2 outs. 26 up, 26 down. All he needed was one more out and he'd join the list of 20 greats including Sandy Koufax, Randy Johnson and Cy Young.
He gets the count to 1-1. Next pitch is swung on by Indian Jason Donald... hit towards 1st baseman Miguel Cabrera... fields it cleanly... Galarraga covers 1st... the throw is... IN TIME! PERFECT GAME COMPLETE! or at least that's what we think.
Umpire Jim Joyce called Donald safe. Why? Nobody quite knows.
"I just cost that kid a perfect game."
For you guys wanting to watch the end of the game, the video is located below. Feel free to watch and weep for the costly mistake that cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game.So what happens now? MLB commissioner Bud Selig has reported that he will not reverse the call. So it appears as if the blown call will be the official call in history. But even if it were to be reversed, it wouldn't be the same. Experiencing something like a perfect game is amazing. Whether you're the pitcher, a teammate or a fan. You cherish those moments so you can forever say, "I witnessed a perfect game unravel in front of my very own eyes". When a pitcher throws a perfect game, his teammates jump on him to celebrate and congratulate him. If the call were to be reversed days later, what does the pitcher get? A phone call? A pat on the back? It simply wouldn't be the same. And for that reason, I feel terrible for Galarraga. There are few times when an umpire admits his mistake. There are fewer times when an umpire says they want to take it back. But in this case, it cost Galarraga big time.
"I know I played in a perfect game. In my mind, on June 2, Armando Galarraga threw a no-hitter. I’m going to get a ball signed by him." - Tigers' shortstop Ramon Santiago
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