Having watched the video replays, saw the graciousness of Galaraga, and the ump's reaction, as a baseball fan, I:
1. really feel badly for this young pitcher
2. glad that the ump took responsibility for blowing the call (human error which we're all prone to)
3. do not feel that the commissioner should step in and do anything (it would set a dangerous precedent)
As much as I would love to see the young man given his proper credit, to me, he towers in stature by his gracious handling of what has to be such a major disappointment. I understand that the ump apologized to Galaraga. I sure hope that the media spotlights this as great lessons for all of us!
Any other thoughts?
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Very sad, this kid lost his chance at immortality over a mistake. But reversing the call would set an even worse precedent. If Selig were to overturn this, no final score would be safe, and the umpire would lose control over the game. That could ruin the game. Good for Jim Leyland to speak up for the umpire today, and Galaraga couldn't have behaved any more honorably.
ReplyDeleteWhile I too have the utmost respect for Galarraga for the way he handled the situation, I think Selig should reverse this call. It's obvious from the replays and from Joyce's reaction that the call was wrong. We're not talking about any ordinary game. A perfect game doesn't happen every day. Why not give this pitcher his proper due? Everyone knows he threw a perfect game, so why not make it official?
ReplyDeleteThis game will go down in history, but for all the wrong reasons. The umpire has to live with this call, and quite frankly, the next game he works that he happens to give a questionable call will elicit an instant reaction by both teams. MLB doesn't want instant replay, but how many times has it been used to decide a home run? Hell, it was used today on a Scutaro homer!!
I'm not suggesting that every close call be reversed or scrutinized, but come on!! This was a different kind of game!! Why isn't this any different than reviewing a home run?? Baseball can't have it both ways. Instant replay is ok for determining if a team gets one more run but not for settling an obvious, glaring error like this!!??
Galarraga got a corvette out of this from GM. Typical. Material things can't smooth over something everyone knows is wrong. Now, this kid will enjoy this car, but in 30 years he'll be remembered as ALMOST perfect.
Really good posts with differing views.
ReplyDeleteIf the Commissioner's office is as respected as it once was (Bowie Kuhn, Kennisaw Mountain Landis, etc.), I would have more confidence that it would do the right thing in this and similar instances. The current occupant, however, is a puppet who cannot be trusted to rule of such things that could potentially change baseball negatively.
As much as I hate injustice like this, I still remain against any intervention.
I did not watch the game. Can't umpires on the field convene, discuss and overrule a call? After all, NFL official at least attempt to confer.
Well, MLB ought to do away with the home run review then. Fair is fair. If home run is questionable, we'll just have to simply rely on the umps' judgment, the same as for this blown call.
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