A Fan's Plea To Selig: Overrule The Blown Call

Wednesday night, history was written.

This season has, without a doubt, been one of the more memorable seasons of baseball in recent history.  Not for the typical rivalries, races, and chases; but for the awkward events occurring around the league on such a regular basis.

Fans have been tased.  Bones have broken in walk off celebrations.  Perennial sub-par teams have risen to the top of their respective divisions.  An unprecedented amount of hype has been put on display for phenomenal rookie prospects.  

“Journeyman” pitchers (Dallas Braden) have called out elite champions of the league for a failure to follow the unwritten rules of baseball.  The same journeyman turned around and pitched the 19th perfect game ever.  The premier workhorse pitcher of the majors pitched the 20th only weeks later.

Baseball is a game that is defined by pinnacle achievements, statistics, history, tradition, and rivalries.

A game where men become legends.

A legend was born Wednesday night when Armando Galarraga pitched what the record books will call a near perfect game – a one hitter.  On the 27th out of Galarraga’s perfect night, Miguel Cabrera fielded a routine ground ball and proceeded to make the throw to first base where Galarraga was covering.  Upon catching the ball, Galarraga pumped his fists and prepared to take in the moment.

Then realization set in.

Perhaps better defined as shock, awe, and rage in any normal human being.  Jim Joyce had called Jason Donald safe at first.  Galarraga reacted in a way that you expect from a legend.  He showed  an insurmountable amount of class when he calmly returned to the mound to face the next better.  Class that no other player in his position could have exhibited.

It’s never been done before, but in a unique case such as this Bud Selig needs to step in and intervene.  This could be Armando Galarraga’s only shot at a perfect game.  History would tell us that the odds of him pitching another are very slim.  This could be the defining call of Jim Joyce’s many years as an umpire in the major leagues – a giant stain on a very distinguished career.  What about the fans in attendance at Comerica Park that had a rare chance to witness history in person?

Human error in the midst of a split second decision last night had a huge impact on the real fans of baseball.

My plea to Commissioner Selig is simple.

The game ended 3-0.  The only recorded hit was the blown call on the final out of the game.  The decision to correct the error, which has been admitted by your officiating staff, will result in no change to the outcome of the game.  Make the change.  Give this young pitcher the extraordinary credit he deserves for pitching the 21st perfect game in baseball’s history and relieve Jim Joyce from a lifetime of regret for a split second error in judgment during such an intense moment.

The fans that know that a perfect game happened Wednesday.  I only hope that it's permanently marked in the record book.  Regardless of what the league says, this young man's near perfect performance will live forever -- in our hearts.