Imperfect Game

Jim Joyce has to be the sickest man on the planet right now. The veteran umpire of more than 20-seasons blew a call at first base. It happens. Unfortunately for Joyce it would have the been the 27th and final out of a perfect game thrown by Tigers righthander Armando Galarraga. Galarraga got the next guy to ground out so he did get the shutout but that is little consolation.
Replays showed, clearly, that first baseman Miguel Cabrera's throw to Galarraga covering first beat Indians shortstop Jason Donald by a step. It really wasn't that close. Joyce called him safe.
The Tigers argued and after the game argued some more with Joyce. What can you say. He missed the call. He didn't purposely blow the call. He was in position. He just messed up and give him credit, he admitted it later after seeing the replay.
Joyce said, "I just cost that kid a perfect game. I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw, until I saw the replay."
Even more credit goes to Galarraga. Instead of a perfect game and baseball immortality, he gets a shutout. At least he got that. What if the Indians rallied and actually won the game. Yikes. I don't even want to think about that. But for all the arguing the Tigers did and all the angry words that were exchanged, Galarraga didn't say anything to Joyce. I don't know much about Galarraga but the fact he didn't go after the umpire tells me he's a class act.
What is going on with pitchers this year? Ubaldo Jimenez throws a no-hitter, Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay toss perfect games and Galarraga, in essence, threw a perfecto.
Still, pretty incredible game in Detroit. The box score will show a 3-0 Tigers win with Cleveland just getting one hit. We all know better. It was perfect yet imperfect.