Pitcher, umpire are not perfect

Posted on June 2, 2010 Updated on June 3, 2010

For 102 minutes perfection was taken place in Detroit, Michigan, but the final minutes will be remembered for a long, long time. Unfortunately, it will be forever for umpire Jim Joyce. 

Tiger’s right hander Armando Galaraga was just one out from becoming Marjor League Baseball’s 21^st pitcher to throw a perfect game, but first base umpire Jim Joyce called Cleveland’s Jason Donald safe with two outs in the ninth inning when television replays proved otherwise. 

“It was the biggest call of my career, and I kicked the [stuff] out of it,” Joyce said, who personally apologized to coach Jim Leyland and Galaraga. “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,” he said after the Tigers’ 3-0 win. 

Joyce, who has 22 seasons under his belt in the majors, Wikipedia page was updated with the controversial call within minutes of the game ending. He can be perfect from this point on with strikes, balls, outs, and safe’s, but yet will be remembered for “the call”. Every controversial call from this point will be linked with Joyce. 

I can only imagine what is going through his mind as he tries to go to sleep tonight, or what will go through his mind as he stands on the field in between pitches. Perhaps, talking with friends and family because no one feels worse then Joyce does about the siutation. To make my point check out the video the next day, at the plate meeting, and see if it matters to him.

I have become a Leyland and Galaraga fan for what they said in their post game interviews. When they had every right and emotion to display in a negative manner toward Joyce they went the complete opposite. 

They let us know that umpires, coaches, players, and media are from perfect. People make mistakes and unfortunately Joyce made one that will be remembered for a long time and will follow him forever. 

Armando Galaraga was not perfect, by the record books, Joyce was not perfect, but neither are the fans and people that will boo, yell, write, or comment in a negative manner toward Joyce.