Last night, with just one more out to go to achieve the near impossible no hitter, the umpire made a really bad call. This caused Armando Galarraga to lose his opportunity to join that very exclusive club. While there are no doubts that the umpire got it wrong, the rules are that this is not a reviewable play and the umpire calls stand.
Galarraga is a class act. He accepts his fate with grace and composure and today gave the same umpire his line up sheet before the start of today's game.
If you look at the video in slow motion you wonder how the player could have possibly been called safe, but it isn't quite so black and white when you look at it in real time.
Even though he made a really bad call, Joyce is one as well. He was seen as wiping tears from his face today when he had to face Galarraga as he knows that he caused this player his place in the history books.
Bud Selig, the commissioner of baseball could have overturned the call, but did not. Which I believe to be the right and fair thing to do. The rules are in place for a reason and should be respected. Had he made the change it would have opened up Pandora's box about making changes on other non reviewable plays. That being said, it is time to have the conversation on extending instance replay so no other pitcher is robbed this way.
Galarraga knows he pitched a perfect game, that is not nothing.
He acted like a gentleman. He is a great example for our young people.
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