Big apologies, everyone on this overdue Monday edition. But unlike previous weeks, I had a ton of things to do. From schoolwork to work work, it was busy from top to bottom. Plus, with the Stanley Cup Finals, the NBA Finals, the MTV Movie Awards and the Belmont Stakes all on this weekend, there simply no time for me to take two hours telling you why (SPOILER) Armando Galarraga's near perfect game was the biggest thing to happen this week (END SPOILER).
So let's just pretend for a moment that it's still Saturday. Let's just pretend that the Celtics win in game two of the NBA finals and the Blackhawks victory in game five of the Stanley Cup Finals have yet to take place. The return of Les Grossman at the MTV Movie Awards and the news that Helen Thomas is retiring? Well, since it's still Saturday, we have no knowledge of this. Ready? OK!
As per usual, here are my picks for some of the week's biggest moments:
Video of the Week: troyfromwestvirginia's "Armando Galarraga Loses Perfect Game Thanks to Umpire Jim Joyce"
Around the same time the ninth inning of this game took place, this west Virginia man stood and watched it all unfold on TV. Soon, other little joined in on the action. What follows is some gripping and intriguing eight minutes. By the way, if four little kids from West Virginia thinks that Jim Joyce was an idiot making that call, shouldn't it be time for MLB to add whether a runner was out to instant replay?
Stories of the Week:
- The Actual Story of the Week (that isn't the BP oil spill): Armando Galarraga's Perfect Game is Ruined By Incorrect Call From Umpire
Before Wednesday, most casual baseball fans would have never know the names Armando Galarraga and Jim Joyce. But after that one fateful night in Comerica Park, those two names will be connected together throughout baseball history, like Milt Pappas and Bruce Froemming, or A.J. Pierzynski and Doug Eddings.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Galarraga, making just his third start of the season after having a previous record of 1-1 with an era in the low 4.00s, was one out away from pitching a perfect game against the Cleveland Indians . If the Detroit Tigers pitcher can get this final out, SS Jason Donald, he would become only the 21st pitcher in MLB history to do so and the third (!) pitcher to do so this month. And then, on the 1-1 pitch, Donald swung a groundball near 1B Miguel Cabrera and 2B Ramon Santiago. What follows next would become one of the most infamous moments in baseball history:
As you can see, the defensive play was executioned perfectly. Sure Miguel Cabrera was located way to far away from first base and Santiago should have gotten it instead. But Cabrera still grabbed the ball in time, and Galarraga was there in time to tag the base before Donald reached first. I guess Joyce must have thought before the at-bat that if it was close, the call was going to go to the batter. Still though, umpire Jim Joyce, who soon became a household name within minutes of that call, BLEW WHAT COULD'VE BEEN THE 21st PERFECT GAME IN MLB HISTORY, no doubt about it! But since no other umpire overturned that call and because there is no such thing in MLB that you use challenge the call using instant replay (MLB only allows instant replay challenges of calls on home run balls only), the call stood and Galarraga will never be able to have that terrific performance of his counted in the history books (although this will be considered a perfect game in the minds of millions).
So, what was the result of the outcome? Well, Joyce did admit after watching that moment again that it should have been an out, which at least proves that he agrees with everyone else who saw it. That moment will also forever be known as one of the worst officiated calls of all-time based on the circumstances and joining Joyce along the likes of Don Denkinger, who made a terrible call at first base in the ninth inning during game 6 of the '85 World Series eventually costing the St. Louis Cardinals the title. Austin Jackson's great catch earlier in the inning will never be immortalized like DeWayne Wise's catch in Buehrle's perfect game. Commisioner Bud Selig says he will look into expanding the use of instant replay (translation: I really won't do it, but at least I thought about it!), but will not overturn the call or make the two teams re-do that moment again. And for Galarraga? Well, he probably won't get another opportunity to do so, but at least he got an awesome Corvette from GM for almost getting one, and a pretty well made Wikipedia page!
- The Tiger Woods Saga of '09 Memorial Story of the Week: Citi-bank Clerk Debralee Lorenzana Claims To Be Fired From Work For Being Too Good-Looking
If this really did happen, then those people operating the bank are idiots. I mean, do they know how many people came into the bank just to be able to see her, and how much cleavage can make men willing to make deposits? Also, those people in the office who complained about her being too distracting are morons as well. Enjoy working your boring workday without your best distraction, morons!
Person of the Week: Jim Joyce
There are really two reasons an umpire can become as big of a name as Jim Joyce did this past week:
1. Being an attention grabbing whore like Joe West
2. Make a terrible, Denkinger like blown call.
Well, on Tuesday, Joyce did the latter and made arguably the worst regular season call in baseball history, calling SS Jason Donald safe when he should have been out in what would have been the final out of Armando Galarraga's perfect-o. But at least he did what a normal gentleman would after the game he saw the replay of his blown call. He went to Galarraga and apologized for the call. He even tearfully admitted to the press that he was wrong, and how he really felt bad for ruining the perfect game. If it had been a douche like Joe West, he probably would have denied it being safe until his deathbed while ejecting anyone who disagreed with it like Cabrera or Leyland. And that is at least one thing to like about the game of baseball.
Let's also not forget the next day, when Joyce cried on the mound as he was being introduced to the Comerica Park crowd the next day with mostly applause and when Galarraga gave him the line-up card for the next day's game. Also, big props to Galarraga for how he reacted to the call. Instead of pouting Rasheed Wallace, he simply accepted it, gave a smile, and went back to the mound silentl, and then forgiving Joyce for his error. A truly class act of sportsmanship and grace from both.
And that's the way it is with this Armando Galarraga themed installment! Be sure to check out the next edition, only on Saturday this time (I promise!). Enjoy the rest of your weekend*!
Sincerely,
Your pal: mj15
If you have any opinions on today's post, or if you want to suggest anything to mj15 for his next blog entry, e-mail him at: mj1599@aol.com. Your e-mail might be addressed on a future post
No comments:
Post a Comment