Not all blown-calls are created equal.
Every baseball game begins as a perfect game — for both pitchers — until a teammate botches a play, an umpire makes a bad call, a pitcher makes a mistake, or a batter gets a legitimate hit. Or, if you’re then Angel’s pitcher John Lackey, you’re ejected after the first two pitches. Remember that gem?
When umpire Jim Joyce made a bad call against Detroit in the top of the 9th with two outs against the Indians, Detroit Tiger pitcher Armando Galarraga’s near-perfect, 1-hit game would go in the record books — but not for the reason he and his teammates would like. Instead, he’ll be marked down as a “what should have been.”
Now, I’ve never played baseball. The extent of my knowledge comes from sitting in the nosebleeds, watching a game on TV and seeing a slew of movies on the topic (ex. Angels in the Outfield, Rookie of the Year, The Rookie, Sandlot, and Bad News Bears). But this isn’t a baseball blog, its not even a sports blog — it’s a philosophical-in-nature blog.
That said, I think it’s necessary to ask some simple questions concerning this blown call, especially since a Facebook group has already cropped up demanding umpire Jim Joyce be removed from Major League Baseball, presumably to be demoted to little league where he can dash little chilren’s dreams before they get to the big leagues.
First, while bad calls are made just about every game, the greater the affect on the outcome, or in this case a perfect game, the worse it is. Bad calls, apparently, can be ranked. Was the call really that bad? Had this same call occured in the 3rd inning, it wouldn’t have received the attention it’s now getting.
Second, while it was a bad call, umpire Joyce spread his arms and declared what he actually thought to be true, unlike some officials in other sports. MLB doesn’t need to get rid of Joyce, as the Facebook group demands — it needs more of him! He didn’t let a great feat like a perfect game interfere with his call; he called it as he saw it, even if it turned out to be wrong. That’s part of officiating, that’s part of the game.
Third, this is going to bring the debate over expanding replay into the spotlight. But those opposed to expanding replay’s use need to bite the bullet on this one. Should baseball expand its instant replay use? If yes, did you feel this way prior to tonight’s game? In 2005 I, naievely, supported instant replay in baseball. I’ve since retracted my support. As if Mark Bauer not supporting instant replay in baseball means anything. Over here Bud, I’m your man if you need advice.
Ultimately, it’s unfortunate the perfect game was blown on a bad call. But baseball doesn’t need instant replay. It doesn’t need to give Joyce the boot. But I do need to stop writing at 2 a.m.
All people are free — even the most ugly and mean spirited. You can’t spell freedom without “offensive.”
By asking simple questions, are we overlooking the details? Or do we overlook the details by not asking the simple questions?
Et sequitur, people are using the oil spill as an opportunity to play politics. Conservatives reprimanded democrats for not supporting President Bush during tumultuous times, and now we’re playing the same game.
An old Looney Toones cartoon, To Duck or Not to Duck, serves as an accurate portrayal of our actions over the last week. In the short film, a referee advises Daffy Duck to fight cleanly against Elmer Fudd.
“None of this!” the referee says, “… or THIS! Or like SO!” each time demonstrating the very moves the referee advises Daffy not to use.
Conservatives are good to point out the hypocrisy in the democratic party, but don’t stop at the finger pointing. Instead, point to where we can and should go to resolve the conflict — honestly.
(Boxing scene: 4:15)
