Make the right call, Bud.
Unlike every umpire in baseball history — beginning with New York attorney William R. Wheaton in the first official game in 1845 — commissioner Bud Selig did not make a call Thursday in the aftermath of the perfect storm.
He must be called out for being safe — and sorry — with his grand sham.
Despite having the opportunity to right a wrong, the Commish instead congratulated perfect pitcher, perfect gentleman Armando Galarraga on a “remarkable performance. . . . Armando and Detroit manager (Jim) Leyland are to be commended for their handling of a very difficult situation. I also applaud the courage of umpire Jim Joyce to address this unfortunate situation honestly and directly. . . . As Jim Joyce said in his postgame comments, there is no dispute that (Wednesday) night’s game should have ended differently.”
Very difficult, unfortunate, no dispute the game should have ended differently.
He couldn’t make a decision (although one league source told The Associated Press his non-call would stand and Galarraga would not get his perfect game.) Bud Selig just hid behind words that rang hollow.
All Selig had to do was overturn the mistake by Joyce (which he admitted) and award Galarraga what was rightfully his.
Galarraga was perfect; Joyce was imperfect; Selig was stupid.
Under article 2 of the Major League Baseball constitution, the commissioner has broad- based powers to act “in the best interest of the game.”
In the best interest of that particular game, the pitcher, the umpire, the Tigers and the Cleveland Indians, 17,738 in attendance at Comerica Park in Detroit, every fan of the sport in America and the lore and love of the national pastime, he could have been Bud The Honorable rather than a combination of Beavis and Budhead.
For those in Denver who disagree, what if this misfortune had happened to Ubaldo Jimenez? In U The Man’s no-hitter this season, Atlanta’s Brian McCann routinely grounded to second baseman Clint Barmes, who threw to Todd Helton for the final out. Umpire Larry Vanover might have ruled incorrectly that McCann was safe.
To those who claim a change by Selig would establish a damaging precedent, how many times will a perfect game be ruined by a blown umpire’s call at the finish? Never occurred in the rare 20 perfect games, including Don Larsen’s World Series Perfecto in 1956. And if it does, the commissioner just overrides the call again.
But, wait. It doesn’t have to occur in the future.
Video review!
Picky, prickly purists don’t want TV replays to be utilized in baseball. Guess what? That horse already has left the barn. Baseball instituted video-checking for the veracity of home runs in August 2008. A recent Barmes home run was confirmed by a “further review.”
Selig has been a steadfast opponent to techno-ump.
He probably doesn’t own a cellphone or high def. Welcome to the 21st century, Bud. Baseball games were broadcast on radio — until television was invented.
“Instant replay” is being employed effectively by the NHL (which determined in the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday night that one shot did not cross the goal, another did), the NBA, the NFL, NASCAR, tennis tournaments, rodeo, international rugby leagues, cricket and even, yes, field hockey.
Galarraga (not Andres) and Joyce (not James) may have accomplished something nobody else could, altering the course of baseball.
Bud added, likely very reluctantly, Thursday: “While the human element has always been an integral part of baseball, it is vital that mistakes on the field be addressed. Given (Wednesday) night’s call and other recent events, I will examine our umpiring system, the expanded use of instant replay and all other related features.”
Well, take me out to the ballgame, and buy me some peanuts and related features.
For those who allege that the time of the game will be lengthened by video reviews, baseball should enforce current rules (governing batters rearranging their gloves and pitchers studying cloud formations). And limiting managers to three video challenges per nine innings would eliminate the incessant arguments with umpires and speed up games.
The plate umpire would be equipped with an earphone connected to a replay official in the booth upstairs (as college football does at stadiums) or supervisors watching in a central control headquarters (as the NHL does in Toronto). Any player or manager disputing a call or video evidence should be dismissed immediately and suspended for five games.
In the meantime, an ever-smiling Galarraga got a Corvette from Detroit-based Chevrolet, a proclamation from the governor that his game was perfect, a statement from a White House spokesman that he should be given a perfect game and an apology from Joyce, who showed up at home plate in tears before Thursday’s game.
There is crying in baseball.
So, for crying out loud, Bud, give Galarraga’s game a perfect ending.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
