Over the last few days, and the weeks ahead, it is an important time in sports. I have already tipped my hand about my excitement for England in the World Cup. Furthermore, the NBA Finals and NHL Stanley Cup are being decided. However, the biggest news last night in sports, came from my favourite sport… baseball.
Last night a young man (born a week before my wife) named Armando Galarraga pitched a perfect game for the Detroit Tigers. I met him once, got his autograph on a baseball at the World Baseball Classic. This feat, a perfect game, has only been accomplished 20 times before, in the history of the major leagues. Armando managed to use the fewest pitches (88) in a perfect game since Addie Joss’ 74 pitches in 1908. However, an umpire by the name of Jim Joyce made a major league mistake. In the ninth inning, with 2 outs, a ground ball was hit to the first baseman and he threw the ball to Mr. Galarraga, who was covering first base. The first base umpire, Jim Joyce, made the mistake of calling the hitter ’safe’. The error was obvious under instant replay. Jim Joyce, after the came, ran into the Clubhouse and watched the replay. He immediately publically admitted he screwed up, and apologized to both Galarraga and to coach Leyland. Jim said, “I cost the kid a perfect game”.
However, this is not the end of the story. I remember watching an interview of Mr. Galarraga after the game. In a moment of disappointment, when asked about the umpire’s call, his response was “He missed it, nobody is perfect”. The entire interview, he explained how he felt bad for the umpire, showing class and respect.
Fast forward to today. The Tigers played this afternoon, and Jim Joyce was the home plate umpire. In baseball it is common for the team to bring a player with the manager to present the batting order to the home plate umpire. As Jim Joyce stood there, crying as he stood on the field waiting, Mr. Galaraga showed great mercy and grace, as he came out and presented the lineup to Jim Joyce. They shook hands and expressed respect to one another. It was a great moment in sports.
Fast forward again to me driving in the car, listening to some sports talk radio. The radio host is discussing an interesting niche story about minor soccer. I cant remember the name of the league; however, they decided to make a new rule. The league decided to enact a new rule. From now on, in this league, if a team is winning by 5 or more goals when the game is done, the team with the leading score… loses. You read that correctly, if your leading in the game by 5+ goals = you lose. The idea was to protect people from disappointment and protect the kids self-esteem. In the discussion on the radio, the host busted out a line of wisdom, in response to this story, that really stuck with me think. The host said, “whenever people get in the way of reality, they get in the way of justice”.
One last Fast forward. Bud Selig, commissioner in charge of Major League Baseball. He has the power and authority to decide to change the ruling of last nights game, restore the call, and bring the reality of the perfect game back in order. I realize its only baseball, and as Mr. Galaragga said, “I can tell my son and show him the video of my perfect game.” But it makes me wonder, how messed up our world is because we make the wrong calls and are not in line with reality. Also, it makes me proud to watch the grace and mercy bestowed by Armando Galaragga. How can you not love Baseball?!
