Perfect game? Nope...

[Beninator]

Per my twitter feeds, Selig will have a statement about this later today. Slowly but surely I am getting into twitter feeds!

[Beninator]

Baseball strikes out!! Selig will not overturn call that cost perfect game!

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/37479309/ns/sports-baseball/

[Future Walk-On]

Baseball strikes out!! Selig will not overturn call that cost perfect game!

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/374793...orts-baseball/

lame.

[rsmit84]

I am so tired of the slippery slope/dangerous precedent BS. We are human beings with the ability to differentiate situations and know that everything is not black and white. To overturn this call should have no effect on the future or past of baseball. Overturning the call hurts nobody as the game ended one batter later with exactly the same outcome. The call didn't cost anybody the game it didn't decide a championship it effected one and one person only. The cardinals WS game, while being the same kind of call, was COMPLETELY different and a pretty silly comparison really. That call was made with one out in game six. The cardinals had several opportunities to win the series before and after that call. Gallaraga had no chance before or after, that was it. The cardinals had the rest of that inning to win and the rest of the next game to rewrite history. This would simply change a stat...period. I suspect somewhere down the road when everyone is safe from the slippery slope fairy this will be changed and an old man will get what is rightfully his.

[SFP]

I am so tired of the slippery slope/dangerous precedent BS. We are human beings with the ability to differentiate situations and know that everything is not black and white. To overturn this call should have no effect on the future or past of baseball. Overturning the call hurts nobody as the game ended one batter later with exactly the same outcome. The call didn't cost anybody the game it didn't decide a championship it effected one and one person only. The cardinals WS game, while being the same kind of call, was COMPLETELY different and a pretty silly comparison really. That call was made with one out in game six. The cardinals had several opportunities to win the series before and after that call. Gallaraga had no chance before or after, that was it. The cardinals had the rest of that inning to win and the rest of the next game to rewrite history. This would simply change a stat...period. I suspect somewhere down the road when everyone is safe from the slippery slope fairy this will be changed and an old man will get what is rightfully his.

I'm old school when it comes to baseball and I'm 100% behind your statement never the less. Let's do what is right for once and not worry what may be in the future or how things were done in the past. Not everything done in the past, that society found exceptable, was the right thing to do.

[Chico]

A link with a very simplified version of the 1908 Merkle play...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Merkle

I am a bit of a baseball historian and specialize in pre World War II baseball.
What this link didn't state is that the fans would gather in what would now be the fence in the outfield. (the game was played in New York) When the play was supposedly over, the fans rushed the field and the Cubs players were fighting the fans for the "real baseball." (a Giants player threw the baseball into the crowd) So it isn't really known if Johnny Evers had the "real" baseball or not... This also helped the Cubs get into the 1908 World Series!!!

As for Pulli's use of instant replay before it was approved, I read about that this morning...

I am in favor of instant replay, but not for ball and strike calls...

You mean without that play it would have been more than 102 years? IMO the call shouldn't be reversed. The kid knows he should have had a perfect game but he knows he still got a no-hitter. I'm sure the umpire didn't make the call just to do away with the perect game. I saw Joel Horlen's no-hitter for the White Sox in 1967. The last play of the game was a close play at first that could have went either way.

[DUBrave5]

You mean without that play it would have been more than 102 years? IMO the call shouldn't be reversed. The kid knows he should have had a perfect game but he knows he still got a no-hitter. I'm sure the umpire didn't make the call just to do away with the perect game. I saw Joel Horlen's no-hitter for the White Sox in 1967. The last play of the game was a close play at first that could have went either way.

He did not get a no-hitter though. The ump ruled it a hit which given what the call was, that is the only thing it could be considered. So not only did he lose the perfect game, but he also lost the no-hitter which is part of why this is such a big deal. IMO it hurts nobody for Bud Selig to go back and call this a perfect game, but since he didn't, Galaragga can take pride in knowing that he is probably the first person in history to actually have a perfect game that required him to get 28 outs in a row...

[Beninator]

You mean without that play it would have been more than 102 years?

yeah it would have been 103 years if that play wasn't reversed. The Cubs were actually good back then!

I heard an interview with Ken Burns last night. Burns seemed pretty confident that MLB will eventually allow Galarraga's game to be classified as a perfect game. He talked about this being a process. We'll see.......

[Chico]

He did not get a no-hitter though. The ump ruled it a hit which given what the call was, that is the only thing it could be considered. So not only did he lose the perfect game, but he also lost the no-hitter which is part of why this is such a big deal. IMO it hurts nobody for Bud Selig to go back and call this a perfect game, but since he didn't, Galaragga can take pride in knowing that he is probably the first person in history to actually have a perfect game that required him to get 28 outs in a row...

I know it was a hit because the ball wasn't mishandled and the runner was called safe. I meant in his mind he knows he had the no hitter.

[AZ BU Fan]

Personally, I think MLB should leave the call as is.

The other side of this situation is the perfect opportunity to use this to teach all kids in America life isn't always perfect or fair, how to react to adversity, and to not whine and complain rules should be changed retroactively when things don't go right for an individual.

Galaragga's classy reaction/response to the missed call should be required viewing for all tee ball and little league players (and their parents)!

His composure to return to the mound and finish the game with a "W" was phenominal.

Galaragga's place in history is secured for a more important reason than a perfect game. He will be remembered far longer for how he handled the situation than he ever would have been completing a perfect game.

JMHO

[Chico]

What if the batter had been obviously safe and was called out and Gallaraga got the perfect game. Would the ones who want Bud Selig to give him a perfect game expect him to give the batter a hit and take away the perfect game. Should work both ways and IMO is why Selig was right.

[shaunguth]

What if the batter had been obviously safe and was called out and Gallaraga got the perfect game. Would the ones who want Bud Selig to give him a perfect game expect him to give the batter a hit and take away the perfect game. Should work both ways and IMO is why Selig was right.

My thoughts exactly. I believe it would set a bad precedent to go back and change calls at a later date. If he had been called out (and was obviously safe), do they go back and finish the game if/when a decision is made to reverse the call? And what if it had happened much earlier in the game? Is the rest of the game replayed from that point forward? I say just leave it alone.

[Da Coach]

This is not about "giving" Gallaraga a perfect game. It's about getting it right.

The way it's been handled by MLB and the ump has been a huge embarrassment.

[houstontxbrave]

This is not about "giving" Gallaraga a perfect game. It's about getting it right.

The way it's been handled by MLB and the ump has been a huge embarrassment.

I think you can say that about MLB if you want but Joyce has handled this as well as possibly could be expected. He admitted he was wrong, applogized to the Tigers and to Gallaraga, went on Detroit radio, and showed up to work the plate the next day... what else exactly could have Joyce done after the fact?

The guy got the call wrong but admitted the judgement call was wrong. I really can not think of any other umpire who would ever regardless of any situation admit he was wrong. Most would hide and run for Union cover.

And sorry but if you reverse the call then you "give" the perfect game to Gallaraga. Baseball is very simply an imperfect game. I hope it stays that way.

[Chico]

This is not about "giving" Gallaraga a perfect game. It's about getting it right.

The way it's been handled by MLB and the ump has been a huge embarrassment.

IMO, it's embarrassing watching the umpire apologize and crying. He called it the way he saw it at that split second like he has done thousands of calls. I know he feels bad but this isn't the first one he has called wrong, it's just that the situation was so much different.
Just thinking, if they would overturn this one, do you think Bradley could get the NCAA to review the film of the game in the Garden when Squeaky was obviously fouled, and give Bradley the National championship.