Jesus Christ, what just happened in Detroit?

[Barack_America]

Atta boy, Joyce.

:grr:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/06/jim-joyce-blows-call-and-ruins-armando-galarragas-perfect-game.html

[bigwillq]

1. Terrible, terrible call.

He should never be allowed to ump again. Take away his meal ticket.

[Barack_America]

6. I'm actually sick to my stomach.

What a tragedy.

Reports are that Joyce is beside himself. He knows what he did.

[1gobluedem]

7. I have no sympathy for him at all

He blew it. He failed to do his job.

[Renew Deal]

10. Are you a sports official?

If not, you should try it before deciding how sympathetic you are. It's an extremely difficult job and these guys work very hard at it.

[thewiseguy]

12. Look at the fucking replay

The guy was out by more than a step.

That stupid Ump needs to be fired immediately. The last out in a perfect game and you call a guy safe when he is out by more than a step? Are you kidding me?!

[Renew Deal]

15. Mistakes happen

It's part of the game. He won't be fired. Get over it.

[joeybee12]

25. Not with 2 outs and a perfect game on the line...he wasn't paying attention...

there is no excuse for this...he should retire...he will be booed at every ballpark he goes to.

[1gobluedem]

13. My father coached two sports

My brother is a college basketball coach and I dated a college hockey player when I was in school. I've had plenty of opportunity to witness both good and bad officiating. Joyce admits he blew the call. It wasn't even close. These guys are paid plenty of money to do their jobs and they should be on top of things like this. He's a professional. We get plenty mad at our professional athletes when they blow it; officials should be held to the same standards. You don't get to that level by being lousy. A professional umpire blew a critical call and he cost a guy a chance to make history. No, I have no sympathy for the guy.

[Renew Deal]

16. Coaching is not officiating.

Generally coaches don't understand the game, the rules, and how officials prepare. Coaches get better at the higher levels, but very few actually really know the rules or what it takes to be an official. Officials aren't held to the same standard because the game goes on whether they're there or not. The game is about the players, the fans, and the game. It's never supposed to be about the officials. Professional umpires will always blow calls. Players will blow even more. You have no sympathy, but you also admittedly have no clue.

[spoony]

18. Then they need to be balanced by replay

Because it's just enough already. They have the ability to avoid shit like this, yet they refuse to act based on some rigid traditionalism that makes them look like bumbling dinosaurs.

[1gobluedem]

28. Oh for God's sake

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Coaches don't understand the game? What planet do you LIVE on? Coaches understand the game, believe me. Furthermore, I know plenty of people who have been both coaches AND officials.

Right, coaches don't understand the game. They have conferences over rules, they make rule changes but they don't understand the game. Where did you get this interesting piece of information?

Ofiicals are PROFESSIONALS. They are paid very well at the major league level and should be held to the highest standards. I am about to take over the top job at my employer. I would hope that I will be held to the highest standard. You reach the majors as an athlete, a coach, or an official and you'd better be at the top of your game.

Officials have blown calls that have cost teams championships. That's wrong and last night's call was wrong too.

[Renew Deal]

8. Umpires are good people.

I'm sure he feels terrible. He's suddenly famous for a very bad reason.

[ProfessorGAC]

21. He Does Feel Terrible

He went to the locker room to apologize to Gallaraga. He admitted he blew the call and said he feels awful. He admits he stole a perfect game from the kid.

Still, i'm not sure how he missed that play. He had good position, and it wasn't really all that close. Bang, bang, yes. B-Babg, it wasn't.
GAC

[HuckleB]

14. Hogwash.

I genuinely felt very sad for the pitcher, and still do, but coming here to see the ludicrous statements about one of the game's better umps kind of puts another spin on things.

[JackintheGreen]

2. The umpiring I've seen this year has been generally terrible

I try to respect these guys. Really, I do. But the close calls *all* seem to be absolute ass this year. What gives?

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Wow! Awful, just awful.

Is there any recourse?

[aikoaiko]

4. Is there video, yet?

:shrug:

[Poiuyt]

9. Here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/02/armando-galarraga-perfect_n_598626.html

[joeybee12]

5. Amazing...no recourse, I assume? n/t

[Auggie]

11. I wonder... doesn't Selig have god-like powers?

Could he reverse the rotation of the earth, turn back time, overturn the call, and award the perfect game? Just askin'...

[Renew Deal]

17. That's the question now.

He has the power, but it's a terrible slippery slope. This one is easy because it's on the last play of the game. But what happens if the same play happened in the 6th or 7th inning? Do they replay the rest of the game? Although I would be happy if he corrected this, it might be better if he didn't.

[cherokeeprogressive]

19. Why wasn't the call overturned? n/t

[Onceuponalife]

20. Presumably none of the othe umps had a clear look at it.

Only home runs are up for replay. This was a judgment call and Joyce blew it. He's a veteran ump and just made a mistake at the worst possible time. Cut him some slack, I'm sure he feels horrible. It's too bad considering how many no-hitters have been thrown this year. But calling for his firing is ridonkulous. Are we going to fire officials every time they make a bad call? There'd be no one left before long. I really think the best officiating is in baseball. 98% of the time they get it right. The worst officiating is in the NBA, imo.

[cherokeeprogressive]

32. Oh I agree. He's human, and he made a mistake. I am probably one of the biggest b-ball fans here-

and I know that they make bad calls sometimes. It's a shame that none of the other umps made sure they got a look at the play. Seems as though they would have.

In the NBA the officiating is a joke. Just ask anyone who guards Kobe.

[TZ]

22. Maybe NOW they will use replay for more things

I heard the apology from the ump. He feels bad. He's human he makes mistakes. I think the fact that replay could have made up for that but is not used because of tired old traditions is what pisses me off.

[Captain Hilts]

24. I'm all for it.

And Mel Gray of the St. Louis Cardinals did NOT catch that 'touchdown' pass against the Redskins that kept us out of the playoffs.

[HuckleB]

26. No.

Replay makes umps worse, and turns a game into a farce.

It's a game. It's supposed to entertain us. The whole instant replay nonsense just takes entertainment and dulls it.

[TZ]

27. I watch football and I think for the most part

instant replay is a good thing.

[HuckleB]

29. So do I, and I hate it. It's a serious drag on the game.

Further, it seems like the refs have gotten lazy because of it. They are not as good as they used to be, IMO.

[Captain Hilts]

23. The ump says he feels like shit. I feel bad for him. And for the pitcher. nt

[Ganja Ninja]

30. It's not surprising.

They can't even call balls and strikes without screwing it up. The umps this year are really bad.

[MrCoffee]

31. I just saw the replay, and I have to go throw up now

What in the hell?

[Beetwasher]

33. Same Reaction Here, Wasn't Even Close, Must Have Been A Ba Ba Booey

You know, just one of those things when you're so focused on something and it's so big you over think it and fuck it up.

[1gobluedem]

34. He was watching the ball and the glove

Then belatedly looked at the runner's feet. That's how it looks to me anyway.

[Beetwasher]

35. Definitely A Ba Ba Booey

I watched it a few times now, he was definitely looking, so it's not like he wasn't paying attention. It was too big a call and he overthunk it and fucked it up.