What if the blown call had gone the other way?

So we all know by now that an incorrect call (safe) at first base cost Detroit pitcher Galarraga a perfect game. First, two defenses of the umpire …

Viewed in real time, it still looks like the right call to me. In umpire training, we were taught to “think outs”, meaning that if you had a doubt, assume that the runner at first was out. It virtually always proves true and is a good rule of thumb, as I’ve seen in 40 years of watching baseball.

Second, the freeze frames I’ve seen aren’t as dispositive as they appear. Galarraga has the ball “snow-coned”, but perhaps not necessarily in his possession. None of this is to say that the call was technically correct. Just that the call wasn’t egregious.

So now to the reaction. I’ll leave aside instant replay for MLB, because that is a silly idea. But what of the calls for the Commish (or even Congress? Yes, they’re shooting of their mouths) to reverse the call? As I see it, the reaction is mostly to the unfairness of Galarraga being denied a place in the record books. That’s understandable, but not a reason for extraordinary relief.

Image that the situation was reversed. The runner was barely safe, but was called Out by the umpire. Faced with the prospect of an “undeserved” perfect game, would the public be calling for it to be taken away? I hope not.

I know I’ll be called sentimental, but the human factor needs to be a part of sports. Shit happens. In golf, it’s called “the rub of the green”. Just grin and bear it. As Galarraga has done, with so much class …

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Tags: blown call, Galarraga, Perfect game

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