The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#1
Posted: 6/2/10 at 11:20pm
Detroit pitcher Armando Galaragga was on the verge of the third perfect game this season, which would be a first in hisoty (I think). Ground ball to first baseman, who throws to Galaragga, who gets to first before the runner. The umpire, however, calls the runner safe, when he was clearly out, costing him a perfect game.
Oh, no!
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#2
Posted: 6/2/10 at 11:24pm
The 1985 WS call to me is still the top when you consider what was collectively on the line. Don Denkinger also did the impossible by turning the nicest fans in baseball into an angry mob. That itself puts it at the top.
Still, wow, that is up there with bad calls in baseball and sports in general. I wonder how baseball will react (though still leaning toward the Selig shrug and the purists saying human error is part of the game as the reaction). Something really needs to be done. The playoff umpiring last post-season was a total joke and there have been a lot of personal run-ins between players/coaches/managers vs. umpires (though Jim Leyland somehow kept his cool in the post-game about this).
Updated On: 6/3/10 at 11:24 PM
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#2
Posted: 6/3/10 at 12:53am
the officiating in the MLB has gotten so terrible lately, it was only a matter of time until something like this happened. I feel awful for Galaragga, especially since he was covering the bag when Joyce called the runner safe.
I did read that Joyce has apologized, Galaragga has accepted and they hugged. Classy moves from both of them, especially Joyce owning up to a glaring mistake.
What I don't understand is why, with two outs in the ninth with a pitcher one out away from a perfect game why you wouldn't just call anything that remotely close an out.
Stand-by Joined: 6/26/06
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#3
Posted: 6/3/10 at 1:38am
I'm not proud of it, but I've come close to losing my voice after screaming at umpires from my living room, and I'm not surprised this happened, but I am stunned (it makes sense in my head.) IT WASN'T EVEN CLOSE. For crying out loud, the call wasn't even close.
Not a Tigers fan, not a Galarraga fan but, then again, I don't think you need to be to feel for this guy, his team and his fans. A perfect game is so elusive and almost impossible, and to have an incompetent umpire botch your chances after you've done it. O.M.G. I will be outraged for a long time. I don't care how embarrassed or apologetic Joyce is (he really should be ashamed; that goes without saying), this is ridiculous and is a sign of the horrible umpiring going on every day. Angel Hernandez is no longer the worst ump ever. (I don't even consider Joe West, who has turned himself into a joke.)
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#4
Posted: 6/3/10 at 6:25amIt's not a perfect game unless the umpire says it is. This umpire said no so deal with it.
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#5
Posted: 6/3/10 at 7:13amI am not even a sportsy person, but I could see that call was dead wrong.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/19/08
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#6
Posted: 6/3/10 at 7:23amThey were just showing this on the Today show. The poor kid took it pretty well though.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/4/09
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#7
Posted: 6/3/10 at 7:50am
My husband and I turned away from the Red Sox game we were watching to watch the last two innings of the Detroit game. It looked like clear sailing and then oof!
Such a a bad call, not even close. I think everyone was stunned. The consequences of this mistake were so much greater than the norm.
Just should not have been.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#8
Posted: 6/3/10 at 9:18amI know very little about sports so forgive my ignorance. Is that umpire's call allowed to stand? Can an ump retract his call after replays show his was clearly wrong?
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#9
Posted: 6/3/10 at 9:19amTerrible call and the timing and signifigance of it made it more so.
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#10
Posted: 6/3/10 at 9:20am
"Can an ump retract his call after replays show his was clearly wrong?"
Baseball allows for very limited use of instant replay, and a safe/out call is not subject to review.
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#11
Posted: 6/3/10 at 9:24amBrian is right on this one Morosco. The umpire is a seasoned vet in the world of umpires, one who been in World Series games and All-Star games. After the game, he apologized to the pitcher. They even hugged. But as a fan, that is not good enough for me. Joyce either resign or be fired.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#12
Posted: 6/3/10 at 9:34am
Wow. I would hate to be an ump.
I have to say that the look on Galaragga's face after the ump makes the call is priceless.
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#13
Posted: 6/3/10 at 9:48am
This is heartbreaking. I can't watch that play anymore. Gallaraga is a class act the way he reacted to the umpire apology. I would have been FUMING!!!
Is there really no way to correct this?
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#14
Posted: 6/3/10 at 10:04amI'm totally bored by baseball, but after seeing that clip this morning, even I knew the umpire screwed up the choreography. It's Thumb Up Bend-at-the-Elbow, not Lunge-and-Arms Out-to-the-Side.
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#15
Posted: 6/3/10 at 10:27am
I'm afraid not, clever name. There are no instant replays in baseball. Only questionable homeruns can be appealed. But even if they were to call it an out after the fact, it took away from the glory. Had that rightly been called an out, the game would've been over, the home fans would've cheered wildly, and Galarraga would've been mobbed by his teammates.
It's like that American gymnast who was recently given the bronze medal ten years later after the Olympics committee learned that China had cheated. She will never know the feeling of being on an Olympic podium representing her country.
Shame.
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/4/09
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#16
Posted: 6/3/10 at 2:41pm
The baseball commissioner could overrule the umpire's call but most likely won't because it will set a precedent.
But this is a somewhat unique situation.
Had an umpire's mistake been made, say int he fourth inning, the game would have continued, and all kinds of things could have happened.
In this case, it was the last play of the game, so nothing would have come after it to alter the game's results.
Personally, I say, eat a little crow and give the guy credit for a perfect game. What's right is right!
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/14/05
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#17
Posted: 6/3/10 at 2:46pmI am going to guess that the Commissioner will call it an out and give him the perfect game. But, I am a Cubs fan, what do I know about baseball!
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#18
Posted: 6/3/10 at 3:50pm
“I say many times: Nobody’s perfect, Everybody makes a mistake. I’m sure he don’t want to make that call. You see that guy last night, he feels really bad. He don’t even change. The other umpires shower, eat. He was sitting in the seat (and saying), ‘I’m so sorry.'" -Armando Galarraga, class act and stunning example of good sportsmanship
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#19
Posted: 6/3/10 at 3:56pmFYI - the baseball commissioner has announced that he will not be changing the call. Not a surprise.
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#20
Posted: 6/3/10 at 4:01pmNot a surprise from the guy who just shrugged when the All-Star game ended a tie and followed it up with one of the most ill-conceived, flawed plans to make an exhibition game matter. I almost hate what will be his counter-act against bad umpiring calls to be honest, though he did nothing after last season's playoffs (and things seem to have gotten worse).
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#21
Posted: 6/3/10 at 4:30pmI agree with Selig's decision not to reverse this one
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/4/09
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#22
Posted: 6/3/10 at 4:34pmI feel bad for Umpire Jim Joyce. He made a horrible mistake and there is no way he can correct it. Thank you Major League Baseball.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#23
Posted: 6/4/10 at 12:07am
All I could think of was the line in The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant " Not even the Devil can make an umpire change his call."
Fustrating as all get out but dems da rules as dey is writ.
Suks.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/19/08
The worst blown call by an umpire EVER?#24
Posted: 6/4/10 at 1:44amI feel horrible for both the pitcher and the ump. the poor umpire felt like crap. I think the commish should do something about it but I guess that's not gonna happen.
Videos
