After watching the game of Armando Gallaraga get robbed his perfect game I been voicing my opinion on twitter and facebook. Immediately after seeing the umpire, Jim Joyce, call the runner SAFE I was stunned like the commentators and couldn't help but be completely shocked and mad.
At first I was so disgusted with that incorrect call, especially being 1 OUT away from throwing a perfect game but the next day I saw Jim Joyce was home plater umpire and Armando Gallaraga give the lineup card to him. The stadium announcer stated "Umpire Jim Joyce as the home plate umpire" and immediately the crowd booed. Jim Joyce started to stream tears from his eyes.
I listened to an audio clip where Jim Joyce said he blew the call, he really thought the runner was safe and he feels terrible.
You could tell he was geniune about messing up with the blown call that will haunt him for the rest of his life.
The part that I was more stunned about was the attitude and sportsmanship that Armando Gallaraga showed towards Jim Joyce the next day when he gave the lineup card to him. Gallaraga shook his hand and smiled at him. This makes me reflect on how we should treat each other when people make mistakes. I'm not perfect and either are you, how would you have reacted? I will be honest, I was so mad for Gallaraga I would have lost my cool and went George Brett on the umpire and held that grudge for life! But the thing I noticed is Jim Joyce mistakingly made a bad call and went publicly and announced it. Armanda Gallaraga and Jim Joyce are both class acts.
That's why Ryne Sandberg was my favorite baseball player watching as a kid. My dad taught me that Ryno might not be the homerun king every season or make the most unbelievable plays, he has a great attitude and sportsmanship to the game. This is why I valued watching him so much. I never knew who Armando Gallaraga was before this whole thing but after seeing how he handled himself I can't help but be a fan. This is the reason why I hated Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall so much with their cry baby attitudes. Their sportsmanship is terrible and I was taught no matter how good your talent is, if you got a bad attitude you shouldn't be playing. I'm glad to see them gone.
Bud Selig is the real bad guy in this situation. I just heard on the news and from reading espn, that he is not reversing the call. That is just absolutely RIDICULOUS! Their is evidence on video showing the runner was out, the runner even says he was out, Jim Joyce said he blew the call and he was out, EVERYONE thought knew he was out!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bud Selig why in the world would you not overturn that call? It's almost like he is hiding something?!?!
Basketball and Football have instant replay, why in the world doesn't Baseball?!??! I'm just lost for words. I feel soooooo bad for Armando, only 20 pitchers in Major League Baseball history have thrown a perfect game, that is insane!
He is number 21 without a doubt!
