MLB Commissioner Selig May Reverse Ump's Imperfect Call
Umpire Jim Joyce's blown call raises issue of instant replay in baseball.
June 3, 2010— -- Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga may get his perfect game yet.
Major League Baseball is considering whether to review umpire Jim Joyce's call in the ninth inning of Wednesday night's game when he erroneously called Cleveland Indian Jason Donald safe at first base.
Instant replay shows that Donald was clearly out, and a correct call would have ended the game and sealed Galaragga's perfect game, an achievement that would have put him in the history books as ony the 21st pitcher ever to throw a "perfecto."
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has the authority to overturn Joyce's call.
Joyce may be hoping Selig does what he failed to do Wednesday night, call Donald out. The veteran umpire admitted he was wrong after reviewing a tape of the play, and he went to the Tigers locker room in tears asking for a chance to apologize to the pitcher.
While still on the field, Galaragga had simply smiled ruefully after seeing his pitching gem vanish with Joyce's emphatic "safe" call. In the locker room, he accepted Joyce's apology and his hug.
"You don't see an umpire after the game come out and say, `Hey, let me tell you I'm sorry,"' Galarraga said. "He felt really bad. He didn't even shower."
The controversy is expected to shine a spotlight on the already debated use of instant replay in Major League Baseball.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland argued the call, but later told reporters that the "human element" is a part of professional baseball and said he will not take the matter in front of the league.
Leyland called what happened "a crying shame" and also praised Joyce as a good umpire.
But others, including former umpire Don Denkinger, believe Major League Baseball should expand its use of instant replay.
Denkinger, who became infamous for his missed call in the 1985 World Series, told the New York Post that "there are so many areas you can use instant replay."
Related Stories
ABC News Live