PERFECT....OR NOT?????

[Peter Lombardo]

I will be perfectly clear and up front. I am nothing more then a very casual baseball fan. I know the game, played it all through my high school years, but today it is just a game that lives in the background of my life.

This morning on the radio I heard about the “near†perfect game pitched last night. Now living in NJ I have no ties to either team…Cleveland or Detroit, but I have to say that the talk on the sports radio station today was unbelievable. You would think this was the most important news item on the planet. I fully realize that sports fans get crazy and emotional over games but the talk today was amazing.

The vast majority of the callers I heard want the call overturned and the perfect game call given to the pitcher Galarraga. The ump, admits to having “Blown†the call. The radio guy, a Mike Francessa, very loud and opinionated, says no, baseball is not perfect, the Ump is human, humans make mistakes and the call and the integrity of the game should be upheld.

So, I am curious…..what do you guys think? Uphold the incorrect call on the field and give the pitcher the win and a one hitter, or overturn the call and reinstate the perfect game status to this game?

For the record, I like the idea of two challenges per manager per game and I like the idea of the electronic “strike zone†so that there is complete consistency in the calling of balls and strikes. But that’s just me…..I love technology and think it is time to update the antiquated system of the Umpire calling the pitch or the “tag†based upon his mood.

So, what’s your call?

[Foxer]

You just can't go back and change a whole game because of a bad call. It's not the first time and won't be the last. It's not just allowing the perfect game, the while game changes from the point that out would become true.

It is becoming a technology problem when the technology can prove if a call was correct or not. It should be used just like is being done in other sports where it can eliminate human errors. I really like the idea of an electronic strike zone ... this has been a sore spot in baseball since the beginnings as far as I'm concerned.

And, just to keep it on topic, how bout those Vettes??

[Harry P.]

I'm a big baseball fan, and I have had it up to here with umpires, particularly the different strike zones each ump seems to have.

The strike zone is clearly defined in the rule book, yet 99% of umpires will call a pitch at the letters a ball, and a pitch below the knees a strike. Both calls are wrong, and it bugs the heck out of me. If I was a batter I'd have been thrown out of plenty of games for arguing balls and strikes (I'd suggest in a friendly, non-aggressive manner that the umpire might consider perusing the rule book at his earliest convenience in regards to the strike zone)...

I also think baseball needs instant replay, not to take the umpires' place, but to supplement them. There have been plenty of blown calls, some in very big situations that actually affected the outcome of the game.

I think maybe each manager should get a certain number of challenges per game, like in football, where the ump's call is reviewed by the camera. Something needs to be done. I bet the kid who threw the perfect game and the ump who made the bad call feel like you-know-what today... but credit to the ump for manning up and admitting he blew the call. At least Galarraga got that much from him. But that has to eat at you... knowing you missed a chance for the record books because an ump made a mistake.

[Harry P.]

I think the REAL tragedy of this is that the COWARD Bud Selig had a chance to do the right thing and overturn the call and didn't.

Selig did the right thing. If he overturned this umpire's call, where does it end? There would be calls to his office all the time asking him to review certain plays. As long as baseball does not have instant replay and the humans are making the call, Selig is correct in not overturning that ump's decision. Unless Selig wants to become a full-time commissioner and umpire, he's right to not overturn the call.

What Selig should do is institute instant replay, and go with something like football's "Coache's challenge" rule. And also crack down on umpires who call their own strike zones. The strike zone is clearly identified in the rules, and I don't see why umpires are allowed to bend the rules as far as balls and strikes. I'd like to see the electronic strike zone used for TV coverage, and also available if a player or coach wants to challenge a call. Give each team a certain number of challenges per game. That would get the umpires to call a consistent strike zone.

[1320wayne]

The "Human Factor" is part of, or should remain part of all sports, for the most part. It's part of what makes the game what it is. The "electronic strike zone" would be the worst mistake baseball could ever make. Having different umpires, with different perspectives on what constitutes a strike is again, part of the game. That should never change.

That being said, an umpires call is final. Right or wrong! The call in last nights game was a travesty from the standpoint that a "Perfect Game" is a milestone that only so many players can lay claim to in the history of baseball. So that bad call is proportionally larger than if it had just come down to the last out in any other regular game. Be that may, major league baseball can not change their rules, for any reason, especially because the outcome was so important. If they were to reverse the call just so this pitcher could receive his justly deserved perfect game then they would be opening themselves up to have to reverse other bad calls down the road.

Two things should be observed from this incident though. First, the umpire coming forward and openly admitting that he blew the call and apologizing for it. Secondly, that Gallaraga has absolutely no bitterness towards the umpire at all and is handling the situation with a positive attitude. Both people are to be commended as to how they are accepting the situation after the fact.

You know, I once read in a book about Pete Rose that he stated that during a game he was trying to stretch a single into a double and used his textbook headfirst slide into second to beat the throw. He was clearly safe but the umpire called him out. Pete got up and tried to argue the call with the ump.. The umpire looked him straight in the eye and said to him, "Pete, you know you were safe, I know you were safe, but 50,000 people just saw me call you out, so you're out!" Pete said, how can you argue with logic like that and turned and walked back to the dugout.

[Harry P.]

Having different umpires, with different perspectives on what constitutes a strike is again, part of the game. That should never change.

I couldn't disagree more! Baseball shouldn't rely on an umpire's "perspective" as to what's a ball or a strike. They have a rule book that tells them what's a ball and what's a strike.

Why should an individual umpire have the right to decide what he's going to call a ball or a strike, regardless of the rules? What sense does that make?

The whole point of having an umpire behind the catcher is so that he can decide whether or not the pitch is a ball or a strike. And in order to determine whether the pitch is a ball or a strike you have to have some sort of reference as to what exactly is a ball or a strike... hence the "strike zone" that's described in the rules. It makes absolutely no sense to let each umpire make up his own strike zone. Might as well let each umpire make up his own rules as to what's a fair or a foul ball, then... or how far into the seats a ball must go before it's called a home run. I mean, if an umpire can call balls and strikes however he feels like it, regardless of what the rules say, why not let them make up all the other rules too?

[Greg Cullinan]

I was opposed to the instant replay for college football,but in hindsight it makes it a better game.

I have to agree with harry about strike zones,which leads me to believe we have given either too much responsibility or too much power to the umps.I'm all for a digital strike zone

And five years ago the Flyers would've lost last night cause the refs didn't see a goal.Luckily instant replay showed them the truth.

Its 2010,we must embrace technology!!

And to answer the question,it was a PERFECT game!

[Harry P.]

And five years ago the Flyers would've lost last night cause the refs didn't see a goal.Luckily instant replay showed them the truth.

Stinkin' Flyers...

:lol:

[mountaindewd]

How about a "resto-mod"?

Allow the umps to continue calling the game, yet have the electronic strikezone for critiquing the umps honesty in their calls and put them on a scoring system giving them points for lapses in judgement. The points would accrue over time leading to demotion and eventually job loss. Doing their job correctly, w/o infraction, would over time, remove points and work them back towards good standing. I'm just sayin'. I am not a big baseball follower.

Flyers, Blackhawks, Blah Blah Blah! The Wings will be back next year........maybe,.....I hope so. ThThThey Better Be!

Edited June 4, 2010 by mountaindewd

[sjordan2]

As Harry said:

"What Selig should do is institute instant replay, and go with something like football's "Coache's challenge" rule. And also crack down on umpires who call their own strike zones. The strike zone is clearly identified in the rules, and I don't see why umpires are allowed to bend the rules as far as balls and strikes. I'd like to see the electronic strike zone used for TV coverage, and also available if a player or coach wants to challenge a call. Give each team a certain number of challenges per game. That would get the umpires to call a consistent strike zone."

Why on earth should baseball be the only major sport without replay challenge rules? That's ridiculous. And Gallaragos was robbed (so far) of a place in history because of it. A situation like this should clearly have a replay challenge opportunity, and it's ludicrous that it doesn't.

I agree that questioning calls about the strike zone should have a limited number of challenges. Otherwise a baseball game could last a couple of days if every call were to be questioned (bye-bye, double-headers).

Edited June 4, 2010 by sjordan2

[Harry P.]

its time for EVERYONE on the Baseball planet to admit that Bud Selig is the single worst thing to have EVER happened to baseball (yes worse than Stienbrenner and the Yankees). From The Expos, to Steroids, to the All Star Fiasco, to Barry Bonds, to Interleague Play, and now this display of pure spinelessness.

I think interleague play is the best thing to happen to baseball in a long, long time.

As far as steroids, Selig has his hands tied by the player's union. If you want to blame anyone for the steroids mess, blame Fehr.

[James Flowers]

I think it is sad that people are more worried about a base ball game. Than what is happening in this country. When people take their country as serious as their base ball. We might get something done.

[mageckman]

I thoroughly agree James.

[Pete J.]

I am more of a casual fan of the game but still enjoy an afternoon at the park, so I am not going to get into it with any of the rabid fans. I have been watching the game since Roger Maris and Mikey Mantel played the game. My perspective is right is right and calling it anything else is hogwash. The kid pitched a perfect game. Something that happens very seldom. Everyone agrees that he got 28 batters in a row out except for an admittedly bad call. If you must, give him a perfect game with an asterisk. Good enough for Roger good enough for Gallaraga.

As to the electronic strike zone, that would make it more of a hitters game again and that would not be so bad. You really don't take that much away from the umpires. You still need them to call foul tips, swing or no swing and plays at the plate. A consistent strike zone could be defined in inches and not the inexact zone determined by the anatomy or stance(remember Eddie Gaedel in 1951) much less the umpires eyesight. You are still going to get the same cat and mouse of pitcher vs. batter. It just takes some of the guess work out of the game. Although it gives the fans a whole lot less to gripe about. Heckling the umpire has always been part of the game. Oh well.

Just my opinion.

[cruz]

In a few words, give Gallaraga the perfect game, the kid deserves it and it was obviously a blown call, not even close.

[Crusader101]

Gallarado is certainly receiving extraordinary attention due to the blown call compared with the pitchers who last month, pitched the 19th and 20th perfect games. (Do you know who they were?) GM rolled out a brand new Corvette for him yesterday at the ballpark. Even the White House weighed in with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs mentioning that an Executive Order may give him the perfect game.

Review the last 1000 infield ground ball plays with the pitcher jogging over to cover first base and I'll bet that all 1000 were outs (with the exception of an error). Only Pete Rose could sometimes beat out an infield play. No effect on the score of the game nor the stats. Selig, give him the perfect game before Obama beats you to it.

[Harry P.]

The All-Star game has no luster... it's a popularity contest, mostly for the guys who happen to be hot right before the voting. As far as an actual baseball game, it's completely meaningless... so I don't see how interleague play has any effect on an already meaningless game.

Maybe you have to be from a city like New York, Chicago or L.A. to fully appreciate interleague play. Around here, the games between the Sox and the Cubs are just about the biggest games of the season, no matter how well or how poorly the Sox and Cubs may be doing. It's just something special when the Sox and the Cubs play each other, and it counts in the standings! Same for the Mets/Yankees, and the Dodgers/Angels.

I love interleague play. Like I said, best thing to happen in baseball in many years. Now if only we could decide on the DH... either both leagues have one, or neither. I don't like a different set of rules for the AL and one for the NL... makes no sense to me.

And could we pleeez get rid of those stupid exploding maple bats and go back to hickory or ash only???

[Harry P.]

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree... I don't see any significance or importance in the ASG. It's more of a "beauty contest" than a sporting event. When the fans get to pick the starting lineup, any semblance to a "real" game is out the window. How many times have we seen old, over-the-hill players that stunk it up in real games and were way past retirement get voted into the ASG by fans because of "nostalgia" or whatever? It's ludicrous. The ASG isn't a game... it's a dog and pony show.

It's like the Pro Bowl or the NBA All-star game... it's a complete farce, nobody plays defense, it's all for show... it's not a real game, it's an exhibition. There's nothing wrong with that... you just have to remember that the ASG isn't a real baseball game. It's a show for the fans, by the fans.

And to your point that the ASG used to allow players who wouldn't ordinarily have the chance to face each other a chance to go head-to-head... that's the beauty of interleague play! They do go head to head, but unlike the ASG, they are playing for real, not just for show.

The ASG is fine as sort of a cartoon version of MLB, but interleague play is the real deal. IMO.

Like I said... we'll have to agree to disagree...

[Harry P.]

As far as biggest games around.........have you not heard of Red Sox / Yanks???

But the Red Sox and Yankees are in the same league! They play each other like 18 times a season! Big deal!

Interleague play is different because the teams that are playing usually don't play each other in the regular season. That's what makes an interleague game more interesting than just another Red Sox/Yankees game...

[Harry P.]

I think disagreeing is the only thing we ever agree on.

I agree!!!

[Cornpatch]

As a big baseball fan, I just think that instant replay, the way it is now would slow down the game more. Some baseball games are boring as heck and just seem to drag on and on and to stop it for a replay 4 or 5 times a game is going to turn a 3 hour ballgame into a 6 hour yawn fest.

What I think they should do, and of course my opinion don't amount to a hill of beans, is come up with 5 man umpiring crews. You would have your 4 umpires on the field and 1 up in the booth with the replay monitor. He would be connected by 2 way radio to the crew chief on the field. Instead of the 4 on field umpires spending 5 to 8 minutes discussing the play on the field than going into look at the replay wasting another 5 to 8 minutes. The umpire up in the booth would have already looked at the play, radio down to the crew chief, the call, and we go on with the game.

Also have to agree with Harry on the consistent strike zone, they need to come up with one and or follow the rules that are in place now. I don't think that this will ever happen through, look a few years back they put some high priced cameras in certain ballparks to check on the umpires strike/ball calls. Nothing ever came of that because the umpires union complained about it and old, no balls, Bud Selig did what he always does, nothing, he just got down on his knees and said ok we will discontinue doing this for the good of baseball. That man has no idea what the good of baseball is.

I love my baseball, but I only cheer for 2 teams, the CHICAGO WHITE SOX and whoever is playing the Yankees that day. So now I think I'll go get ready for today's game.

Jeff

[sjordan2]

As I watch the French Open, it occurs to me that baseball could have an electronic strike zone, just as tennis has for line calls. Coaches could have a designated number of challenges, which they would use up when the replay proved them wrong. These measures are common in other professional sports.