Perfectly Imperfect

SlapShot column published June 10 in the Woodford Sun

Life is messy.

And for all of our technological advancement, for all of our accumulated knowledge, for all of our yearning and striving, we’ve not been able to change that basic fact.

Messy.

Things don’t turn out the way we want them to. We seldom enjoy as much control as we’d like to imagine. And when all’s said and done, life simply isn’t fair.

Just ask Armando Galarraga.

The Detroit Tiger pitcher put away 26 straight Cleveland Indian batters on June 2. No hits. No walks. No errors. The cusp of perfection. He put away number 27 too. But the one man who counts didn’t see it that way, at least not in the moment that mattered. First base umpire Jim Joyce called Cleveland Indians’ Jason Donald safe at first base.

He clearly wasn’t.

And in that moment, Galarraga stepped out of the pages of baseball history books, into the pages of baseball history books. Instead of going down as the 21st pitcher in Major League Baseball history to throw a perfect game, the Tiger hurler will go down as the victim of perhaps the worst call in the annals of Major League Baseball.

It was so bad, even the ump later admitted he was wrong, in a rare display of officiating humility.

“It was the biggest call of my career, and I kicked the (stuff) out of it," Joyce said, clearly distraught, after the game. “I just cost that kid a perfect game. I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw, until I saw the replay.”

We all saw the replay. Out. By almost a step.

And immediately, the calls came to set things right. Since it should have been the final out of the game, change the call after the fact. Record the play as what it was – an out at first base. And give Galarraga his perfect game.

It seems so simple. So clear cut. So right.

But stop and consider for just one moment – it really wasn’t a perfect game, was it?

Not if perfection means perfection. Joyce made the wrong call. But isn’t officiating part of the game? Doesn’t the human element ultimately rule the world of sports just like it does in “real life” ?

After Dallas Braden threw his perfect game a few weeks back, I pointed out that perfection doesn’t belong to the pitcher alone. It also belongs to every player who takes the field. It belongs to the manager. And indeed, it belongs to the umpire.

Interestingly, this wasn’t the first perfect game blown up by a bad call. In 1994, one base runner marred a perfect game for Oakland A’s pitcher Bobby Witt. Greg Gagne reached on a bunt single with one out in the sixth inning. Replays show Gagne was clearly out.

Witt didn’t get his perfect game. Heck, he didn’t even get an apology.

And on it goes. How many times could we look back and say if it weren’t for this call or that call, then we’d have witnessed a different outcome?

As my stepdad often said, “If a frog had wings, he wouldn’t bump his butt every time he hopped.”

Officiating calls weave themselves into the fabric of a game, just like hits, tackles, goals and errors. If we start pulling at the threads by changing an outcome here and there after the fact, eventually the entire fabric falls apart.

And I think fallibility is important. The human factor makes sports interesting. Otherwise, we might as well just watch a computer game.

Imagine for a moment that Joyce made the right call. Galarraga would have gotten his perfect game. And in two years, few but the most dedicated baseball fan would likely remember the moment. Instead we got something different. Something even non-baseball fans will likely remember. A little humanity in the midst of big-time sports.

The next night, in a rematch between the Indians and Tigers, Joyce got the call as home plate ump. And Detroit manager Jim Leyland sent Galarraga out to bring the starting lineup card to the plate. The two men shook hands. Joyce patted Galarraga on the back.

“That was one of the coolest things I've ever seen,” Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge said. “What sets that apart from anything that's probably happened in a long time in our sport is the absolute sportsmanship of it. I'll tell you what, Galarraga and Joyce are two true gentlemen, period, in the way that they handled themselves. People will always remember that. I'll never forget it.”

Neither will I.

Quick Shots

Do you enjoy football? Can you get a video camera pointed in the right direction? If so, the Woodford County High School football team could use your help. Coach Steve Stonebraker is looking for filmers for summer practices and games. Summer practices will begin at 6 in the evenings. If interested contact Stonebraker at steve.stonebraker@woodford.kyschools.us.

Speaking of summer practices, Jay Lucas had a little smile on his face after the Woodford County High School girls’ basketball team kicked off its summer scrimmages with four W’s. On June 3, the Lady Jackets beat Boyle County 36-19 and then topped Madisonville 49-32. On June 5, Woodford pummeled West Jessamine 53-18 and then whipped Burgin 51-23. Mark it down now – this Lady Jacket squad will make some noise next season.

Quote of the Week

“It’s probably not his fault. His wife wears the firesuit in the family - tells him what to do. So, it’s probably not his fault.” – NASCAR driver Joey Logano talking about Kevin Harvick after Harvick spun the No. 20 out during the June 6 Sprint Cup race at Pocono.

Puck to the Head

This week’s puck flies at the head of the goalie playing against my team in a tournament down in Knoxville on June 6 for the worst display of sportsmanship I’ve ever witnessed in person. After the referee failed to blow a play dead, resulting in a goal for Lexington, the Gangrene goalie (yes, that was the name of his team, which should tell you something) launched into a profanity laced tirade that could have blistered the ears of a sailor. Next, he proceeded to follow the ref to the bench, dropping his gloves, (international hockey language for “We’re gonna fight.”) and continuing to creatively string together obscenities. Then he chest butted the ref. To his credit, the stunned official kept his cool and calmly ejected the unhinged netminder. About five minutes later, the nutcase came out of the locker room, half undressed, to continue his tirade. Somebody dragged him away before cops were called. After the game, I saw the guy in the parking lot. He was with his wife and infant son. She must be so proud. I was not surprised to see him wearing a Boston Red Sox jersey.