MLB: Replay, NOW.

8.2 perfect, scoreless, hitless, error-free innings; that’s what Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga had.  Never have three perfect games been thrown within a single season, much less 1,000 days of each other.  There has only been one other occasion where there were two perfect games in a season; we were on the verge of history. 

ESPN moves to the Tigers-Indians game, on national TV.  ESPNews and every other newscast mentions that Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga has gone eight strong innings with one remaining.  Three perfect games?  Unfathomable.  Jason Donald steps up to the plate knowing he could break up history.  On the third pitch he swings, a grounder to Miguel Cabrera away from first base.  Armando Galarraga runs to cover, Cabrera fields cleanly and fires, Galarraga catches, tags, SAFE!  WHAT!?  First base umpire Jim Joyce called Donald safe.  At a glance it looked like a tie, which often goes to the runner.  In such circumstances I would’ve given it to the pitcher, but I’m not an umpire.  However, upon review, Galarraga had him beat by more than half a step.

Pitiful.

This leads us into the chaotic debate of implementing more or less replay in baseball.  Does it ruin “the spirit of the game” or its integrity?  No, that’s pure rubbish.  The NFL makes scintillating use of replay, as does NBA, when it’s necessary.  Maybe I’m too young and ignorant of the games traditions, but then again, I’m part of the future generations that will watch and be entertained by these games.  I was set to witness history, monumental history.  I watched the ball roll to Cabrera and Galarraga touch the base, and Jim Joyce crush those dreams of witnessing such history, for now at least. 

Now if replay were implemented, what a different situation we would be in.  Everyone, minus anyone affiliated with the Indians, would be rejoicing that history in the making was saved by practical use of technology.  I know that the MLB has been beyond hesitant in implementing replay, only using it for home runs so far, but it’s necessary.  I’m tired of “human error” being a part of the game.  All that it can be is missed calls, there is no 100% of the time.  Computers will be flawless and faultless, or at least better than the naked eye.  This was the straw that broke the camel’s back. 

Jim Joyce later said, “It was the biggest call of my career,” and there is no doubt to that.  It’s the biggest call for a reason he did not want though.  Replay, please come soon.

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