Jim Joyce Impressed By Support After Botching Perfect Game (VIDEO)

(AP) NEW YORK -- Umpire Jim Joyce, who blew a call that cost a Detroit pitcher a perfect game, says he's impressed with all of the support he's gotten since his blunder.

"Well, I've probably been at an all-time low, and steadily climbing to, I guess, an all time high, I guess," Joyce said in a telephone interview with NBC's "Today" show on Friday.

(SCROLL DOWN FOR INTERVIEW)

On Wednesday night, Joyce got the call wrong on what would have been the final out of Armando Galarraga's perfect game. He called Cleveland's Jason Donald safe at first base.

Replays later showed he missed the call, and Joyce admitted he blew it.

He was devastated, and apologized to Galarraga in person and hugged him after the Tigers' 3-0 win Wednesday. Galarraga was also supportive, saying he respected Joyce for apologizing and admitting his mistake.

Galarraga appeared on the CBS "Early Show" Friday and said "nobody's perfect," including the umpire.

"I'm a calm person. At that moment, (I did) not get angry, I was more sad about it," Galarraga said.

Galarraga said he looked at the replays later and realized "Oh my God, it was out. Not even a close play."

He felt empathy for Joyce during their homeplate reunion before Thursday's game.

"He couldn't even talk, he was crying," Galarraga said. "I understand, nobody's perfect."

Joyce said he's gotten encouragement from many quarters.

"Well, it just comes from the support I've received from my family, from the Tigers organization, the Indians organization, Major League Baseball ... and, and to be quite honest with you, the fans from the Detroit area," Joyce said.

NBC's Matt Lauer told Joyce he was going to use the umpire's willingness to admit to his mistake and apologize for it as an example for his kids.

"I think a lot of applause should go to Armando Galarraga," Joyce said. "Because he has been stand-up throughout out the whole thing.

"A bad situation turned into a good situation."

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Comments

[the-lexicon]

09:16 PM on 06/08/2010

What I like a lot more is the reaction of the baserunner. He knew he was out, and knew that there was nothing he could do.

[OC4Obama4Pres]

05:55 PM on 06/07/2010

The ball was settled in the web of the glove, ice cream cone style and was stable as the pitcher touched first base with his foot. That is an out.

[Hoosierbrad]

06:23 PM on 06/07/2010

It is easy to umpire any game from the comfort of our Lazy-Boy, with all the advantages of high definition and super slow motion. Try being that sure of yourself when it is live, full speed, and the most important call of your life to that date on the line.

[OC4Obama4Pres]

06:41 PM on 06/07/2010

Then overturn the damn call and do right by Gallaraga. Period. Umps shouldn't determine outcomes. Players should.

[brettrobbins]

03:14 PM on 06/07/2010

Yes, I'm going out on a limb and making it official: Galarraga bobbled the ball and only gained complete possession of it after the runner crossed first base (see my previous post below and my official "scoop" at http://galarragabobbledtheball.mlblogs.com/)

[OC4Obama4Pres]

06:42 PM on 06/07/2010

The ball was settled in the web of the glove, ice cream cone style and was stable as the pitcher touched first base with his foot. That is an out.

[brettrobbins]

08:28 PM on 06/07/2010

Look a split second afterward how the ball is visible outside of the web, bobbling around, though. Are you saying it was in it and then went out of it and then back into it again? Highly unlikely, I think. More likely that it didn't get trapped in the web completely until after we see it bobble around, after the runner has already touched the base.

[the-lexicon]

09:13 PM on 06/08/2010

you can declare this until the cows come home, it's simply incorrect. The umpire himself saw the replay and declared the call blown. No equivocating about bobbing (which that wasn't)

It's not a matter of debate among people who understand baseball.

There are a dozen calls a game at first base that are far closer than that.

[brettrobbins]

10:27 PM on 06/08/2010

I understand baseball enough to know that adjudicating a play based on a replay depends on which angle you see the replay from, which sometimes leads one ump to ask another ump to help him out with a call, as should have been the case here (Joyce didn't have a view of whether or not the ball was sufficiently trapped in the mitt). The view from 4:00-4:10 was shown as an afterthought by the commentators. Before that all you saw was the view from BEHIND the first baseman. Going by that it's "obvious" he's out. But the other view shows a different picture.

[brettrobbins]

02:38 PM on 06/07/2010

(NEWS FLASH?)

Is it possible that Galarraga didn't have complete possession of the ball at first base?

Don't answer yet, don't judge yet, just WATCH--PLEASE WATCH--the following clip from 4:00-4:10:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFs7LtTQmkA&feature=related

I don't have a dog in this race: I'm not a fan of either team, so don't waste your time insulting me: I'm not trying to take away from the great feat of a great pitcher, I'm seriously asking this question.

Is it completely certain that Galarraga had possession of the ball before the runner hit first base?

(Don't jump to conclusions: watch from 4:00 to 4:10 in the clip above, then return)

Does it not look as though Galarraga was bobbling the ball and only gained complete possession of it after the runner had hit first base?

Or is it sufficient for the ball to be within the area of the web of the mitt although not entirely trapped within it until after the runner crosses first base?

I hope I'm wrong. I hope the answer to the question above is yes. I hope he really did pitch a perfect game. I'm just asking this question, not rhetorically but with genuine curiosity.

[Irazu]

03:37 PM on 06/08/2010

I'm no umpire, but I think that, as long as the ball is IN the glove, the player has "control" of it.

If it fell out, then of course it is another story.

[brettrobbins]

04:56 PM on 06/08/2010

From the MLB official rules (http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/definition_terms_2.jsp):

"In establishing the validity of the catch, the fielder shall hold the ball long enough to prove that he has complete control of the ball and that his release of the ball is voluntary and intentional."

THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE (watch the video: the ball bobbles around and is only in "complete control" after the runner crosses the base).

The runner was safe and the ump was right (albeit for the wrong reason).

[VirginiaJeff]

11:51 PM on 06/06/2010

I think it's cool that Joyce quickly owned up to his mistake and apologized. And it was beautiful the way Galarraga accepted it and smoothed things over.

If only political leaders treated each other this way.

[Hoosierbrad]

06:24 PM on 06/07/2010

Fanned for thoughtfullness

[CANTHATBE]

11:50 PM on 06/06/2010

what else could the umpire say except he missed the call. Every handle showed he wasn't even close on the call.

[CANTHATBE]

12:14 AM on 06/07/2010

every angle

[fireW]

10:05 PM on 06/06/2010

All time high? If he actually believes there's anything good about his stunning display of incompetence, he's high all right.

[VirginiaJeff]

11:52 PM on 06/06/2010

He's referring to the high that comes from being forgiven.

I'm sorry you've never been fortunate enough to experience that. No wonder you're all cranky.

[fireW]

12:59 AM on 06/07/2010

Why not show everyone how little you know? Because legions of misguided sycophants tell him it's O.K., then it's really no problem & his delusions are justified. As for me, you don't have a clue as to what I've experienced. How about saving your condescension for something you actually know about?

No wonded . . .? Wonder tends to equate to curiosity, which is often the foundation of learning. Why not actually wonder?

[Oregonian76]

01:04 PM on 06/07/2010

There is a lot of good by his admitting his mistake...

- MLB has another example of the reasons to institute at least some form of limited video replay. These games have millions of dollars riding on them, both via investment in the team and with things like broadcast rights and merchandising. It's important they get it right as often as possible.

- He's setting a GREAT example of owning up to a mistake. Most people are VERY quick to blame someone else or at least make sure they don't have to take any responsibility for their actions.

- The baseball player is a GREAT example of sportsmanship.

That you fail to see it speaks more to the potential for YOU being high, not anyone else in this situation that handled themselves with amazing calm and diplomacy.

[tibetanterrier]

12:01 PM on 06/06/2010

I love the sport..

There is a bang bang call at 1st base in almost every game but this is the worst I ever seen.. Sometimes umps shorten the plate to show up a complaining pitcher or manager but this is beyond showing up or missed call. I don't buy the tears

[1hotgolfer]

01:02 PM on 06/06/2010

After acknowledging twice that he (Joyce) had "kicked the s**t out of that play", and said he had ruined it for "this kid who had worked his a$$ off to earn it"...you still doubt the sincerity of his emotions. His reaction seemed to be in response to the realization of blowing the call, how he and Galarraga both "manned-up" in an adult manner, and the ovation he received from Detroit fans that night.

Nothing was being sold. That was just honor, dignity, great sportsmanship, and appreciation! Buy that in a heart beat!!

[tanya1111]

11:36 AM on 06/06/2010

hey you guys, purveyors of the most tedious sport ever.... it's called instant replay.

[tibetanterrier]

12:08 PM on 06/06/2010

strategy to much for you?

[tanya1111]

12:29 PM on 06/06/2010

Whatever it is... whatever you want to call it (and apparently you want to call it strategy...) it is way too much for me. There is a whole lot of standing around and while with the right drugs and alcohol a game in person is okay on TV with commercials it is down right insufferable... But man some people watch golf... and others bowling.... so whatever people like different speed sports... It just seems that a game that depends on so many judgment calls might want to get accurate like the rest of the sports world to stay relevant. After all people can these replays on TV. It just makes it look bad.

[seal62]

11:09 AM on 06/06/2010

This kid came to the Tigers in 08.It only took one game to know he could pitch.It was great to have a rookie you knew was going somewhere..Last yr he got the start at the home opener..thats a big deal here.After the blown call i went to bed pissed.The story was everywhere on tv and in the street.What came next is the real story.The Tigers Management yet again shows how to act with class and dignity,ie the passing of Ernie Harwell .The Tiger fans showed thier true Bengal stripes the next night with a standing O for the offending ump . The roar is restored .

[OC4Obama4Pres]

05:56 PM on 06/07/2010

He should still get his perfect game. He earned it. Period.

[KidSampson]

08:19 AM on 06/06/2010

Baseball is unique among major sports in its obsession with stats and feats like perfect games. There is no other sport in which a call that doesn't even affect the outcome of a game could even be in the running for worst call ever.

[chaupper]

07:25 AM on 06/06/2010

Moving forward we should simply refer to perfect games as "Galarraga's"

This way the kid gets his due recognition.

As new players pitch their perfect game they receive a Galarraga award from MLB in addition to any other accolades.

[moreForNobody]

03:55 AM on 06/06/2010

I'm paraphrasing somebody but I don't remember who.

Galarraga will be remembered as the only player to pitch a perfect game with 28 outs.

[Rickamabob13]

09:40 AM on 06/06/2010

Also in the future more people will know who Armando Galarraga is than those who will be able to name at least one of the 20 pitchers who threw a perfect game.

[Bflobaz]

12:01 AM on 06/06/2010

The "teachable moment" here is what happens when someone takes responsibility for a mistake -- and that's really all it was. Then life goes on without recrimination. People can understand when an error; even an enormous error, occurs because we're human. Things like that happen. So I'm glad the Ump has received a the support mentioned in the Post.

[San Juan Wolf]

10:46 PM on 06/05/2010

how about best call ever