Perfect Game

In baseball a "Perfect" game is defined as:
A game in which the pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of 9 innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. The Pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks or hit batsmen." Basically it's "27 up and 27 down" (3 batters per inning x 9 innings)...In the over 100 years of Major League Baseball there have been 20. If you consider 30 teams playing an average of 162 games that means there are approximately 4,860 games in each season. A "Perfect" game is something to behold (if you're a baseball fan).

On Wednesday night Jim Joyce missed a call at first base. It was the bottom of the 9th inning, there were two outs and he called the short stop safe. Ending a perfect game...instant replay showed that the player was actually "out". Jim Joyce realized his mistake but it was too late...this is the human element to baseball, there is no instant replay. He apologized but that was all he could do. The game was over and done.

It was heartbreaking for Armando Galarraga...he was oh, so close. On Thursday he met the man who dashed his hopes face to face...at home plate...you can see the results
here.

I applaud both men for the way they behaved...Joyce for standing up and admitting his mistake...Galarraga for accepting that it was not intentional, nor was it personal, it just happened. In today's world where so many professional sports figures are absolutely the wrong kind of role model for our children, it's refreshing to see.