Posts Tagged ‘Bud Selig’
I haven’t watched either Red Sox game this series (which seems to be a good thing) and choosing tonight’s Lee v Lackey game to start up again seems ill advised (but I will!) but as much of a bummer as it is watching this team lose, I think folks need to not lose sight of the fact that the team is patched together right now with spit and duct tape. Hope for the best, expect the worst and just try to enjoy the games, people. (Goodness knows that’s been near to impossible these last two days!)
Yesterday was Shoeless Joe Jackson’s birthday. I only point this out because I had been thinking about him this week in light of George Steinbrenner’s death. That Bud Selig let Steinbrenner back into baseball but has refused to do anything about Joe Jackson will be one of those things that will always make me despise the commissioner. There is more proof of Steinbrenner’s wrongdoings than there is Jackson’s. Just another example of Selig favoring the owners over the players. It will always boggle my mind that he’s allowed to be commissioner.
Okay, enough of that. The positivity train leaves the station now. 
Sending positive vibes John Lackey’s way…maybe the winning streak begins tonight?
Screen grab of Galarraga's reaction to the botched call
I can’t remember the last time something in baseball made me as mad and sad as Jim Joyce’s botched call last night. After messing with baseball history and Armando Galarraga’s place in it, Joyce has defenders all across baseball because he’s a good guy and, after seeing the replay, admitted he was wrong.
Here’s the thing. Being a good guy is wonderful. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be reprimanded or you shouldn’t have it painfully pointed out when you screw up as tremendously as Joyce did last night. And while I realize that most umpires seem loath to ever admit they’re wrong, I don’t give someone all that much credit for doing just that when faced with video evidence that makes it clear, with absolutely no uncertainty, that he was wrong. Terribly, ridiculously wrong. Joyce gets credit for facing the music so quickly after the game (something a lot of umps NEVER do) but the fact is he still ruined it. He destroyed what should have been an amazing moment in baseball history. And why? Because he couldn’t handle the pressure? Watch the replay and it really looks like he’s about to call him out but gives the safe sign instead. Did he just have a brain freeze? He claims he really believed Jason Donald was safe. His body language, to me, indicates otherwise. Regardless, I’m not in the camp of “It’s all good because Joyce feels terrible and he’s a good guy”. I’m not. It’s not all good and I think MLB should review it, change the call and give Joyce some kind of reprimand. Of course none of this will happen because MLB never does anything publicly to acknowledge when umpires mess up so the best I can hope for is this God-awful season of umpiring is held up to the Umpires union as a reason for changing the way the umpires are handled. I am done, done with the “human” element in umpiring. Don’t tell me it messes with the tradition of the game. Screwing up calls this severely is what messes with the game. In this era of technology, there is no reason for something like last night to ever happen.
I should point out that the man wronged, the man who had history snatched away from him in a moment, the man who’s greatest achievement in his career went up in smoke because of the “human element” is truly the amazing person in this situation. Give Joyce credit for admitting he blew it (which, as I wrote, I really don’t all that much) but the remarkable person here is Armando Galarraga. Not because he is only the 21st pitcher to throw a perfect game in MLB history, but because of the way he handled the entire situation. It was his glove that caught what should have been the final out. His foot on first base. He’s the one who made the out. He knew he made the out. He knew the game was over and he was perfect. But when Joyce called Donald safe, he smiled at Joyce with the knowledge he was wrong. He shook his head. Then he walked back to the pitcher’s mound and finished the game. After the game he did something even more amazing than that…he told the media that nobody is perfect and that he and Joyce hugged it out after Joyce apologized to him. I think it goes without saying that Galarraga is a bigger person than most of us.
I don’t want Jim Joyce set on fire. I don’t even want him mercilessly hassled by the fans (although you know that’s coming if he is, as scheduled, behind the plate tonight). I want Jim Joyce to be responsible for his actions and “I’m sorry” just isn’t enough. (Also, Jim, I’m pretty damn sure, regardless of how cool he’s being, Armando feels worse than you, sir.) Keith Olbermann wrote a wonderful blog entry about exactly what Joyce could do to make this better.
Joyce’s recognition of his miss – and the degree to which he missed it (”from here to the wall”) is another reason for the Commissioner to intervene. Who would be hurt by him doing so? The Indians? The Tigers? The integrity of the game? The Umpires, or this Umpire? Listen to this and tell me “this umpire”.
And if you say no safe or out call has ever been appealed, or overturned, that’s patently false. There were rules interpretations involved that do not apply here, but in both the 1908 Merkle Game and the 1983 Pine Tar Game, game-ending “out” calls by prominent, gifted umpires were reviewed in agonizing detail by League Presidents. And in the case of the Pine Tar Game, the “out” call that ended the game was reversed and the game replayed from the point of the umpire’s mistake.
MLB, hell let’s call it like it is, BUD SELIG, needs to step up here. And if Jim Joyce feels so damn terrible about what he did, he should stand up to and, as Olbermann suggests, contact the league himself. Your apology rings hollow if all you’re going with is, “I messed it up and I feel terrible”. Do something more, Jim Joyce, and at least TRY to make things right.
Last night Galarraga proved that not only could he pitch the hell out of a game but that he has class and grace beyond the expectations of just about everyone. MLB needs to reward this by doing the right thing and reversing the damn call.
Tim Wakefield (with Scott Schoeneweis) can finish off the series with a sweep! Photo courtesy of Kelly O'Connor/sittingstill.net and used with permission.
Maybe the Blue Jays are just cranky about their own front office selling them out and giving the Phillies three home games in June that should have been theirs?
Before I gloat about last night’s game, honestly, could they have found a worse way to screw their fans and their team? I’m sorry but the fact that they’ll use American League rules and that statistically the games will be considered Toronto home games does NOTHING to change the fact that 1) they’ll be playing in front of a Phillies fan base instead of their own and 2) the Jays fans get hosed out of being able to welcome Roy Halladay back. (Also, the team hosed the fans AGAIN but not giving them refunds but VOUCHERS for another game. This isn’t like a rain out. THEY made the decision to move the game and the fans shouldn’t have to be penalized for it.)
A photo I took of Kyle this past May at Pawtucket
It’s 2am (well 3am when I’ve finished writing this) and I’m wide awake and watching the MLB Network. On October 29, 2009, Bob Costas had a sit-down interview with Bud Selig and the MLBN is re-airing it right now. The only thing compelling me to watch this is that I can’t sleep and with 1000 channels there really isn’t anything better on at 2am.
Selig is one of those people I can’t stand to look at. That isn’t to say I think he’s repulsive looking, it’s to say when I look at him my first thoughts go to something along the lines of my being glad I wasn’t next to him because I’d want to punch him in the face. I’m not proud; I genuinely despise him.
When Bob Costas had the nerve to ask him about Mark McGwire coming back to baseball, all Selig could do was bang his own drum about all the wonderful things he’s done to get steroids out of baseball. When Costas pointed out there is no test for HGH, Selig sidestepped the question and kept talking about how few players tested positive for steroids this year. No acknowledgment that HGH exists and is most likely being used by plenty of players. Until Selig is willing to answer to that, he can go fry his ass. I’m unimpressed with his supposed desire to keep baseball clean. As long as the money is coming in, he’s just happy no one is getting caught. (Incidentally, I’m against Mark McGwire coming back to baseball. His whole “I’m not here to talk about the past” crap in front of Congress has put him in a spot where I don’t think he deserves to be rewarded with a job in MLB.) Given Tony LaRussa is one of his pals, Bud doesn’t see the problem. Don’t ask him about Rafael Palmeiro or Barry Bonds, though, by his own admission, he only wants to deal with McGwire. This entire interview is a waste of Bob Costas’ time – unless his desire was to make those of us who despise Selig despise him just a little bit more. Christ on a cracker he’s now defending why the Yankees needed a new stadium. He’s the person for which the phrase “makes me stabby” was coined. He also said that the owners of the Pirates have done a great job with the team. I think for that statement alone he should be stripped of his commissionerdom. The only thing keeping me watching now is Bob Costas teasing me by saying the show will end with Selig talking about “his plans for riding into the sunset”.
On a more cheerful note, Kyle Snyder started for the Lobos de Arecibo on Saturday night and he pitched quite well – getting the win, striking out 7 out of 19, giving up 2 walks and 1 earned run on 3 hits in five innings. Special thanks to friend of the blog Andy for making sure I’m getting the updates on Kyle’s time with the Wolves. It’s been interesting trying to get any info past box scores from MLB.com – but I’m working on it. Here’s hoping Kyle has more success this winter.
I was remiss in not congratulating Jason Bay on his Silver Slugger. I’m very pleased for him because he definitely earned it (unlike a shortstop who won a Gold Glove this year)…and I hope the Jason Bay contract saga is over soon – regardless of how that goes.
Okay, Selig claims when he’s 78 (three more years!!!) he’s done so he can go write a book and teach. I’m never one to wish away time but, damn, I’m throwing a party in 2012!!!!
