Armando Galarraga smiled. Miguel Cabrera raised his hands up in the air. Jason Donald stared down at the ground. The umpire called safe and everything was different.
Armando Galarraga had thrown 8.2 perfect innings in the game. Earlier in the 9th inning, Austin Jackson had made a great catch in center to keep it going. Galarraga had struck out just 3 batters, but he was dominating. He had thrown just 85 pitches. Jason Donald hit a grounder to 1st Miguel Cabrera fielded the ball and flipped to Galarraga, who was covering first. Galarraga's foot was clearly on the base, and Donald was out by half a step. But then, the umpire, Jim Joyce, called Donald safe. The whole stadium was stunned. Jim Leyland came out to argue, but to no avail.
2 pitches later, Galarraga retired Trevor Crowe. The game was over and Galarraga had thrown a 1-hitter. After the game ended, many Tigers players went back to argue with Joyce, but, it was too late. So close, but so far away...
Joyce has since admitted his mistake. Thank you for apologizing, Jim, but it's too late. Can MLB, especially Commissioner Selig do anything about it? Even if they could, they probably wouldn't. It's too late.
But, it's not too late to fix this problem. With all likelihood, Galarraga will never get his perfect game, but there's something Commmisioner Selig can do to make sure this never happens again: instant replay review just for the 9th inning. On bang-bang plays, the umpires should be able to go to replay. The instant replay for home runs is great, and umpires are 99% of the time very good, but sometimes the 9th inning determines the entire game. A close play at home- go to replay. A close play at 1st- go to replay. A questionable homer- obviously they would still be able to go to replay. This is an inexcusable mistake that should never happen again.
28 year old RHP Armando Galaraga had a 20-18 career record and a 4.62 ERA in 56 starts and 9 relief appearances entering the near-perfect game. He is now 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA in 3 starts and a relief appearance so far in '10.
Showing posts with label major league baseaball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label major league baseaball. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
What ever happened to Kei Igawa?
What comes to mind when you think Kei Igawa? The worst or second-to-worst move the Yankee have ever made with only Carl Pavano possibly being worse? The Japanese pitcher who was supposed to counter Boston's signing of Daisuke Matsuzaka for a much better price?
The Yankees signed Japanese RHP Kei Igawa to a 5-year, 20 million dollar contract after the 2006 season. He was 27 years old at the time. After pitching in two games for High-A, going 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA and 6 K's in 2 starts, Igawa was promoted to the majors. He made a horrendous first start, going 5 innings and giving up 7 runs, but then gave up just 2 earned runs in his next 2 starts, pitching 5.1 innings in the first start, and 6.0 innings in the second. He was giving the Yankees some hope. But, he gave up 7 runs in 4.1 innings in his next start and was skipped over his next time out. But, it just so happened when Jeff Karstens was starting instead of Igawa, he got hit by a line drive and taken out of the game. Igawa was put into the game as a reliever and pitched 6 shutout innings to get back his rotation spot. But, Igawa gave up 8 runs in 4 innings his next start, and was sent down to the minors. He returned in July and September. Overall in the majors in '07, Igawa went 1-3 with a 6.25 ERA and 53 K's in 12 starts, 2 relief appearance, and 67.2 IP. At Triple-A, Igawa went 5-4 with a 3.69 ERA and 71 K's in 11 starts and 68.1 IP. In '08, Igawa played almost the whole season in the majors besides a start and a relief appearance in the majors, during which he posted a 13.50 ERA. But, Igawa played very well at Triple-A, going 14-6 with a 3.45 ERA and 117 K's in 24 starts, 2 relief appearances, and 156.1 IP. In '09, Igawa went 10-8 with a 4.15 ERA and 105 K's in 26 starts and 145.1 IP. He didn't play any games in the majors. In '09, Igawa became the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees career win leader, not a distinction anyone would want.
In 2010, Kei Igawa is still at Triple-A. He has gone 2-1 with a 5.54 ERA and 25 K's in 5 starts, 4 relief appearances, and 26 IP. He is a bust. He has gotten worse every year in the minors. So, let's go into Pavano vs. Igawa for worst Yankee signing ever. Well, Igawa has 13 starts as a Yankee and is 2-4 with a 6.66 ERA while Pavano went 9-8 with a 5.00 ERA in 26 starts. Kei Igawa is the worse Yankee signing ever.
The Yankees signed Japanese RHP Kei Igawa to a 5-year, 20 million dollar contract after the 2006 season. He was 27 years old at the time. After pitching in two games for High-A, going 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA and 6 K's in 2 starts, Igawa was promoted to the majors. He made a horrendous first start, going 5 innings and giving up 7 runs, but then gave up just 2 earned runs in his next 2 starts, pitching 5.1 innings in the first start, and 6.0 innings in the second. He was giving the Yankees some hope. But, he gave up 7 runs in 4.1 innings in his next start and was skipped over his next time out. But, it just so happened when Jeff Karstens was starting instead of Igawa, he got hit by a line drive and taken out of the game. Igawa was put into the game as a reliever and pitched 6 shutout innings to get back his rotation spot. But, Igawa gave up 8 runs in 4 innings his next start, and was sent down to the minors. He returned in July and September. Overall in the majors in '07, Igawa went 1-3 with a 6.25 ERA and 53 K's in 12 starts, 2 relief appearance, and 67.2 IP. At Triple-A, Igawa went 5-4 with a 3.69 ERA and 71 K's in 11 starts and 68.1 IP. In '08, Igawa played almost the whole season in the majors besides a start and a relief appearance in the majors, during which he posted a 13.50 ERA. But, Igawa played very well at Triple-A, going 14-6 with a 3.45 ERA and 117 K's in 24 starts, 2 relief appearances, and 156.1 IP. In '09, Igawa went 10-8 with a 4.15 ERA and 105 K's in 26 starts and 145.1 IP. He didn't play any games in the majors. In '09, Igawa became the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees career win leader, not a distinction anyone would want.
In 2010, Kei Igawa is still at Triple-A. He has gone 2-1 with a 5.54 ERA and 25 K's in 5 starts, 4 relief appearances, and 26 IP. He is a bust. He has gotten worse every year in the minors. So, let's go into Pavano vs. Igawa for worst Yankee signing ever. Well, Igawa has 13 starts as a Yankee and is 2-4 with a 6.66 ERA while Pavano went 9-8 with a 5.00 ERA in 26 starts. Kei Igawa is the worse Yankee signing ever.
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