I hate to admit that ever since the Armando Galarraga's perfect game blown call, every no hitter or perfect game accomplished by any major league pitcher makes me a little... jealous, to not say upset. It automatically reminds me that Galarraga could have gone down to history for being the first Venezuelan pitcher to have ever thrown a perfect game in the Major League Baseball.
Friday night, I believe that the Gods of baseball tried to get even with fans of the sport and the people of Venezuela, when they clearly helped Santana's no hitter attempt by calling a fair ball hit by Carlos Beltran a foul ball. While this played out in Santana's favor, it does not balance it out for me, as Galarraga's blown call was too unfair. Not only because the first baseman umpire, Jim Joyce, was the only one at the stadium who did not see the last out of the game that would have made Galarraga the twenty first pitcher to ever throw a perfect game in the MLB, but also because the league did not intervene in any positive way.
I was disappointed in the league for not taking a better approach at this clear and huuuuuge mistake. To me, it would have been very simple for the league to reverse the call and recorded Galarraga's accomplishment as Perfect Game # 21*, especially since it would have been the last out of the game, and the next batter hit for an out anyways, ending the game after recording twenty eight outs, as oppose to the regular twenty seven.
Undoubtedly, Johan Santana's first ever career no hitter on Friday was spectacular, well deserved and incredibly elaborated. This is one of the greatest gifts the game of baseball has given to him, the Mets organization and fans who had never had one before, the Latino community and the Venezuelan people. Santana missed all of last year after he underwent shoulder surgery and completed the rehabilitation program he was assigned, so to watch him come back to the baseball field and perform the way he did Friday night, it is very prideful and joyful. I could not be happier for such a great competitor, role model and ambassador of my country, Venezuela.
Santana's accomplishment was well celebrated in Venezuela from his hometown, Merida, to the capital, Caracas, to the beautiful island of Margarita to all the way up north in New York City, USA. From now on, June 1st will always be remembered in Venezuela as the day that Johan Santana took the mound at City Field, allowing no hits or runs throughout the whole game. And, putting a big smile on the face of every Venezuelan, as he joined other fellow Venezuelan pitchers who have also thrown no hitters in the MLB, such as Carlos Zambrano, Anibal Sanchez and Wilson Alvarez.
It is just very unfortunate that the day that follows is already remembered in my country as the day Armando Galarraga should have had his well worked perfect game on June 2nd, 2010 at Comerica Park in Detroit. To me, that day will always create some bitterness in my blood, since I know from the bottom of my heart that, in reality, he did throw a perfect game, no matter what the call ruled. And to add on to his amazing performance that night, Galarraga showed the kind of professional and respectful humbled man he is by understanding the mistake the first base umpire made and forgiving him without any hesitation whatsoever. To me that was priceless, as it was a great behavior taken by an excellent man who threw a perfect game!
- Y gracias por no fumar!
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| Jim Joyce and Armando Galarraga the day after he blew Galarraga's perfect game. Picture from nj.com |
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| The play that should have been called an out, but was called a safe. Picture from csmonitor.com |
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| Santana's reaction after recording the last out of his no hit-no run performance. Picture from bleacherreport.com |
It's hard to compare these two players, their career paths being so different. Galarraga, by his numbers, is not even in the top ten of Venezuelan pitchers. On MLB history he would have been just another average player if it had not been for that game on June 2, 2010. The blown call, from my perspective, made it unique. Everyone knows it was a perfect game, but it's the only "blown" perfect game. I don't feel the same bitterness that you do. He made it to the history books and will always be remembered, for years to come, as the man he threw "the blown perfect game."
ReplyDeleteSantana, on the other hand, was from 2004 through 2007 considered by almost every baseball analyst as "the best pitcher in baseball." When he retires people will remember him as they will Pedro Martinez or Tom Seaver, as one of the best ever, even if he had not pitched that game on June 1, 2012. The greatness of that game, however, comes to show how big this man's spirit is; he did what nobody did before him: he returned from a shoulder surgery pitching at a level attainable to a very select few. Well, that and pitch a no-hitter with the Mets uniform.
Just for the record, if I have to choose my personal favorite baseball player of all time, even a week ago, my pick would be Johan Santana. It's only been reinforced now.
I dont wanna talk about galarragas 28 outs perfect game cuz im gonna get mad, but i just wanna comment on perfect games and no hitters, i ve been watching mlb baseball for years and getting a no hitter was something almost impossible, i remember more than 4 seasons in a row without a nohitter now daysits different, u see 4 or 5 no hitters/perfect games a season, its not that amazing anymore!!!pitchers are getting stronger after the antidoping test,thats my theory of why this is happening so often!
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