Instant replays are now part of Major League Baseball. While they definitely help in preventing some of the blown calls that happened in the past, they certainly cannot rectify everything, as not every play is reviewable. There is one play, however, that I cannot help but wish instant replay had been available at the time, or at least some way to rectify such an obvious wrong.

In 2010, a right-handed pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, Armando Galarraga, had a perfect going into the eighth inning. A pitcher has a perfect game when he gets out twenty-seven straight batters without allowing a hit or a runner to reach a base. No-hitters happen every so often, while perfect games are rare.

Armando had gotten through eight and two-thirds inning, but when the twenty-seventh batter came up to the plate, the ball was hit to the first baseman. He lighted tossed the ball to Galarraga, who was covering first base. The umpire called the runner safe when it was clear the ball was in Armando’s glove and his foot touched the bag before the runner’s did.

Everyone was stunned. Nobody could believe it, and even Armando gave the umpire an, “Are you kidding me?” look, but instant replay wasn’t available, and therefore, there was no recourse. Everyone could argue and scream themselves hoarse, but there was no reviewing the call and there was no overturning it. After the game was over and the umpire had a chance to review the play, he admitted he blew the call, and he apologized to Galarraga (who graciously accepted it), but it was too late. Going down in the records with a perfect game was lost.

I think about this every now and then because Galarraga is no longer in the major league. I often wonder how different his career might have ended up had that not happened, had he gone down in the history books with a perfect game. Perhaps it wouldn’t have made a difference at all, perhaps Galarraga’s career would have ended up on the same path anyway, we’ll never know. But what we can hope is that in the future, there isn’t as drastic of a missed call like this again.

What is the most controversial play you have ever witness in baseball (or you favorite sport)?

Caught

Book three of Men of the Show

Shannon Morrison’s dreams of becoming a lawyer are finally coming true. After landing a job at a prestigious law firm in Chicago, she’s willing to sacrifice everything, including putting her personal life on hold, as nothing will stand in her way of making partner.  Nothing except perhaps the gorgeous Detroit Rockets’ All-Star catcher, Matt Buck.

Just when he didn’t think his luck would turn around, life finally throws Matt a fastball right down the middle, reconnecting him with the one girl who has always intrigued him.  As before, the timing isn’t right, but Matt refuses to let this opportunity pass him by again.  He knows Shannon’s career leaves little room for anything else in her life, but he’s unwilling to give in and will do whatever he can to make them work.

Together, Matt and Shannon struggle through one hurdle after another, determined to find a way to have everything they want.  Just when they’ve finally figured it out, someone from Matt’s past shatters everything, and leaves them both grappling to pick up the pieces…

About the Author

Rhonda owes her love of reading to her mother who would read to her each night before bed and sometimes give into her pleads for more than one chapter. These days, if Rhonda doesn’t have a book in her hands, it feels like something is missing. While romance is her true passion, Rhonda enjoys reading multiple genres.

Born in California, but transplanted to the Midwest, Rhonda is warm weather girl to the bone (even years later, winter and her are not on speaking terms) and loves nothing more than a balmy, summer evening. She and her husband are diehard fans of pretty much all sports, but especially for their hometown Detroit teams. Rhonda received a bachelor’s in Human Resources Development and continued onto a master’s in Marriage and Family Counseling before making a drastic career switch into computer technology. She started out as a website developer and made her way up into management where she now spends most of her days in meetings. Rhonda was a life-long dancer before her body told her she needed to come down off her toes and wrap it up. She also loves all animals–especially moose. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America.

Rhonda loves to hear from readers, so please visit her website. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

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