Yes, I think that the ump truly believed the guy was safe (until he saw the slo-mo replay). And no one feels worse than the ump that he was wrong.
This is a perfect case for the expanded use of instant replay - in this case it would have
protected the umpire.
The ump himself said it - the Tigers did not really start to argue until after the 28'th out and some of them had seen the replay back in the clubhouse. They came boiling out and were yelling at him that they had seen the replay and that he had the call wrong. He was the
last person to be able to see the replay, and his heart broke when he saw it.
How come the guy making the crucial call is the last one to be able to watch the replay? After it is too late to fix the problem?
That is just...wrong.
My older son told me last night that he has seen a theory being kicked around about all of these no hitters and perfect games over the last couple of seasons. It involves the MLB banning amphetamines a while back. At least two of the perfect games (including Galarraga's and Braden's) were against teams towards the end of longish road trips. I have not had time to google around and check to see if this is the case for all or even most of them.
So then...leaving out the "mere" no hitters:
Mark Buehrle from last season
Dallas Braden from this season
Roy Halladay from this season
Armando Galarraga from this season
When I have time I will try to check this out. If anyone else wants to check on this theory in the meantime, please do! I will not have a day off until next Tuesday, so it might be a long wait if people wait for me.
edited to add:
Was too curious and googled around, even though I should be starting to get ready for work.
July 23, 2009
Mark Buehrle perfect game for the White Sox v. Tampa Bay
Tampa was on game 7 of a road trip
May 9, 2010
Dallas Braden perfect game for the Oakland A's v. Tampa Bay
Tampa was on game 6 of a west coast road trip
May 29,2010
Roy Halladay perfect game for Phillies v. Florida Marlins
Marlins at home, if I read the schedule correctly. This is the outlier!
June 2, 2010
Armando Galarrage 28 out perfect game (though not scored as such) v. Cleveland Indians
The Tribe on game 6 of a road trip.