Jim Joyce, the umpire who made the call that cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game, was rated the best umpire in the majors by a confidential poll of the players.

atrocious fiasco, which cost the pitcher baseball immortality-then what does that say about the rest of the umpire corps? Sure, he didn't blow it on purpose and was remorseful-doesn't change the fact he was dead wrong and grossly incompetent on that particular play-Sorry, purists, but I'm hoping baseball joins the 21st century and expands instant replay-this takes the umpire off the hook, gets it right-the important thing- and prevents major effups like this one-1rob...OUT

Who conducted the poll?.....the umpires union



Thank you
2010 = 28

I must admit, I’m surprised.


Thank You
2010 = 28

Just curious as to how many of you had ever heard of him before "The Blown Call." He's been umping since 1988 and since he's been so low profile, that tells me he does his job well and does not call attention to himself by being too "showy." One horrible call does not make a bad umpire.
Anyone remember Ken Burkhart? One of the worst ever!

He was calling balls a foot outside strikes regularly when the Florida Marlins won one of their World Series-He was eventually fired-I've never had any use for umps who 'have their own strike zone'-It's there and should be uniform-please call it as such-1rob

-- Modified on 6/15/2010 2:09:37 PM

when he was working a game I happened to be watching.

-- Modified on 6/15/2010 3:40:46 PM

the batters couldn't hit with a telephone pole. That was in 1997.

He was most famous for being HUGE! Marginal ump at best.