Curveballs for Jobu

Curveballs for Jobu is Off Base Percentage's daily trip around the ballparks.

Today's honorary bat boy: Rick Wilkins




Tigers 3, Indians 0. Armando Galarraga had a perfect game through 8 2/3 innings before Jason Donald hit a ground ball to first base. Miguel Cabrera's toss to Galarraga looked to be in plenty of time to get Donald, but umpire Jim Joyce called the play safe. It's a horrible way to lose a perfect game, but the 28-year old was still masterful. He only had one inning where he threw more than 11 pitches-the ninth-and in the sixth and seventh innings he combined to throw 14 pitches.




Dodgers 1, Diamondbacks 0 (14). I didn't think anything could smell worse than Arizona's logo until the Diamondbacks went to LA for a three-game series. Game 1, Monday: Dodgers get two runs on a Kelly Johnson throwing error to tie the game in the 8th, then win in the 9th on Esmerling Vazquez's balk. Game 2: Matt Kemp's solo home run wins it in the bottom of the 10th. Wednesday's game 3: 86-year old Garret Anderson delivers an RBI-single in the bottom of the 14th to complete the sweep. The Flying Parras have gone 31 innings without scoring a run, a franchise record.

Fantasy Stat of the Day: Travis Schlichting got his first major league victory for LA.

Padres 5, Mets 1 (11). Adrian Gonzalez hit an opposite field, walk-off grand slam for San Diego. Yesterday, it was the Braves, today I ask: are the Padres the best team in the National League? These guys think so:



Rangers 9, Whitesox 5. Tough times for current and former Angels. First, Kendry Morales destroys his ankle after jumping on home plate after a walk-off home run, now Vlad Guerrero hits himself in the eye with a ball that ricocheted off the top of the backstop during batting practice. What's next, Adam Kennedy accidentally swallows a rosin bag?

Cubs-Pirates, ppd. Cubs tie! Cubs tie! Cubs tie! Cubs tie!

Jim Joyce Is Famous

In a busy night for baseball, the most talked about story tomorrow will be a safe call made by veteran umpire Jim Joyce. The Tigers' Armando Galaragga was one out away from the third perfect game of the season when Jim Joyce blew a call at first base. Jason Donald hit a ball that Miguel Cabrera had to field forcing Galaragga to cover first, which he did in time. Joyce called Donald safe as Galaragga began to celebrate. As you can tell by my screen grab, he was out. Well, that's what you'd see if I managed to get the bag in the picture. You can also tell from my screen grab that I'm not very good at screen grabs. That's why I get the big bucks!

Galaragga retired the next batter to complete the one hitter and Joyce was mobbed by irate Tigers. Unfortunately for us, it wasn't real tigers. This story would be much better. Seconds later, Joyce's Wikipedia page was updated for accuracy.



Before this post gets any uglier with my fabulous HTML skills, I'll leave you with the video replay of the blown call. It should be available for about 30 more minutes before MLB shuts down the Internet.



Important Twitter Update: From @TomLeyden Jim Joyce was distraught. "Most important call of my career and I kicked the s$&t out of it. I cost that kid a perfect game."