Selig's ruling by the rules

The way I see it, Bud Selig made the right call - at least, technically speaking.

Since Wednesday's would-have-been-perfect game by Armando Galarraga, there has been lots of talk about what should have been done after the fact. Yes, both Galarraga and James Joyce took the high road - Joyce by admitting his error, Galarraga by extending grace and acknowledging that everyone makes mistakes. But, still, a wrong was committed, and no one likes to see injustice. So, this week, Bud Selig took a look at the game to see if it could be overturned, and he ruled to let it stand. To say that decision was controversial would be one of the great understatements of the year. But, as I read the rules of baseball, it sounds like Selig made the right decision, like it or not. And that's just what I did this week - read the rules of baseball. In so doing, I learned some valuable information:

Rule 3.09 - Players in uniform shall not address or mingle with spectators, nor sit in the stands before, during, or after a game. No manager, coach or player shall address any spectator before or during a game. Players of opposing teams shall not fraternize at any time while in uniform.

I guess the chances of me catching a Twins game and Joe Mauer at the same time aren't looking so good.

1.11i - A league may provide that the uniforms of its member teams include the names of its players on their backs. Any name other than the last name of the player must be approved by the League President. If adopted, all uniforms for a team must have the names of its players.

Ochocinco probably would not do well in this league (although in terms of rule-violations, he's not doing so hot in the NFL, either.)

While we're on the subject of uniforms, rules 1.11a-i are extremely detailed, and might I say, anal? (1.11a even has three subpoints.) However, since the baseball uniform is my favorite, and it always looks clean and fresh, I will not complain.

And, finally, back to the matter of hand. Related to overturning game decisions, the rules are as follows:

4.19 PROTESTING GAMES. Each league shall adopt rules governing procedure for protesting a game, when a manager claims that an umpire’s decision is in violation of these rules. No protest shall ever be permitted on judgment decisions by the umpire. In all protested games, the decision of the League President shall be final. (Emphasis mine.)

Even if it is held that the protested decision violated the rules, no replay of the game will be ordered unless in the opinion of the League President the violation adversely affected the protesting team’s chances of winning the game.

Rule 4.19 Comment: Whenever a manager protests a game because of alleged misapplication of the rules the protest will not be recognized unless the umpires are notified at the time the play under protest occurs and before the next pitch, play or attempted play. A protest arising on a game-ending play may be filed until 12 noon the following day with the league office.

First of all, the Tigers never officially protested the game. They had won and the final call would have in no way affected the outcome. So, really, there was nothing for the commish to even rule on.

But, for the sake of argument, let's say they had protested. The rules clearly state that games can only be overturn for violations of rules, not of judgments. Joyce's call was unfortunate, but it was a case of bad judgment - he judged the batter safe, when clearly the baseman had beat him to the plate. However, no rules were broken - no foul play, no one out of bounds, no illegal moves of any kind, by player, coach, or umpire. Selig's hands are tied by the rule book he was hired to uphold.

Do I wish that the call would have been overturned? Yes and no. I would have liked to see this pitcher get his perfect game - it's an achievement few can claim. But, Galarraga still would not have received the same immediate post-game adulation and celebration that he would have had Joyce not blown the call in the first place; he would have had a stat and little else. Without the stat, though, he has received so much respect and recognition for his character, because of the way he has handled the whole situation, which will take him a lot further in life than his throwing arm will (and last a lot longer, too).

So, while I do hate injustice, I applaud how everyone has responded, even Selig for sticking to the rules of the game. And, from now on, the Tigers have a fan in me - at least when Galarraga is pitching.

(Thanks to the MLB website for the rule book.)

Ochocinco is a little boy's hero

It is no secret to anyone who knows me for more than about a minute, that I'm a big Chad Ochocinco fan. Yeah, he runs his mouth, but it's all in good fun, and he is a talented football player. But, funny goes a long way with me, even in football (see Peyton Manning's SNL appearance).

But, I also love Ocho because he has a heart. I follow him on Twitter, and he's always inviting fans to dinner or movies - anyone who shows up is on him. Even more significantly, former teammate TJ Houshmandzadeh had this to say about him:

"He truly does care about his fans. I remember one time we saw somebody whose car had broken down, and Chad talked to the guy about football and gave him, like $200 to deal with his car. Another time, really early in our careers, we were doing something in the community and had a limo; Chad had the driver take us into the 'hood in Cincy. He saw these three kids throwing a football and said, 'Where are your parents at?' He got permission to take the kids shopping at Deveroes. He hooked them up - shoes, video game consoles and more. Just because." (Sporting News Magazine)

What happened recently, though, beats out any story you've heard for the Good Guy of the Year award.

A few months or so ago, a nine year old boy named Ruben, who lives with his mother in a New York City homeless shelter, wrote a fan letter to Ocho, and received an autographed jersey in return. That's kinda nice by itself. But the story gets better.

Ruben wrote a second letter to Ocho, that in the words of one Yahoo blogger, would have "melted the heart of the hardest individual":

Mr. Johnson, you really make me happy. One of my goals in my future life is to be just like you when I grow up. I wonder who was your role model when you were little? I have three role model(s) in my life that's my mom, Mr. President Barack Obama and my favorite football player Mr. Chad Johnson. To me you are the best football player in the NFL. May God bless you and your family happy holidays.

Then, as part of the Children Mending Hearts charity program, Ruben was awarded his dream trip to a football camp, thanks to the generosity of Deion Sanders. But, what Ruben didn't know was that Ochocinco was actually going to present the award.

How many NFL players do you know that would take the time out to meet with a little boy?

And, as if the story could even get any better, that day was also Ruben's birthday. And Ocho led the crowd in "Happy Birthday." (You can watch the whole video at the end of this post - it's worth watching. My words do not do it justice.)

I don't care if Chad never scores another touchdown in his life, he'll still be my favorite, because he cares about people. And that goes a lot further than 100 yards.