But Bud may consider instant replay — eventually

Congratulations, Armando Galarraga. You’re a good sport. You pitched a great game for the Tigers. And you got hosed.

Everybody from umpire Jim Joyce to Commissioner Bud Selig to Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs checked in yesterday to say as much.

And you got hosed again yesterday, Armando, when it came out that Selig will not overturn Joyce’s blown call on what should have been the 27th and final out of your perfect game Wednesday night.

A baseball official familiar with the decision confirmed to the Associated Press that the call was not being reversed.

The matter, however, could lead to the use of expanded instant replay, though Selig is not committing to anything just yet.

Baseball’s current system allows replay only to determine if batted balls are home runs on a fair or foul basis.

“As Jim Joyce said, there is no dispute [the] game should have ended differently,” Selig said yesterday in a statement.

“While the human element has always been an integral part of baseball, it is vital that mistakes on the field be addressed. Given [that] call and other recent events, I will examine our umpiring system, the expanded use of instant replay and all other related features.

“Before I announce any decisions, I will consult with all appropriate parties, including our two unions and the Special Committee for On-Field Matters, which consists of field managers, general managers, club owners and presidents.”

While Selig consults, some in the business strongly favor replay’s expansion, according to veteran ump Tim McClelland.

“More and more umpires are coming to this because there’s such an increased scrutiny on umpires and officials in general, in all sports, maybe undue or unfair,” McClelland, who came under criticism in last season’s playoffs, said on ESPN Radio.

McClelland was the plate ump for the infamous 1983 George Brett pine-tar incident. His ruling to call Brett out was later reversed by American League president Lee MacPhail.

But there will be no reversal for Galarraga, who was one out away from the majors’ third perfect game this season when Joyce ruled Cleveland’s Jason Donald safe on a first baseman-to-pitcher play. Clearly, Donald was out. He admitted it. So did Joyce after watching a replay.

Cardinals’ manager Tony La Russa, a member of Selig’s Special Committee for On-Field Matters, thinks Galarraga should be credited with a perfect game.

“We’re all men, not machines. We make mistakes,” La Russa said. “If the umpire says he made a mistake on replay, I’d call it a no-hitter, perfect game.”

Galarraga received support from even higher places.

“I hope baseball awards a perfect game to that pitcher,” said Gibbs, President Obama’s chief spokesman.

Michigan Gov. Granholm issued a proclamation claiming Galarraga “was robbed” and that he pitched a perfect game.

But not everybody wants a reversal.

“It’s too much,” said Yankee Curtis Granderson, Galarraga’s former Tigers teammate. “We could go back as far as we have footage of games and start changing calls.”

Not everybody is pulling for replays, either.

“When does it start, when does it stop? Do you have a flag that you throw from the bench?” asked Yankees captain Derek Jeter.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi is not the strongest proponent of replay, saying, “To me, the rhythm of the game is extremely important, [and] if you have a lot of replay, you’re going to take that away.”

But in this case, he said, he’d favor it — plus a reversal. The once-in-a-lifetime incident and a reversal “doesn’t really change the outcome of the game. I’ve got to say we’ll never see it again in our lifetime,” Girardi said.

Selig was effusive in his praise of Galarraga and the Tigers’ organization yesterday after the horrific botched call. But that was the only consolation Galarraga received. There was no mention in Selig’s statement of overturning the ruling or letting it stand.

In Detroit yesterday, Joyce worked home plate. The Tigers defused a potentially nasty situation when they sent Galarraga out to Joyce with the lineup card. Galarraga was given a red Corvette convertible before the game by GM — but not recognition of perfection by the commissioner.

“Nobody can change it now. I know all of you guys are happy and believe I threw a perfect game,” Galarraga told the media. “It’s more special, because I threw a perfect game with 28 outs.”

Joyce, who tearfully embraced Galarraga and apologized after Wednesday’s game, shook hands with the pitcher yesterday, and each patted the other on the shoulder at the pre-game exchange. Again, Joyce had tears.

Miguel Cabrera, who made the toss on the fateful play then had angry words with the ump, also lightly tapped Joyce in a “forget it” gesture. Joyce told reporters beforehand that his family received unfair criticism.

“I wish they would just direct it all to me,” he said. “I’ll take whatever you can give me and handle it like a man.”

At least one anti-Joyce Facebook page popped up, and firejimjoyce.com was launched. Wikipedia blocked editing to the umpire’s page, citing “vandalism.”

Joyce, regarded as one of the game’s best, now will go down with the likes of Don Denkinger, whose blown call at first helped turn the 1985 World Series. Denkinger also called for expanded replay.

“There probably should be expanded replay, but there’s a whole lot they need to clean up before they get to bang-bangers at first base,” he said. “It looks very obvious when it’s slowed down. Go out there and try to call it when it’s at full speed.”

So the one thing people were talking about at Yankee Stadium yesterday was the one thing the umpires working the game refused to discuss.

“No comments. There’s been enough said and written,” said crew chief Tim Welke when approached before the game about the national baseball topic du jour.

Joyce showed class and courage, admitting his goof after seeing a replay.

“He’s one of the most respected and best umpires in the league,” offered Jeter.

Girardi gave Joyce a similar label and, when asked if “personality, judgment or accuracy” led to that sentiment, answered “all of the above.”

He then praised Joyce, a 22-year veteran.

“[He is] an umpire that, as a catcher, I always felt you could talk to and discuss things with, very even keel,” Girardi said.

That, and the overall reaction by the Tigers, were not lost on Selig.

“I congratulate Armando Galarraga on a remarkable pitching performance,” Selig said. “All of us who love the game appreciate the historic nature of his effort. The dignity and class of the entire Detroit Tigers organization under such circumstances were truly admirable and embodied good sportsmanship of the highest order.”