It’s time to expand instant replay in baseball, according to one of the most senior umpires in the game, Tim McClelland.

“I know the commissioner isn’t for it, but I would be for it,” McClelland told ESPN Radio yesterday.

“It’s a shame that Jim Joyce, a highly respected, highly rated umpire … that he’ll be denigrated for just trying to do his job. We make mistakes, it does happen. We’ve taken our due denigration for that, and Jim Joyce is forever gonna be connected with that, and that’s not fair. He’s had a lot of accurate calls, a lot of good calls, over his 22-year career.”

Speaking after Joyce’s flubbed call cost Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game, McClelland said his stance on instant replay has changed recently, partially because of the criticism he received after two bad calls in the 2009 playoffs.

“I wasn’t for it,” the 27-year veteran umpire said. “But after watching what I went through in the playoffs last year and what Jimmy is going through, I think more and more umpires are coming around to it. Maybe this is not the sentiment of our union or our union leadership, but this is just my own personal opinion.”

McClelland was watching the game on TV because the Pirates- Cubs game he was working was rained out. He sympathized with Joyce, who issued a heartfelt apology after viewing replays.

“When the play happened, I said, ‘Please make him safe, please make him safe,’ ” McClelland said. “When I saw the replay, my heart sank right down into my shoes.”

McClelland said he did not feel it would be beneficial for Commissioner Bud Selig to award Galarraga a perfect game retroactively.

“I’m not sure even Galarraga would like that,” McClelland said. “I’m not sure that would alleviate anything that happened. It’s a shame.”