Supreme Court Justices, like all appellate justices, get weeks or even months to mull over arguments. If trial judges need extra time, they call for extra time and ask for written briefing on the subject. Baseball umpires have to call it like they see it in a split-second and then face the consequences in the court of public opinion. This"safe" call, which caused pitcher Armando Galarraga to not be the third pitcher with a perfect game this season, is being called the worst blown call in 25 years. Is it the worst blown call because it is so obviously wrong or because the result is so heartbreaking? There are bad calls every day the game is played; some have no effect whatsoever, some win or lose games, and a very few keep someone out of the record books.
Some commenters on various sites are saying that if it was close, the umpire, Jim Joyce, should have given it to the pitcher. That surely can't be a good rule: The Perfect Game Presumption.
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