Regardless of what Major League Baseball decides to do, Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm claims that Armando Galarraga did, in fact, pitch a perfect game. And her office sent out a shiny press release to prove it:
LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today delivered on her promise to issue a proclamation declaring that Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga indeed pitched a perfect game last night against the Cleveland Indians.
The governor’s proclamation follows:
“Whereas, pitching a perfect game is considered one of the crowning achievements of sport, attained only 20 times in the history of Major League Baseball; and,
“Whereas, a perfect game is defined as when a pitcher or pitchers retire each batter during the course of a game lasting at least nine innings; and,
“Whereas, Armando Galarraga retired all 27 players in order, a feat no Tigers pitcher has ever accomplished; and,
“Whereas, an umpire’s missed call resulted in Armando Galarraga being charged a hit that clearly should have been an out; and,
“Whereas, the umpire graciously admitted his mistake after the game ended; and,
“Whereas, video replays unmistakably show Galarraga to have retired all batters;
“Now, Therefore, be it Resolved that I, Jennifer M. Granholm, governor of the state of Michigan, do hereby declare Armando Galarraga to have pitched a perfect game, and I join Tigers fans all across the globe in saluting his unassailable accomplishment — the first perfect game in Tigers history.”
While that’s a nice sentiment and all … well, that’s not really how it works, Governor. We appreciate the effort though, while awaiting the always predictable “don’t politicians have bigger fish to fry than worrying about sports!” outcry.