When it's better to be imperfect

Yet again do we have a perfect game, the second this year and the fourth in the last three years.

Yet again do we get an update on this onetime rarity in Major League Baseball - 22 in 132 years.

Yet again do we not hear a reference to a player who merits a perfect game category all his own in the Baseball Almanac:

Armando Galarraga. Two years ago the 27th batter the Detroit pitcher faced appeared out at first base - to everyone except the umpire who called him safe. Video replay confirmed the man in blue blew the call.

Even though Galarraga displayed extraordinary sportsmanship afterward and the ump even admitted his error, I still find it difficult to forgive him. He ruined Galarraga's perfect game because he was trying to make the perfect call.

An official once told me he was trained to enforce the rules fairly but not to take the game away from the players. Especially when the game is on the line, you're not supposed to make a gotcha call. Don't split hairs. Don't make a game-changing call unless the play is so obvious you can't not make that call.

The Baseball Almanac is giving Galaragga the recognition he deserves. Sportswriters and broadcasters should also tell his story every time another pitcher throws a perfect game - which may be more and more often.