Where were you when Galarraga was robbed?

I was eating at Encore, one of the more underrated restaurants in Lawrence, when I received word that Detroit pitcher Armando Galarraga was wrongfully denied a perfect game.

I wish I would have known about the pitching gem earlier. I would have made an attempt to race back to work to watch. MLB.tv doesn't appear on my computer only in the form of Rangers games.

What a wild finish. One of the craziest endings to a game in the history of baseball. Galarraga is perfect through 8 2/3, induces a ground ball for the last out, covers first base and receives the throw...only to have umpire Jim Joyce rule Indians baserunner Jason Donald safe.

Galarraga, a former Ranger, clearly beat Donald to the bag. He didn't bobble the ball. Clean catch in his mit. Should have been over.

In a way, I feel bad for Joyce. The guy is a respected umpire who's been in the game nearly 25 years. He can make that call in his sleep. Joyce admitted his mistake after the game in an interview where you could clearly sense his guilt. He missed the call. He knew he missed it. He wanted to admit it.

Earlier, though, when Joyce stood on the field listening to Detroit manager Jim Leyland — standing no more than a foot away from the umpire — unleash a profanity-laced tirade, I began to wonder if Joyce already knew he blew the call. He allowed Leyland to sound off for quite some time. He didn't interrupt like umpires typically do in those situations. It was somewhat uncomfortable to watch.

Joyce doesn't deserve to be ridiculed. The call didn't change the outcome of the game. Baseball, more than any sport (and it's not close), relies on statistics when remembering significant games. And careers. Ever taken part in a Hall of Fame argument?

Joyce denied what would have been an amazing individual accomplishment. He denied Galarraga the 21st perfect game in major league history. Joyce did not cost the Tigers a victory.

Look, it could be worse. It's not like Joyce is former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who was investigated by the FBI for allegedly betting on games he called and making calls to affect the point spread in those games.

Joyce is human. He made an error. Doesn't it happen to all of us?