The Blown Perfect Game Call - what to do about it?

In case you missed it, last night, umpire Jim Joyce mistakenly called a Cleveland Indian runner safe at first base. The trouble was, that call occurred with two outs in the top of the ninth, when Detroit Tiger pitcher Armando Galarraga was about to throw the 21st perfect game in baseball history. The outrage in the sports world has been intense with many calling for MLB to reverse the call and reinstate the perfect game. I disagree. The controlling fact was that Joyce, at the time of the act, honestly believed that the runner was safe. He later realized that he was wrong, but only after checking TV replays, which clearly showed the runner was out. Joyce committed an error, a very human error. He acted with no malice toward Galarraga, nor was there evidence that the umpire acted negligently in his job. Therefore, with no wrong committed, punishment should not issue. Suspending the umpire would breach MLB's good faith relationship with the umpires union, and reversing the call will be an indirect way of doing the same.

I'm glad to see Galarraga and Joyce commiserating over the error before today's game. Joyce has accepted his error and Galarraga is prepared to move on. Baseball should as well. It is imperative that baseball explore expanded use of instant replay. More than any other sport, baseball relies heavily on the human eye and imperfect umpires to make calls that determine outs, games and even championships. Yesterday's error was egregious just because it occurred at an inopportune moment. Baseball should be more amenable to adjusting the game to the 21st century. I do not propose getting rid of umpires and just play by computer refereeing, but some renovations such as NFL's three challenges rule may be useful. As for Joyce, this infamous moment will remain with him for ever but he is veteran and professional enough to not let it haunt him. Galarraga, meanwhile, will realize that leading the Tigers to a first World Series championship in more than two decades will more than enough alleviate the sting.