One, Two, Three, strikes at the Old STTA:

An old story tells of three baseball umpires discussing balls and strikes:One of the men in black was impressed with his own accuracy. "Some is strikes and some is balls. I calls 'em the way they are.Another figured he had the power to actually make truth. "There ain't none of 'em balls and strikes 'til I calls 'em.The final ump believed in the reality behind the call, and knew his own limitations. "Some is balls, 'n' some is strikes. I calls 'em as I seez 'em"It wasn't a ball and strike call, but the discussion above is incredibly relevant to a game Armando Galarraga pitched yesterday. Making the call on the basis of hindsight and instant replay it is clear that Galarraga pitched a perfect game. An infield grounder was fielded by the first baseman, who tossed the ball to the pitcher who caught it and touched first a step before the batter. Listening to the sports-caster you can tell that's the way he saw it. The Ump, though, was calling 'em as he saw 'em, and for whatever reason, by his own admission when he saw the replay, he called it wrong. Unless the Commissioner of Baseball overturns the call-unlikely-the pitcher won't get credit for a feat so elusive that there are fewer than thirty perfect games in major league history.Stinks doesn't it? And that is STTA.But, does it change what the talented pitcher did? Does the fact that the umpire got it wrong change what the athlete accomplished. Well yes, and no. In one sense the umpire is one of the variables of the game. Other perfect games have been likely been spoiled because a gust of wind caused a fly ball to carry, or a fan in a white shirt distracted a fielder, who dropped a fly ball. Yet, no, the fact is the fact, even if it is called wrong. And that's something else to think about.There is only one Who is capable of rendering judgment that is unalterably consistent with fact. As John said of the Lord, "His judgments are true and righteous." (Revelation 19:2)And that's Something to Think About, strike three.