My friends who know me as Reverend Baseball often hear me intone, “Everything counts in baseball!” Sometimes in that wacky world played between geometric lines that form a diamond even the things that don’t count end up resulting in imperfect perfection.

Last night Detroit Tiger pitcher Armando Galarraga threw an “imperfect” perfect game. You baseball fans reading this know what I am talking about. Those of you who aren’t might be thinking, “What?” Galarraga retired twenty-six straight players. He then retired the twenty-seventh batter except the first base umpire missed the call and the runner was pronounced safe. The pitcher simply stood smiling at the umpire with the ball in his glove. He walked to the mound, retired the twenty-eighth batter and was credited with a one-hitter. To say the least, turmoil ensued as Tiger players and coaches surrounded veteran umpire Jim Joyce, who upon looking at the replay admitted he missed the call costing Galarraga his perfect game. Joyce was so upset he went to the Tiger locker room to apologize and ask for forgiveness. The two hugged and all was seemingly forgiven.

Since all this has transpired Bud Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball has declined to overturn the call. Today Galarraga took his team’s line up out to Jim Joyce who was home plate umpire, shook his hand and patted him on the back. This story seems to be a much bigger deal to fans and media than to the principal participants. How can a theological concept like forgiveness seep onto the sanctuary-diamond between umpires and players no less?

Perhaps it is because, in part, baseball is a metaphor for life and we all are products of “imperfect” perfection. We acknowledge:

God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image…’

(Genesis 1:26, NRSV)

Made in God’s image we are created for holy perfection:

…He who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’

(I Peter 1: 15-16, NRSV)

So far so good except for a little problem called sin:

…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

(Romans 3:23, NRSV)

In other words we have an “imperfect” perfection problem. We are created to be holy (perfect) as God is holy (perfect); however we have missed the mark, missed perfection, missed the call that cost us the perfect game.

The good news is not instant replay, but our “perfect” substitute who:

…by a single offering… has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

(Hebrews 10:14, NRSV)

Yes, Jesus takes our imperfect sin and makes us perfect in God’s sight by offering his life (going to bat for us) in our place. The result is our salvation. So, the next time you are watching a baseball game give thanks to God for giving (and forgiving) us imperfect perfection.

Stay tuned,

John