Major League Baseball

Joyce's family receives hostile reaction from fans

Published Jun. 3, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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Jim Joyce, the umpire whose blown call cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game on Wednesday, indicated on Thursday morning that his family has received some hostile reaction from fans.

“I wish my family was out of this,” he said, still teary-eyed some 12 hours later. “I wish they would just direct it all to me.

"It's a big problem. My wife is a rock. My kids are very strong. They don't deserve this. I’ll take it. I’ll take it. I’ll take whatever you can give me.

“And I’ll handle it like a man. And I’ll do the best I can.”

Joyce didn’t specify what “it” was, but he said, “It’s a big problem.”

Joyce asked for a chance to apologize after the Tigers beat the Indians 3-0.

"You don't see an umpire after the game come out and say, 'Hey, let me tell you I'm sorry,"' Galarraga said. "He felt really bad. He didn't even shower."

Joyce is behind the plate for Thursday afternoon’s game between the Tigers and Indians. He needed an extra moment or two to compose himself before entering the field via the tunnel behind home plate at 1 p.m. ET.

Fans close to the tunnel applauded as the crew took the field. The cheers continued as Galarraga, bearing the lineup card, shook hands with Joyce.

But when Joyce’s name was announced over the public address system, some boos were heard.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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