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Don't let Cuzzi off, Nick. I don't care a wit whether he's a good umpire before that call. That's a call that makes a career.

no excuse for missing that call. the LF and RF have 1 job to do and that is get fair/foul calls correct. Cuzzi was maybe 15ft away from that ball and he blew the call. until the MLB institutes full instant replay for stuff like this or begins to hold umpires accountable this stuff will continue to happen.

 

and by accountability i'm not just talking suspensions or whatever i'm talking getting up in front of the media and answering for how they screwed up just like the players do. how many times did joe nathan get up in front of the media and answer questions about how he crapped his pants multiple times against the yankees. everytime he sat there and answered the questions while he felt absolutely awful. umpires want to make the game about themselves in many instances so they should be forced to answer the questions when they screw up or play a major role in a game. like it or not phil cuzzi played just as big a role in that game as any player did and he should be held accountable by at least having to talk about it, not hiding behind closed doors while the umpire crew chief issues a statement about how bad the guy feels.

Edited June 17, 201313 yr by rnw24

I will always remember that total feeling of bewilderment that play caused. Nothing quite like it.

Thanks for reminding me of this. I'll spend my lunch hour in the office breakroom listening to "Could've Been" by Tiffany and choking back the tears.

Mauer ended up getting on anyway. They loaded the bases with nobody out and somehow managed not to score. Yet Twins fans still blame Cuzzi. So typical Minnesotan.

I will always remember that total feeling of bewilderment that play caused. Nothing quite like it.

 

Cuzzi grew up a Yankees fan. He talked about how much of an honor it was to be one of the umpires for the first game in the new Yankees Stadium. Having umpired on and off for 26 years, mostly on, I'll never be convinced he 'missed' the call. No way he misses it going off the glove while the glove is in fair territory AND it landing that far in fair territory...especailly with how close he was...not that he needed to be that close to see it.

 

In any event, it didn't cost us the series.

More Cuzzi info.

 

Better Know An Umpire: Phil Cuzzi

It was like when what's his name pushed down our guy in that football game, then caught a touchdown pass. It's seared into my brain like a potato.

It was like when what's his name pushed down our guy in that football game, then caught a touchdown pass. It's seared into my brain like a potato.

 

There was that other time one of the Minnesota teams got hosed, too. I think. Some time in the 90s, or maybe the 80s.

There was that other time one of the Minnesota teams got hosed, too. I think. Some time in the 90s, or maybe the 80s.

 

Yeah, I think I remember that, too. Bastards!