Here’s the posted video of umpire Phil Cuzzi inexplicably ruling Joe Mauer’s fly ball foul last night in the 11th inning of the 4-3 Yankees win in Game 2 of the ALDS series.
(No instant replay has fans, Maurer feelin’ Minnesota)
Replays show the ball clearly landed in fair territory, bouncing into the stands for what should’ve been a ground-rule double. Instead, Mauer later singled, and the Twins eventually failed to score despite two subsequent hits that would’ve otherwise plated Mauer.
Video and more background on the errant ump after the jump.
This isn’t the first time Cuzzi has been the center of attention for all the wrong reasons. He’s got plenty of history with Chisox Manager Ozzie Guillen, who claimed Cuzzi had a vendetta against him. Likewise the Blue Jays and Cardinals have felt Cuzzi’s screw.
And Friday the Twins got squeezed by Cuzzi.
What’s worse than Cuzzi’s call and C.B. Bucknor botching the Boston-Angels ALDS game the night before is MLB claims playoff umpiring assignments are based on merit. Safe to assume that makes the umpires sitting at home in October all the more blue.
If video deleted off Youtube, it’s viewable/downloadable here.
4:39 am on October 10th, 2009
You have to be kidding me…
5:39 am on October 10th, 2009
Oh my, another umpire blowing a call on an outfield play that helps the Yanks…..remember the little brat reaching into the field of play to catch a Jeter out……that was then ruled a HR. Yanks went on to win of course…..Instant replay is needed!
6:28 am on October 10th, 2009
I know Minnesota’s a small market and all, but the guy won the batting title - it’s MAUER.
9:01 am on October 10th, 2009
When are people going to realize that pro sports officials CHEAT. This is a prine example. Just look at past history, He should be fired.
9:49 am on October 10th, 2009
That was no even close. They should get tennis line judges there cause they make better line calls. I was upset seeing him blow that call.
10:47 am on October 10th, 2009
How can he miss that from that distance?! What a joke. However it shouldn’t have come to that if Joe Nathan does his job in the 9th and not give up the blast to A-Roid. God, I HATE the Yankees!
2:28 pm on October 10th, 2009
What a TERRIBLE call! Where was Phil’s head on this one? What a goof. Outfielder was in fair territory along with his glove and the ball that the glove hit. MLB should be ashamed of this “effort” by the umpire. I understand the whole balls and strikes issue(no replay). BEYOND the strikezone, fans deserve and want the RIGHT call, not the for the “F*** purity” of the game.
2:43 pm on October 10th, 2009
It’s Joe MAUER………………… not MAURER
3:29 pm on October 10th, 2009
To me, it seems like he missed the call on purpose. No other way to explain a missed call from 10 feet away. He wasn’t even running at the time the ball landed, so he was not impeding his own vision.
To me, it looks like downright cheating!!!! The white line is very clear and it didnt even come close to hitting it.
4:31 pm on October 10th, 2009
“I know Minnesota’s a small market and all, but the guy won the batting title - it’s MAUER.”
not too mention his 3rd straight batting title.
6:22 pm on October 10th, 2009
The ball deflected off the left fielders glove and then still hit inbounds!!!! What is up with the ump MLB is assigning to games. The blind 1st base ump in the Angels Red Sox game 1 and then this?!?!?! It’s pathetic
6:36 pm on October 10th, 2009
the yankees game was an amazing extra innings postseason game and A-Rod is finally making plays in the playoffs and this is all you can talk about SBB? thats bullsh*t
10:16 pm on October 10th, 2009
nice troll, we’re talking about the call here that was blown, if you want to blow the yankees there are 100000 other threads for that.
11:53 am on October 11th, 2009
This just shows that the yankees have way too much money… how much extra did the ump make in this game?
9:44 pm on October 11th, 2009
All bad umpires should be fired, not just kept from working the playoffs.