Umpire Phil Cuzzi files report about verbal altercation with Nationals GM Mike ... - New York Daily News

[Umpire-Empire Reporter]

Boston Globe

Umpire Phil Cuzzi files report about verbal altercation with Nationals GM Mike ... New York Daily News Nationals' Jayson Werth can't believe he's ruled out at first base by umpire Phil Cuzzi (below, with Nats manager Jim Riggleman) in the 9th inning, even though replay showed he was safe. It was impossible to miss the ... Nationals GM confronts umpires after Cuzzi's blown callYahoo! Sports (blog) GM Rizzo reportedly involved in incident with umpiring crewWashington Times Report: Umpires file complaint against Nats GMCBSSports.com (blog) Washington Post (blog) -MLB.com -ESPN all 593 news articles »

View the full article

[dumbdumb]

Not a help call. Make the call, either he was on the bag when the ball popped the glove, or was he off the bag when the ball popped the glove. There are at least 2 things to watch on this play, just like any play at first. Fielders foot on the bag, runners foot hitting the bag / and the ball popping the glove. Did ball pop glove before or after runners foot hit bag, and was fielders foot on the bag. They did not get help. Base umpires responsibility all the way even though Nationals asked. Possibly having the foot on or off the bag by the fielder does not throw the call to the other umpires. Listen to them argue and if they cross the line, eject.

Just like any close play when there are no problems with the foot on the bag, the umpire makes the call. It may be proved on instant replay that he/she got the call right or got the call wrong. But, that's what the umpire is there for. All the umpires are being graded on every call made during the game for the possibility of post season assignments. The scores over the course the year will allow one to work or not work the post season.

Not one MLBU hired himself. They had to prove to supervisor's (management/whoever those people are that make selections) that they were capable and deserving, and remember the commissioner can use "in the best interests of baseball" to confirm or deny anything related to baseball . If you think someone is a poor umpire, remember that umpire did not hire himself, someone else hired him, usually (not always) after 8-19 years of evaluations and said they should be a MLBU. All that umpire did, was umpire in MiLB and hope for the best. Not one umpire chose themselves.

[Guest]

Absolutely a help one could "get help" on. Especially if you choose to take plays at first from one knee and not take a read step (let alone a lean).

Simple: Riggs comes out, Cuzzi goes in to Gonzalez, "Manny, was he on the bag?"

I'd bet dollars to donuts, Phil was trying to "protect" his call up PU by refusing to go for help about the pulled foot.

To all the haters who are about to bash his mechanics, for those who have never had professional training or been to (or in my case, had a close recounting, blow by blow) of PBUC camp, in professional baseball, you are permitted to take standard plays at first on one knee.

Now, not saying I'd do it, ever, but there's no reason Phil couldn't've at least leaned to his left or right here to check the foot. This is just an "I want to get to the bar" call.