Phil Cuzzi might want to register under a pseudonym at his hotel in Minnesota today.
Last night’s left-field umpire had a game to forget, with a huge blown call in the 11th inning of the Yankees’ 4-3 victory over the Twins in Game 2 of the ALDS.
Joe Mauer lofted a slicing pop fly to left that landed several inches inside the foul line. What should have been a leadoff double for Mauer was ruled foul. Mauer later singled against David Robertson, but was left stranded at third base as the Twins made three straight outs with the bases loaded.
Crew chief Tim Tschida admitted Cuzzi blew the call.
“Some things are correctable,” Tschida said. “Some things, you have to go with what the guy closest to the play had and you live and die with the decision.”
Twins closer Joe Nathan was the most vocal critic of Cuzzi, a Belleville, N.J., native with 10 years of major league experience. He is working his fourth career postseason series.
“Hopefully that umpire realizes he has to get better,” Nathan said. “That’s his job tonight. He’s an outfield umpire there to make calls on the outfield line. It was a big call for us, obviously.”
Tschida said because umpires spend so little time working in the outfield, it can be a challenge in the postseason.
“Getting into a position is a little bit foreign,” Tschida said. “It’s a little bit uncomfortable, and I don’t offer that as an excuse for an incorrect decision, but it can contribute to the call becoming a little more difficult.”
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was asked if instant replay should be used for more than home-run calls.
“It’s not my call — I’m just managing a baseball team,” Gardenhire said. “We had six umpires out there. I think, right, six? Six umpires.”
