Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

For those who don't know, Phil Cuzzi is one of the worst umpires in baseball.

Around 20 years ago, he was fired in AAA for years of subpar performance. He ended up getting a job at a bar and then somehow convincing an executive for MLB at that same bar to give him another chance.

Since then, he's been fast tracked to promotion after promotion despite years of poor ratings and several controversies.

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/baseball/belleville-grad-mlb-umpire-cuzzi-promoted-1.1269594

Wonder what happened at that chance meeting to give another shot to a guy who proved over several years that he was incompetent at his job.

http://larrybrownsports.com/basebal...s-after-phil-cuzzi-everyone-loses-count/75495

Cuzzi can't count to 4.

http://baseballjunk.tumblr.com/post/1196602723/fire-phil-cuzzi

Here's your typical Cuzzi game.

http://larrybrownsports.com/basebal...l-joe-mauer-fly-ball-ground-rule-double/10115

Cuzzi can't tell foul from fair.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/sports/baseball/19mets.html?referrer=

Cuzzi can't tell safe from out.





Good job, MLB. You made yourself a laughing stock again.
 
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

Cubs lost. Just one game. Not over yet.

But putting a guy in there with the least accurate and biggest zone in baseball against a team like the Cubs who walk more and take more pitches than anyone in baseball is brutal and senseless.

MLB may be close to losing my money with the games these games have been umped in the playoffs. That game in Toronto was also miserable as well.
 

GusGreenbaum

EOG Dedicated
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

:LMAO

Homie has gone from scouting WS opponents to debating whether or not to watch baseball again. Unreal.
 
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

Gus, I know you have a 2 digit IQ, so a question like this probably flies right over your head. Also, you're a midget I hear, so this makes even more sense, but can you tell me why such a poorly rated umpire would get game 1 of a playoff series? Do you have any comment on that?

Seems very strange. Would be interested to hear your 'thoughts' on this.
 
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

My guess is the MLB executive that decided to rehire Cuzzi was meeting an escort at that bar and was forced to rehire him and promote him against negative reviews to keep his wife/family from finding out.

Not sure there's another explanation.
 

Teddy kgb

Banned
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

That guy behind the plate yesterday in the Texas game had about as bad of a day as you can have and he actually knew it, he asking the catcher if he agreed with his call after time and time again the batters screamed at him in their way back to the dugout.... He never even took his mask off to challenge a hitter even after they stood there and blasted him, he knew he was doing a terrible job....Bob Costas had to tell Jim Kaat to stop talking about it because it was so bad it would take up their whole time discussing it
 
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

Agreed. I mean, it sucks for the Cubs because a wide zone helped Lackey against the Cubs way more than it would help Lester vs the Cards for obvious reasons.

But moving past that, I don't understand how umps have been so bad in the playoffs. The guy behind home plate for the Pirates/Cubs game was pretty bad as well.

These are supposed to be the best of the best umps. I'm ready for robot umpires behind home plate. This shit is ridiculous.
 

GusGreenbaum

EOG Dedicated
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

Gus, I know you have a 2 digit IQ, so a question like this probably flies right over your head. Also, you're a midget I hear, so this makes even more sense, but can you tell me why such a poorly rated umpire would get game 1 of a playoff series? Do you have any comment on that?

Seems very strange. Would be interested to hear your 'thoughts' on this.

My only explanation is that Rob Manfred knows you're a Cubs fan.

I'm 5'11 with a very healthy IQ; thanks for worrying though, Kerry. Clear up those face craters yet?
 

GusGreenbaum

EOG Dedicated
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

Cuzzi was inconsistent and his zone was ginormous. He wasn't the only ump who performed poorly yesterday. If you think his assignment was out of spite for the Cubs, I dunno what to tell you.
 
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

Cuzzi was inconsistent and his zone was ginormous. He wasn't the only ump who performed poorly yesterday. If you think his assignment was out of spite for the Cubs, I dunno what to tell you.

It was a bad draw for a Cubs team that has the approach 'make the other guy throw strikes.'

But in any event, this is less about the bad luck and more about how a guy goes from fired for poor minor league performance to rising quickly through the ranks with a 2nd chance even though he's had a lot of controversies over the year. Most fan bases hate this guy.

I just don't get it. There's something fishy here.
 

GusGreenbaum

EOG Dedicated
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

It was a bad draw for a Cubs team that has the approach 'make the other guy throw strikes.'

But in any event, this is less about the bad luck and more about how a guy goes from fired for poor minor league performance to rising quickly through the ranks with a 2nd chance even though he's had a lot of controversies over the year. Most fan bases hate this guy.

I just don't get it. There's something fishy here.

Dude must have rated high enough during the regular season to end up as part of a postseason crew; I can't speak much to the backstory and how he even ended up at this level.

Apparently I'm not the only person who thought the TBS strike zone box/pitch FX was a bit absurd. Did you catch any of the Mets-LAD game? It seemed like every called strike 3 was way, way outside of the zone, but per Brooks Baseball both Porter and Cuzzi's weren't as bad as TBS made them look.

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/sto...zone-cardinals-cubs-dodgers-mets-cuzzi-porter
 

GusGreenbaum

EOG Dedicated
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

It was a bad draw for a Cubs team that has the approach 'make the other guy throw strikes.'

But in any event, this is less about the bad luck and more about how a guy goes from fired for poor minor league performance to rising quickly through the ranks with a 2nd chance even though he's had a lot of controversies over the year. Most fan bases hate this guy.

I just don't get it. There's something fishy here.

Dude must have rated high enough during the regular season to end up as part of a postseason crew; I can't speak much to the backstory and how he even ended up at this level.

Apparently I'm not the only person who thought the TBS strike zone box/pitch FX was a bit absurd. Did you catch any of the Mets-LAD game? It seemed like every called strike 3 was way, way outside of the zone, but per Brooks Baseball both Porter and Cuzzi's weren't as bad as TBS made them look.

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/sto...zone-cardinals-cubs-dodgers-mets-cuzzi-porter
 
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

That chart is still pretty damning of Cuzzi IMO.

TBS graphic is poorly constructed, but judging from Brooks baseball, it looks like Cuzzi's success rate on pitches that were anywhere close to the zone was much less than 50%.

Essentially, any time a pitcher threw anywhere near the zone, it was called a strike. That's awful and not something you want to see in the playoffs.
 

GusGreenbaum

EOG Dedicated
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

It is, that's why I said 'as bad.' Umpires should never, ever be trending on Twitter during the postseason.

What's the play in Cubs-Cards Game 2? I'll be on the Metropolitans again at this price.
 
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

Hendricks has been good lately. Who knows, Garcia and Hendricks are both question marks, which usually means avoid from a gambling perspective.

As much as cubs feel like it is a must win, Cards probably feel it is a must win too, because if they lose this one, they're staring down Arrieta in a 1-1 series.
 

GusGreenbaum

EOG Dedicated
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

I hear you. Garcia has been nasty down the stretch, especially at home, but it wouldn't surprise me if he tossed a bit of a clunker. His peripherals are decent but he's running a bit above expectation IMO.

Should we be friends, Kerry?
 
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

Hendricks has been good lately. Who knows, Garcia and Hendricks are both question marks, which usually means avoid from a gambling perspective.

As much as cubs feel like it is a must win, Cards probably feel it is a must win too, because if they lose this one, they're staring down Arrieta in a 1-1 series.
Stop your f**king whining and crying. You are a disgrace to the City of Chicago and it's fans. You got your tail kicked yesterday. Period. 4-0 is getting your arse kicked. That is what you really deserve. Why they even let you back in here is beyond me. Now either take your losses (many of them) like a man, or drag your little whiney worthless arse out of here. When the Cards eliminate the Cubs, I will be looking for you boy. No more f**king excuses for you.
 
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

Stop your f**king whining and crying. You are a disgrace to the City of Chicago and it's fans. You got your tail kicked yesterday. Period. 4-0 is getting your arse kicked. That is what you really deserve. Why they even let you back in here is beyond me. Now either take your losses (many of them) like a man, or drag your little whiney worthless arse out of here. When the Cards eliminate the Cubs, I will be looking for you boy. No more f**king excuses for you.

The irony here is you had Pittsburgh winning the WC game and thought you could just skip addressing all the shit you talked about that and just jump to Chicago's next loss.

Basically you're a bitch.
 
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

I hear you. Garcia has been nasty down the stretch, especially at home, but it wouldn't surprise me if he tossed a bit of a clunker. His peripherals are decent but he's running a bit above expectation IMO.

Should we be friends, Kerry?

Early runs might decide this one just like last night and Wednesday.

Fine by me, I talk sports with friends and enemies alike
 

yisman

EOG Master
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

Cubs lost. Just one game. Not over yet.

But putting a guy in there with the least accurate and biggest zone in baseball against a team like the Cubs who walk more and take more pitches than anyone in baseball is brutal and senseless.


Toronto actually led the majors in walks and Vic Carapazza was blowing calls that entire game. No one could figure out his strike zone.
 
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

Toronto actually led the majors in walks and Vic Carapazza was blowing calls that entire game. No one could figure out his strike zone.

What I read said Cubs... probably walk per plate appearance for Cubs, which is more relevant. Toronto has better offense in the AL vs NL so obviously a lot more at bats.
 

blueline

EOG Master
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

I read Cubs had 4 called strike 3s that were blown calls St Louis had 1
 

yisman

EOG Master
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

What I read said Cubs... probably walk per plate appearance for Cubs, which is more relevant. Toronto has better offense in the AL vs NL so obviously a lot more at bats.

maybe they were talking about the NL only

pretty sure Toronto led MLB in pitches per PA, which is not the same as pitches taken, but is correlated
 
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

Cubs have lowest batting average of pitches outside of the zone of any team in baseball.

So umpire's zone last night was even worse for them.
 

winkyduck

TYVM Morgan William!!!
Re: Can someone explain MLB using Cuzzi in a playoff game?

It is disgraceful these guys basically have a job for LIFE! Supreme Court justices have a JFL. Almost no one else does. How (S)Cuzzi works a game let alone playoffs is beyond me. He sucks – along with Angel Hernandez, Las Diaz and probably the worst one – CB Bucknor.

I have said for some time now this is how I would handle things. I would treat umps like a Foreign Soccer League. You rate the umpires and after a 3-year period the 3-5 worst get sent DOWN to AAA and the 3-5 best come UP to MLB.

I know the Umps union won’t go or it. TOUGH SHIT! Next time their contract comes up for renewal I tell them this is being put into effect. If they don’t like it – there is the door. Don’t let it hit our big fat ass on the way out.

And that brings about another thing MLB must do. Look at NHL/NFL/NBA refs. Do you see any FAT ones? NO! All are not only in shape but have to pass fitness tests. I tell the Umps starting with the 2018 season (gives Umps time to get in shape) ALL Umps who wish to do MLB games MUST pass a Fitness Test. Those who don’t – wont umpire. I don’t need to see some FAT TUB OFGOO like Joe West doing games and being so fat he can hardly move. Dick Bavetta reffed in his 70s – but he had to pass the same fitness test every other ref did. I ref basketball. If I am not in shape I will get Freshman games not JV or Varsity. Same thing here – Refs too fat and out of shape to pass a Fitness test WILL NOT WORK until you get in shape – or lose your job.
 
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