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New York Post

Tigers' Javier Baez loses it on umpire in wild ejection scene: ‘I'm not an animal'

Javier Baez was so enraged by a called strike three that he had to be held back during the Tigers' 3-1 win over the Giants on Memorial Day. The Tigers shortstop became heated in the fifth inning when home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi called Baez out on a 3-2 pitch that appeared outside the strike zone. Baez quickly got into Cuzzi's face and began arguing, appearing as though he was going to walk away, but re-engaged with him several times before the home plate ump finally tossed him from the game. Advertisement 3 Tigers' Javier Báez is held back by Gleyber Torres (25) and third base coach Joey Cora after being ejected by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi in the fifth inning. AP The already angry Baez attempted to charge back toward Cuzzi after he tossed him, with third base coach Joey Cora and teammate Gleyber Torres needing to hold him back. 'Javy Baez is incensed. I don't know what was said, but Javy is livid,' one of the Tigers' broadcasters said on-air. 'A.J. Hinch was one step away, but Phil Cuzzi threw out Javy Baez and Javy's going to leave this game.' Advertisement 3 Tigers' Javier Báez, right, is held back after being ejected by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi, left, in the fifth inning. AP After the game, Baez told reporters that he had only said that it wasn't 'a f–king strike.' 'That's the only thing I said. And then he said, 'Don't point at it. Walk out.' And then I said, 'What do you mean, walk out? I'm asking you something,' and then he just threw me out,' Baez said, according to Evan Petzoid of the Detroit Free Press. Advertisement Baez insisted that his reaction wasn't over the called strike, but rather the way that Cuzzi had spoken to him during the incident. 3 Javier Baez #28 (R) of the Detroit Tigers is held back by third base coach Joey Cora #56 after being called out on strikes as manager A.J. Hinch #14 argues with home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi. Getty Images 'It's not even about the call. It's about how he treated me,' Baez said. 'I'm not an animal. We can talk. We can argue. And that's it. If he would've told me, 'OK, I missed it,' I would've f–king shut up. I know he's not perfect, but don't treat me like that.'