Latest news with #Cuzzi
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tigers' Javier Baez rips umpire Phil Cuzzi after ejection on terrible strike call: ‘I'm not an animal'
Javier Baez had every right to be heated at home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi during the Detroit Tigers' 3-1 win over the San Francisco Giants. Baez was ejected at the end of the fifth inning on a called strike by Cuzzi that was well below the zone. The Tigers center fielder was animated after the low strike call, telling Cuzzi how he felt. Baez began walking away and turned around to say something else to the umpire, when Cuzzi threw him out of the game. Advertisement Tigers manager A.J. Hinch sprinted from the dugout and Baez had to be held back by third base coach Joey Cora. After the game, Baez told reporters, including Detroit Free Press Tigers beat writer Evan Petzold, what he said to the umpire. 'I only said, 'I'm looking for that pitch. It's not a f****** 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 added that he felt disrespected by Cuzzi. 'It's not even about the call. It's about how he treated me. 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****** shut up. I know he's not perfect, but don't treat me like that.' Advertisement Cuzzi, who has been a full-time umpire since 1999, has drawn criticism over the years for questionable calls. Baez has rejuvenated his career in his fourth year with the Tigers after signing a six-year, $140 million deal ahead of the 2022 season. He has been playing center field due to injuries and has a .799 OPS, 125 OPS+, six home runs and a 1.6 bWAR through 41 games. It's a turnaround after he wasn't even guaranteed playing time heading into 2025 following the worst season of his career in 2024. The Tigers improved their record to 35-20 with the victory and currently lead the American League Central by 4.5 games over the Minnesota Twins.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
MLB star goes ballistic on umpire after getting ejected on brutal call: 'I'm not an animal'
There were some Memorial Day fireworks at Comerica Field in Detroit – during a ballgame. Tigers shortstop Javier Baez had to be restrained by teammates after being ejected by umpire Phil Cuzzi following a controversial called third strike. The incident occurred in the fifth inning of Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Baez, the leadoff hitter in the inning, took a full-count curveball from Giants pitcher Hayden Birdsong that appeared to be well below the strike zone. However, Cuzzi called the pitch, ringing up Baez for the first out of the inning. The two-time all-star did not take the call well, quickly getting in Cuzzi's face and arguing the decision. After Baez finished his tirade and turned to walk back to the dugout, the umpire ejected him from the game, kicking off another big scene. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch arrived at the plate to argue his player's case while third base coach Joey Cora and teammate Gleyber Torres had to restrain Baez, who became furious. Baez was seen trying to push past Cora and Torres and swung his helmet around before it fell to the ground. 'Javy Baez is incensed. I don't know what was said, but Javy is livid,' one of the Tigers' broadcasters said during the incident. 'A.J. Hinch was one step away, but Phil Cuzzi threw out Javy Baez and Javy's going to leave this game.' Baez fumed to reporters after the game, saying that he only told Cuzzi that the pitch wasn't 'a f***ing 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. Baez also insisted that his incensed reaction wasn't over the strike call, but rather the way Cuzzi dismissively spoke to him during their exchange. '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***ing shut up. I know he's not perfect, but don't treat me like that.' In his fourth season with the Tigers, Baez rose to fame during his time with the Chicago Cubs, with whom he won a World Series in 2016. Baez also won a gold glove and a silver slugger award with the Cubs before being dealt to the New York Mets at the 2021 trade deadline. He then signed with Detroit in late 2021 as a free agent. Daulton Varsho's booming bat rescues sleepy Blue Jays offence again in narrow win over Rangers Blue Jays can't take heat. But was it legit excuse for no show against Rays?
Edmonton Journal
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
MLB star goes ballistic on umpire after getting ejected on brutal call: 'I'm not an animal'
Article content Baez also insisted that his incensed reaction wasn't over the strike call, but rather the way Cuzzi dismissively spoke to him during their exchange. '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***ing shut up. I know he's not perfect, but don't treat me like that.' In his fourth season with the Tigers, Baez rose to fame during his time with the Chicago Cubs, with whom he won a World Series in 2016. Baez also won a gold glove and a silver slugger award with the Cubs before being dealt to the New York Mets at the 2021 trade deadline. He then signed with Detroit in late 2021 as a free agent.
