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New York Post
26-05-2025
- Sport
- 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.'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Detroit Tigers' Javier Báez ejected after bad call, heated exchange with umpire Phil Cuzzi
Javier Báez was upset. So upset he had to be held back by third base coach Joey Cora and teammate Gleyber Torres after getting ejected by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi in the fifth inning Monday, May 26, against the San Francisco Giants at Comerica Park. Báez and Cuzzi exchanged words — multiple times. Advertisement Báez also tried to attack Cuzzi. Thankfully, Cora and Torres teamed up to restrain him. JEFF SEIDEL: Does it matter that Tigers have a fun-loving clubhouse with a bunch of good dudes? Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch — who came out of the dugout to argue the pitch call but was not ejected — used his right arm to help Cora keep Báez away from Cuzzi before Torres arrived on the scene. From there, Hinch focused on his conversation with Cuzzi. Báez was ejected for arguing a called-third strike. The full-count pitch — a down-and-away curveball from Giants right-hander Haden Birdsong — was called a strike by Cuzzi, even though it was clearly off the plate. Advertisement It should've been a ball. Instead of drawing a walk, Báez was rung up on a missed call. He was allowed to express his displeasure immediately after the strikeout, but when his protest dragged on, he was promptly ejected for arguing balls and strikes. That's when Báez tried to go after Cuzzi. In the scuffle, Cora lost his helmet while restraining Báez. But no one was injured. In the 2025 season, Báez is hitting .286 with six home runs, five walks and 38 strikeouts in 45 games. He was replaced in center field by Matt Vierling in the sixth inning. Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Advertisement Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Javier Baez ejected by Phil Cuzzi after bad call
