Phil Cuzzi's Vision

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Another thing that makes that thing so egregious is that it almost couldn't have been an easier call to blow. Zero factors, just watching the ball hit the glove and the ground. Preposterous

There were several factors which played into this call 1) Did the fielder touch the ball? 2) (If #1 is yes) Where was the ball touched? 3) (If #1 is no) Where did the ball touch the ground?

Look at the post game interview video at :57. You can see how fast the play actually happened. He got it wrong but you saying that it "couldn't have been an easier call" isn't right.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by LDUB

There were several factors which played into this call 1) Did the fielder touch the ball? 2) (If #1 is yes) Where was the ball touched? 3) (If #1 is no) Where did the ball touch the ground?

Look at the post game interview video at :57. You can see how fast the play actually happened. He got it wrong but you saying that it "couldn't have been an easier call" isn't right.

I'm wrong again.

I'll take that as an affirmation.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by LDUB

There were several factors which played into this call 1) Did the fielder touch the ball? 2) (If #1 is yes) Where was the ball touched? 3) (If #1 is no) Where did the ball touch the ground?

Look at the post game interview video at :57. You can see how fast the play actually happened. He got it wrong but you saying that it "couldn't have been an easier call" isn't right.

It looked quite obvious in real time that the ball was touched by F7 in fair territory, dropped towards the foul line and still landed 4 inches approximately in fair territory. He was 20 feet away with a perfect look.

That being said, I blew a pickoff at first today. Had the runner as out. Offensive team squawked a little. I asked my partner later and he said it looked like I got it wrong. Oh well, we all blow calls now and then.

[zm1283]

I read something about the 6-umpire system where the MLB guys were saying that it's very tough if you're the LF or RF umpire because the ball is coming down almost on top of you all the time. They said fair/foul calls right on the pole are incredibly hard because you have no angle and you're following the ball straight down. To me, it looked like the ball got right on top of Cuzzi really quickly. I think if he were further away, his timing might have been better.

I see no reason to use six umpires in the post season.

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Oh well, we all blow calls now and then.

Absolutely we do, Steve. The big difference is, for most of us, millions of people aren't watching on TV. Thank goodness.

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by umpduck11

Absolutely we do, Steve. The big difference is, for most of us, millions of people aren't watching on TV. Thank goodness.

Nor are we crucified on internet boards by those who will never be as good.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Ump153

Nor are we crucified on internet boards by those who will never be as good.

There's no crucifixion occurring here. There is nothing more than conversation about the call, using it as a learning experience.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Matt

There's no crucifixion occurring here. There is nothing more than conversation about the call, using it as a learning experience.

I've seen very little learning (e.g., "how can I minimize the chances of it happening to me") going on.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I've seen very little learning (e.g., "how can I minimize the chances of it happening to me") going on.

I subscribe to the "brain fart" theory. Stand around in an outfield for a while and then have a baseball hit right at you. See what happens.

At every level, the trick is to keep your head in the game, keep focused. I feel fortunate that millions of people aren't watching me when I have a brain fart.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I've seen very little learning (e.g., "how can I minimize the chances of it happening to me") going on.

The first step in prevention is knowing the cause.

[kylejt]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I've seen very little learning (e.g., "how can I minimize the chances of it happening to me") going on.

IMO, he got too close to the play. Your first reaction is to chase the play, as if you were U3. He did that, got too close, and didn't get much of a view of the ball coming down. He just saw a flash of ball and legs, and guessed.

Another lesson: When in doubt, call it fair. You've got to be really sure that it's foul to call it. Give the benefit of the doubt to the hitter, not to the guy who didn't catch it.

Class dismissed.