Phil Cuzzi's Vision

[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.

[UmpTTS43]

Bottom line. It was a gross and inexcusable miss. Same is true for the guy that missed a similar call in the CWS.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by UmpTTS43

Bottom line. It was a gross and inexcusable miss. Same is true for the guy that missed a similar call in the CWS.

And you've never made one?

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by mbyron

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.

I agree, sometimes the eyes, mouth and arms just wanna do their own thing and after the brain decides to catch up it too late from looking stupid.

What was he thinking when he made that call? He wasn't, the brain hadn't joined the rest of the body at that point.

Plain and simple, if it has never happened to you, your lying.

[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.

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by Matt

The first step in prevention is knowing the cause.

"Phil Cuzzi's Vision is listed on Ebay right now. It's being described as "new in box-never used".

"But that fair/foul was beyond belief. You have one thing to do all effing night and then that's it?!? Wow. The best of the best."

"We're criticizing the dreadful call by a very highly paid professional, who performs his work in public."


Okay, so now we know 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.

[SAump]

The ball bounced into DBT while the foul call was being made. It appears that the Twins never asked if a foul call like this can be overturned. Did Joe or his manager request a second opinion before the next pitch?

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by kylejt

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

I agree with the lesson, but only because it's much easier to fix if you guessed wrong. A better lesson is to slow down. Pause, read & react.

[TussAgee11]

When I saw the play I thought he did wait it out and used his timing.

The bottom line is, the ball comes down so quick and then bounces up and kicks left. That change of direction, the eyes can't detect the point at which the ball hit the ground.

A guy 100 feet away has a MUCH better look because the eyes do not need to change direction so quickly, you can just take in that big picture without having to shift the eyes so quickly.

Now that there is IR in MLB for home run calls, I see no need for 6 umpires in the post season. The only thing they are good for is those boundary calls, and since that's now reviewable, I say there should be a shift to a 5 man crew (one guy gets a day) for a 5 game series, and 2 separate 4 man crews for a 7 game series.

Probably won't happen though...