Philip Cuzzi (born August 29, 1955 in Newark, New Jersey) is a Major League Baseball umpire who initially worked in the National League from 1991 to 1993 before returning to the NL in 1999; since 2000 he has worked throughout both major leagues. Cuzzi's fellow crew members are currently Ed Montague (crew chief), Jerry Layne, and Jim Wolf.
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In 2003, Phil Cuzzi ejected Roy Halladay for hitting Rocco Baldelli with a pitch, in spite of this being the first hit batsman of the game and no arguments having transpired between the two teams earlier in the game. The ejection robbed Halladay of a chance to win a team-record 22nd game (a feat he later managed in his final start). A year earlier, Cuzzi was severely criticized by Blue Jays teammate Carlos Delgado for a game-ending called third strike, which Delgado alleged was "more than a foot outside." Delgado described Cuzzi as "amateurish" and said it was "the worst call I've seen in a long time."[1]
In Game 2 of the 2009 ALDS between the Yankees and Twins, Cuzzi botched a call on what would have been a Joe Mauer ground rule double. With Melky Cabrera charging towards the foul line from left field, the ball tipped his glove, landed in fair territory, then bounced into the stands. Cuzzi called the ball foul.[2] Many were outraged and used this blown call as a reason instant replay should be more widely used in Major League Baseball.[3]
June 27 - Phil Cuzzi Ejects James Loney After Game's Over
July 18 - Phil Cuzzi confronted the Mets closer (Francisco Rodriguez) by waving his arms at him and waving his finger in the catcher's face. Later in that inning Phil Cuzzi blew a call, calling the Giants runner (Travis Ishikawa) out at home plate when the Mets catcher (Henry Blanco) conceded after the game that the runner was safe and he had not even tagged Ishikawa. That run would have allowed the Giants to win the game in regulation. Instead, the Giants subsequently lost in extra innings. After the game, Cuzzi said he had not seen a replay but felt Ishikawa’s foot came up off the plate. “I’ll look at it,” he said with a tone of resignation, “but I figured I’d eat first.”[4]
In an interleague game on July 2, 2011, Cuzzi issued a three-pitch to walk to Cameron Maybin of the Padres. Maybin later scored as the only run in a 1-0 Padres win. Cuzzi stated after the game that his counter showed a 2-2 count before the pitch but that he opted not to call Maybin back to the plate because no one else had noticed.[5]