Is it really so hard to admit that people make mistakes?

Yes, mistakes are made, and it's all part of the game. I understand that umpires have a very tough job, but think about this: how much do we criticize players for making a bad play? It's really the same thing. If a call is ridiculously obvious, we expect it to be made correctly. If a play is ridiculously easy, we expect it to be made correctly. A player drops a pop-up: how much crap does he get for it? No one's going around saying that he just made a mistake.

I get where you're coming from, and to an extent, I agree with you. But just think about what I said.

I agree with everything you've said--umps are human, we can't go back in time, etc. and it might be very true that you personally would never ask the question again and again if the call had been against the yankees, no matter how upset you were. But the fact of the matter is that there would most definitely be other yankees fans out there asking the question over and over. or questions like that from fans of any team when a costly call like that is made against them in a playoff game. all teams have their bandwagon fans. and all teams have their die hard fans whose anger and frustration stop them from taking the step back to asses the situation and realize that umpires are human and there is nothing that can be done about it now. so you're right, this kind of question might keep coming for days--and just like that play, there isn't really much we can do about it.

I'm neither a twins nor yankees fan. A blown call is one thing, but this was different. The ump could not have been in a better position to make that call and it was inside the foul line by about a foot. It wasn't just a mistake, this call was so bad that you have to wonder what Phil Cuzzi was looking at when he made the call.

I also think its ridiculous that people are accusing the yankees of paying the umps, its probably mostly red sox fans. Phil Cuzzi needs to be fired though because that call was inexcusable and ultimately contributed to determining the outcome of the game which umps should never do

Cuzzi's call wasn't merely a mistake -- it was a screwup of the first water. He was RIGHT THERE and blew it. This wasn't a flexible strike zone or a split-second play at third base. It was a fair/foul call, the one call that the line umpires are SPECIFICALLY tasked with making and making well and consistently, he was in perfect position to make the call (and for that, I suppose he deserves second-rate props; many umps never get that close), and totally mucked it up.

That call was a disaster. If Cuzzi feels bad about it, let him resign (effective immediately, and in complete disgrace) and let another umpire join the postseason crew.

I'll not harp on the outcome of the game; I'm not that naive. But that one play, called THAT poorly, undermined the efforts of the Twins and damaged MLB's public perception. There should be at least one head rolling, and in this case the choice is obvious. He's going to be The Umpire Who Blew The Call for the rest of his days, and should he blow another one, not only would that be catastrophic, it would foment damaging perceptions depending on which team it favored -- either "on the Yankees payroll" or "purposely tried to balance things out". NEITHER of these helps anyone. Push him aside, cut him a check, issue a bland statement to the media ("...wants to spend more time with his family...", which is the standard blather even for bachelors), and move on as quietly as possible.

Cuzzi made a mistake? Fine, and hoo boy, did he ever. Mistakes demand redress. The only meaningful option here is to not give him the chance to make another.

Well what's done is done!Yes it was a mistake but they shouldn't be made in the playoffs.They should be able to review calls like that in the playoffs.Hate to see the umpires cost a team a win by making a bad call. If that call went against the Yankees you would see questions on YA for days .Again you keep saying mistake and that's something that can never happen in the playoffs!That umpire should be replaced asap.

As a Twins fan, I was completely mad (extremely mad) when I saw this.

But this doesn't justify the fact that it "made the Twins lose" or "did the Yankees a win".

You never know, Joe Mauer could've been at 2nd base and stayed at 2nd base the whole time. It may have hurt the Twins, but it did NOT make them lose.

But nevertheless, a mistake like that, instant replay should be a factor. I understand that some people like the way the game is played the "old school" way, but when it comes to fairness in such an important game . . . it has to be there.

I won't say that the Yankees "paid off" the umpires, but how on earth could he miss that call? He was 10 feet away from the play, staring straight at it! People do make mistakes, heck, I make them all the time, but to blow such a glaring call is inexcusable. That's almost like saying a home run ball that landed in dead left center field was foul. No excuses.

I'm not a fan of either team, by the way. Go, Phillies!

If the Yankees tried to buy a win from the umpires, their offense wouldn't have been so frustrated by all the phamton high, outside and high-outside strikes that plate ump Chuck Meriweather was calling against them, but not against the Twins.

Meriweather made Nick Blackburn look like a Cy Young candidate, but hey, if you or I had a 24-inch strike zone that extended above the letters to work with, we might frustrate a few hitters too.

It's hard to accept people make mistakes specially when they favor The Yanks or the Red Soxs. Im sorry, but that's the way its always been, I don't think the Umpires are going to favor the Angels on Sunday Morning game. Maybe they'll allow four strikes for each of the Red Sox batters again. I hope not. I want a clean game.. Angels 2009.. For NIck Adenheart.

OK here is the summary of the answers I have chimed in with today about this situation.

Phil missed it and I know he is sick about it. Did it determine the game -- no, just that play. What is to say what could have happened after the proper ruling of book rule double? Mauer could have been picked off or tagged out on a close play at the plate. Maybe the Twins erupt for 8 runs without recording an out.

My return question to you is If this happened in the 4th inning would this much anger be produced? I think not.