Left field umpire Phil Cuzzi made one of the great all-time blunders last night when he called a ball that landed nearly a foot inside the baseline a foul ball even though he was standing just yards away and had the perfect angle on it.
(Click the photo to enlarge.) That turned a ground rule double into a strike and arguably cost the Twins a series-tying game against the Yankees. I say "arguably" because Mauer still reached base, the Twins still loaded them up with nobody out, and they still managed to not score a run. So who knows? It's kind of hard for me to get exercised about this, because there have been far worse crimes perpetrated on behalf of both the Yankees and the Twins. I'm over it, just don't look here for sympathy.

Still, what a terrible call. That's like NBA-level bad.

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So we've got a full day of college football, more playoff games, and if you behave yourselves—maybe some WNBA talk. (Or not.) Grab some breakfast and then get comfortable. We've got a lot to cover.

The Yankees are winning, and winning is so fun that even Hideki Matsui thinks it's acceptable to take a pie in the face. He hit a walk-off homer last night, and at the behest of fun-loving Melky Cabrera and great-humored Alex Rodriguez, he flicked his helmet into the night. It was fated to be picked up by a fawning bat boy, who would give it to the concession stand employees, who would subsequently fill it with two scoops of Carvel and sell it for $3,000 tonight.

But Cabrera and Rodriguez wanted it instead!

And despite giving up four inches to A-Rod, Cabrera outleaped the third baseman and came down with the souvenir. Rodriguez clutched his hands together in faux disappointment — psychoanalysis, anyone? — before realizing that he could just rip the object of his envy right out of Cabrera's grip. So he did.

The precious was his. The Yankees won. There was joy in Middle Earth.

Yankees-Orioles Fastcast [MLB.com]
With walk-off, Yanks grab share of first [Yankees.com]

I'm just glad that George Steinbrenner didn't live to see this. Apparently there's a tradition at Yankee Stadium where a group of fans called the Bleacher Creatures chant out each player's name in the first inning. The player usually acknowledges this; but not during a play. Oh, Melky Cabrera. You crazy nut. Wizard Cat gives this play: 0 wands.

In case no one's noticed, the Yankees are the hottest team in baseball, Tuesday's 8-2 win over the Twins giving them a 5-0 record since the All-Star break. Robinson Cano is hitting .522 over that span, has five straight multihit games and the Yankees have won nine straight at home (cue Duel of the Fates). New York is in third place,just 3 1/2 games out of first.

Bobby Abreu homered in the sixth inning for the go-ahead run. Maybe that crazy coot Freddy is on to something after all.

Note to Melky — Field The Ball First, THEN Acknowledge The Bleacher Creatures [New York Yankee Stadium Insider]