MLB playoffs: Ex-Yankees ace rips umpires after Laz Diaz disaster in Astros-Red Sox ALCS Game 4

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora argues a strike three call with home plate umpire Laz Diaz as Christian Vazquez looks on during the third inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League Championship Series Houston Astros Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, in Boston.
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CC Sabathia is mad as hell, and he’s not going to take it anymore.

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The former New York Yankees ace blasted umpire Laz Diaz for his performance behind the plate in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. between the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox.

At issue was a missed call by Diaz in the ninth inning Tuesday. With the game tied at 2, Red Sox right-hander Nathan Eovaldi appeared to strike out Astros catcher Jason Castro with two runners on base to end the inning.

But Diaz, the home plate umpire, called it a ball, even though replays clearly showed the pitch well within the strike zone. Given a second chance, Castro singled to center, driving in a run to give Houston a 3-2 lead. The Astros went on to score seven times in the ninth inning and win the game, 9-2.

That’s where Sabathia comes in, airing his grievances on his R2C2 podcast with Ryan Ruocco. Per WEEI:

“These umpires are terrible,” Sabathia said. “Laz Diaz behind the plate is f---ing awful. They have to do something. Guys are throwing harder, more movement than ever and they cannot get this s--t right.”

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Needless to say, Eovaldi also wasn’t a happy camper after the game. Per ESPN: “I thought it was a strike, but again, I’m in the moment. I’m trying to make my pitches. I’m attacking the zone.”

However Eovaldi and Sabathia aren’t the only ones to take issue with Diaz’s strike zone.

Diaz ended the evening with 23 missed ball-strike calls, according to ESPN Stats & Information research, with 12 coming on balls thrown by Red Sox pitchers and 11 from Houston’s. Diaz’s night behind the plate marked the most missed ball-strike calls of any umpire this postseason.

Diaz has a history of questionable calls. According to umpscorecards.com, Diaz ranked in the bottom 7% in accuracy and bottom 12% in consistency this season.

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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.

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