Behind the Plate with MLB Umpire Phil Cuzzi & Championship Culture with Coach Vic Rinaldi

Date: December 10, 2025 Location: The Don Father Studio, Bristol, CT

The Bristol Boys are back in the Don Father Studio following a remote broadcast at the Hall of Fame. On this packed episode, the crew dives deep into baseball history, officiating, and the state of youth sports with two heavyweight guests. Plus, the usual heated debates on NFL fantasy stats and NBA hot takes.

⚾ Special Guest: MLB Umpire Phil Cuzzi

The boys welcome veteran MLB Umpire Phil Cuzzi, who recently became the oldest active umpire in Major League history (August 2025). Phil shares incredible stories from over three decades of professional umpiring.

• The Minor League Grind: Phil opens up about the unglamorous road to the majors—two-man crews, all-night drives, and sleeping in roadside motels.
• Manager Showdowns: Phil dishes on the managers he’s ejected and respected.
  • The Unfair: Ozzie Guillen.
  • The Legend: Bobby Cox (fair but fiery).
  • The Strategist: Buck Showalter (who explained exactly how he would get ejected).
  • The Lou Piniella Story: A hilarious encounter on a plane immediately after an ejection.
• Historic Moments: Working the plate for Cole Hamels' no-hitter (without realizing it until the final out), the last All-Star game at the old Yankee Stadium, and the famous Brett Gardner dugout ejection.
• The Evolution of the Game: Phil gives his candid take on the pitch clock, the "ghost runner," and the robotic strike zone challenge system.

🏆 Special Guest: Coach Vic Rinaldi

Fresh off a successful run, 3-time State Champion Coach Vic Rinaldi of St. Paul Catholic High School joins the studio to talk local baseball dominance.

• Building a Dynasty: How the St. Paul program attracts talent not through recruiting, but through a culture of winning and academic success.
• The Youth Sports Crisis: A serious discussion on the epidemic of arm injuries in young players. Coach Rinaldi and the boys discuss the dangers of year-round showcases, lack of rest, and the "velocity at all costs" mindset.
• Coaching Philosophy: Moving players around to fit team needs (converting catchers to first basemen/pitchers) and maintaining relationships with umpires.

🏈 Gridiron & Hardwood Trivia

The Don Father leads the crew through a gauntlet of sports trivia and "Who Would You Rather?" debates.

• NFL Fantasy Grid: A process of elimination challenge to find the WR with the most career fantasy points (Surprise: It’s not who you think).
• QB Stat Mystery: Comparing Josh Allen to Patrick Mahomes over their last 50 starts—the numbers might shock you.
• "Say What?" NBA Edition: Guessing famous quotes from Shaq, Kevin Garnett, and Metta World Peace.
• Hot Takes: The crew debates the OKC Thunder's winning streak and revisits the contentious "Wembanyama is a bust" argument.

🙏 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

• Joe Moriello: Senior VP of Capital Securities – For a life well planned.
• Skygazer Brewing: Home of the Pink Lemonade Shandy.
• Greg Hunt: Twister Baseball Clinics.

Would you like me to extract a list of all the specific baseball managers mentioned and their specific interactions with Phil for a social media clip description?