Veteran Major League Baseball umpire Laz Diaz, 63, is retiring after a 31-year career, citing intense scrutiny and a predominantly negative atmosphere as his primary reasons for leaving the game.
Mixed in with the sentimentality of departing colleagues, Diaz shared his candid thoughts on his career with USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. "There’s so much pressure in this game,” Diaz said. “So, if you’re not going to have fun in this game, don’t do it. Do not do it. It’s not worth it."
He elaborated on the pervasive negativity surrounding umpires, noting, “It’s nasty. We don’t get the recognition. Everybody is putting us down. Like with Angel [Hernandez] and CB [Bucknor], they got so much criticism, and they’re great umpires. But everything is just so (expletive) negative."
Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough argues a call with third base umpire Laz Diaz and home plate umpire Edwin Jimenez during the third inning of a baseball game.
Diaz, who was one of seven veteran umpires to agree to a buyout with MLB this year, expressed that while he will miss the personal relationships he has built, he will not miss the game itself. "what I won’t miss is the game. Not one bit. It’s just changed so much. There’s so much more technical stuff. It’s kind of restricted us. I mean, everything is black and white now. You can’t manage the game.”
The introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system this season has amplified umpire scrutiny, leading to tense interactions on the field. Diaz's extensive career spanned multiple eras of baseball, including calls in three World Series. He was also on duty for significant historical moments such as Barry Bonds' record-breaking 756th home run and Mark Buehrle's perfect game.
"I’ve been blessed,” Diaz reflected. “The Lord has definitely blessed me throughout my career. It was a great run. But now, it’s time.”