At Metsblog.com this afternoon a post was uploaded discussing the idea of the Mets getting Mike Piazza to help with their catching woes. I really enjoy Metsblog.com, but here at MetsLifer.com we discussed this idea a few weeks ago in a previous post.I was surprised to see Metsblog.com respond that the Mets shouldn't go after Piazza (blasphemy!). One of the reasons was that Castro does not appear to be out of the lineup for very long (good news), but the more surprising reason was that this is no longer Mike Piazza's team. It's Reyes' team or Wright's team.
In my opinion that's exactly the reason you add Piazza.
Piazza doesn't have to be the superstar or leader of this team. He's a contributor, one of those intangibles off the bench, a la Kirk Gibson on the '88 Dodgers. This is Reyes' & Wright's team, but that doesn't mean Piazza shouldn't be on it.
Mike DeFelice is quite possibly the worst hitter in baseball, and any at bat he has is one too many if you ask me. Piazza calls a great game, and it's not like Lo Duca or Castro are gunning runners down left and right. But it's the intangibles that make me want Piazza now more than ever. It would be like the return of a hero to the ball club. Piazza is one of the greatest clutch home run hitters I have seen, and if the Mets make the playoff you know there is a historic moment waiting to happen if Piazza is in pinstripes.
There are a number of other reasons which I discussed in my previous post that I think are still valid.
For the fans as well as for the ball club, getting Piazza is a win-win situation. Send DeFelice back to the minors to tutor Mike Pelfrey, and bring in Mike Piazza which adds a nice bat to the Mets bench and a solid backup catcher.
Bring Mike Piazza home where he belongs.
6 comments:
First, Mike DiFelice couldn't be any worse a hitter than Paul Lo Duca is right now.
Second, Mike Piazza's catching days are over. The idea that the Mets would acquire Piazza and what remains on his $10 mil. contract for the purpose of catching is silly.
He would be a pinch hitter, and little else.
Comparing DiFelice to Lo Duca is pretty far fetched. Sure Lo Duca is struggling, but you can't even mention DiFelice and hitting without chuckling.
As far as Piazza as just a pinch hitter, I'm more than ok with that.
I'm glad you're okay with him being just a pinch hitter. Ever stop to consider HE may not be? He can still play everyday and that's what he should have the opportunity to do. To reduce him to a bit player on a team he OWNED is a slap in the face and does nothing except serve misguided romantic notions some fans have.
Did you ever think he might WANT to play on a playoff team? The A's are pretty much done. This might be Piazza's last year. He might want to end his career in NY, perhaps with a shot at a World Series ring.
Besides HE'S A DH, the definition of a "bench player."
Nooooooooo, the definition of a bench player is one who comes in on a sporadic basis to replace a specific player in a specific instance, as in pinch hitter. The definition of a DH is one who hits in the pitcher's spot in the lineup throughout the game. In other words, he gets 3 - 4 at bats everyday - like a POSITION PLAYER.
And I'm sure he would like the opportunity to get back to the post season. As a matter of fact he has said so. But the Mets aren't the only opportunity to do so. He's best served on the Angels and the Mets are best served with finding a long term solution to the catcher's spot in the off season rather than making a knee jerk move now.
I'm aware of the definition of a DH, but I understand your point.
The Mets are better served addressing the catcher issue in the offseason. Perhaps ex-Brave, Salti?
But I'm saying for right here, right now, Piazza is a better option than DeFelice or Alomar. And if Piazza is willing to be a bench player than I'm fine with it too.
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