It was reported earlier this week that Mike Piazza could be leaving America in attempts to lengthen his career. The once everyday player who homered his way into history as the alltime best hitting catcher eventually found himself the weak kneed third stringer and occasional DH for the A’s. And while I can respect Mike’s desire to keep playing the game he loves, I hope he chooses a different path. With the rumormill saying the Mets coaching staff vacancies will be filled from within the farm system, chances are we’ll see coaches bumped up the line, and an opening appearing eventually weeks later in the farm system. Perhaps that man most likely to be just the second ever player inducted into the Hall in a Met cap could find his way to that opening.

The first I ever remember hearing of Piazza, was during the strike, when he appeared on Married…with Children as himself.  But aside from that, he’ll always be a Met. From his altercations with the Rocket, to his curtain call as a Padre at Shea, to his 15 straight games with an RBI.  The internal promotion will most likely set off a coaching musical chairs game that leads to an opening somewhere in A ball, perfect for a new coach. On the other side, with Piazza’s continued health issues, nothing good can come from going across the sea. A resurgence is unlikely, only a greater risk for further injury.  So come on Mike, hang up the catchers mitt, and before decisions get made try and find your way back to the Mets, to teach the next generation of Mets how to play with the passion you had.

Here is a recap of some Mets Hot Stove rumors from Jon Heyman’s latest article on SI.com:

Last night over at his LoHud blog, John Delcos poses the question: Is Mike Piazza best Met position player ever?

Lets face it, theres only two legitimate players to consider in a Best Mets Position Player Debate: Mike and Keith.

Mike, an eight year Met, the best hitting catcher ever. Some of his time here included the teams less than steller years, but he excelled. Just shy of hitting .300 for his stint here, 220 homeruns, 655 RBIs. He often led the team in homeruns, runs, and probably at one point or another led in most every offensive category. Eighteen mulithomer games, eleven games where he notched at least four hits. Well liked by the fans, he received a standing ovation in his first visit back after leaving the team.  He always played hard, he feuded with the Rocket, his main weakness was he never was much of a defensive catcher.

Then there's Keith. While Mike might be the best offensive catcher, Keith is generally regarded as the best defensive first basemen of the era. Eleven golden gloves, seven while a Met. The first captain of the Mets, and one of only three to date. His batting average is comparable, .297 with the Mets to Mikes .296, he had 10 games of his own that involved four hits but his power numbers are lower. Though keep in mind, the 80s were not a homerun era like the late 90s were. More importantly, Keith taught the Mets how to win. One of the veterans on the 80s team, he provided the leadership in the clubhouse that helped give fire to the 86 and 88 teams. An argument can (and should) be made that he too deserves to be in the hall, if for anything else based on his long stretch in which he dominated defensively. He will not be eligible for consideration again till 2011.

Both were great players. Both leaders. But overall, Keith was the best. While lacking Piazza's power, he still had the potent mix of agressive defense and excellent hitting, that when combined with the personality he used to lead the Mets to victory makes him the greatest all time Met position player.

Ex Met Mike Piazza had an RBI single in the first today, as Oakland beat the Yankees 5-4. It was his sole hit for the day, his 16th for the season.  He's also had 8 runs and 3 RBI's as the DH for the A's.  Not helping the Yankees in their loss, former first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz who ended a streak of 24 at bats without a hit by getting a single, only to be caught at home trying to score on a wild pitch.  Dougie is now batting .138.

At least Dougie will always have that Red Sox WS baseball controversy for people to remember him by, since his time with the Yankees seems like it be even less memorable than his time with the Mets.  Maybe he's just trying to become one of the least popular NY firstbasemen of all time.

In related news, the Yankees added Mike Mussina and Carl Pavano to the DL.

And everyone was concerned about our rotation? The Yanks are a few injuries away from having to start Andy Pettitte every other game.

Former Met and current Oakland A's designated hitter Mike Piazza knocked his first homerun of the season.  The blast came in the 9th with two outs giving Oakland the edge they needed for a 4-3 win over the Angels.  This is Piazza's first season in Oakland, and as a DH.  He currently holds the record for most homeruns from a catcher.

Its good to see Mikey doing well.  Him and Paul Lo Duca are two very different players, both with their pluses and minuses. Hopefully when he enters the Hall it'll be as a Met, but till then its good to see he's still got some swing left in him.

This article was submitted by Tommy Dee, Hot Foot contributing writer.

For all intents and purposes
May 21, 2002, was the beginning of the end of the career for Mike Piazza.When he arrived in a trade
in 1997 the franchise needed an image, and the handsome, fun-loving,
laid-back Piazza was just what the doctor ordered. He was to be a free
agent at the end of that season, so his audition in Queens was as uncomfortable
as a no talent hack on American Idol. Except even Simon Cowell could
see that the guy had the talent and good looks to take the city by storm.
He was simply trying too hard. Day after day he faced boos and jeers
from fickle fans, yet Piazza knew he would sign here because he wanted
the city to love him.  

It made sense. 

He desperately wanted for them
to see him at his absolute best, which was the greatest hitting catcher
of the modern era who made the ball jump off hit bat harder than anyone
had seen around Shea since Strawberry, but even Darryl couldn’t hit
laser-like line drives with power to all fields. And the fans would
see it, like the time the Mets came back from ten runs down against
Atlanta with Piazza finishing the job with a blast down the left field
line, and when he kept the team’s hopes alive after taking Smoltz
deep in the NLDS in 1999. 

Fast-forward five years later
from the day Piazza arrived. It was springtime in New York which every
year signifies a city opening up after the cold and claustrophobic winter
months. However for Piazza, who was the face of an organization who
lacked one for so long, was on a roller coaster ride that very few athletes
ever stood in line for. One that produced the elation of a World Series
run a year and a half prior, one that saw the baseball world focus on
New York as the Mets and Yankees battled for the pride of the city.
Unfortunately, for Piazza the focus would be drawn upon he and Roger
Clemens after the Yankee ace had a momentary lapse of reason, hurling
the jagged edge of a broken bat at the Mets catcher, who looked on in
disbelief. Piazza walked towards Clemens who refused to look back in
a man’s eyes after pulling such a gutless act, but Piazza knew he’s
team’s chances rode on him not losing his trademark cool, when other’s
around him were losing theirs. Somewhere in his mind he knew that the
baseball world was focused on New York and a brawl could have been the
spark to a flammable city ready to explode.  

The Yankees would win the
series but it would soon not matter as that next September the city,
Mets and Yankee fans alike, had to live through a day that changed the
world forever. Piazza, although from Philadelphia who enjoyed the laid
back Californian lifestyle, now considered himself a true New Yorker
having moved right down the street from the World Trade Center, literally
felt the impact of the devastation, and it changed him as a man. He
befriended a young boy, the son of a fireman, who had lost his father
the day of the attacks because for him it was the right thing to do. 

“It wasn't anything contrived,”
Piazza said. “We (the Mets) didn't feel obligated to do these things.
We did a lot of things behind the scenes, with no cameras around. We
just wanted to do something. What were we going to do? Sit around watching
the news and be depressed?” 

It made sense. 

And the highlight of his Mets
career came when the team held the first sporting event in New York
against the visiting Atlanta Braves. It was an emotional night that
needed a dramatic ending for the city to feel alive again. When Piazza’s
2 run shot in the eight inning off of Steve Karsay landed, it was more
than a home run, it was the sign that New Yorkers could be free to laugh
and celebrate again, because it was natural and by the time Piazza reached
home plate there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Even Bobby Cox had
chills and John Rocker was seen hugging weirdoes.  

Piazza had reached the pinnacle.
He was a hero in a city that booed him; he was on top of the world. 

Life was good. 

The unfortunate thing about
New York is that things change in a minute. Soon questions arouse surrounding
Piazza. Fans questioned his arm in throwing out base runners. They questioned
if catching was hurting his chances of an extended career. They questioned
his knees. They questioned his decision to bleach his hair blonde. New
Yorkers are curious people. 

But soon there were other questions
that Piazza never saw coming. Rumors were circulating that there was
a gay baseball player in New York. The fascination culminated in an
interview with Details Magazine, when Mets manager Bobby Valentine said
baseball is “probably ready for an openly gay player.” 

“The players are a diverse
enough group now that I think they could handle it,” he said. “We
are all big boys. We can handle it,” he said.  

So now the story was to uncover
the gay athlete and the New York Post suggested the Mets manger’s
remarks about gays could be a prelude to one of his players saying he
is homosexual. The newspaper said that, “There is a persistent
rumor around town that one Mets star who spends a lot of time with pretty
models in clubs is actually gay and has started to think about declaring
his sexual orientation.”  

For Piazza it didn’t makes
sense.  

For someone who treated the
city with such respect why, all of a sudden is he caught up in the middle
of such gossip? Why couldn’t it be a Yankee? Was it because there
were more Yankee fans to defend Derek Jeter than for Mets fans to defend
their catcher?

The subject grew like wildfire
and as a Met fan, it seemed you had to defend from not only losing to
the Yankees in 2000 and having nearly 30 less pieces of jewelry. You
had to face the thought of having a gay catcher. 

If you cared. 

All of a sudden in a New York
minute Piazza had gone from on top of the world to one where he had
to stand up in front of the press that created this whirlwind and say
one sentence on that day in May 2002. 

“I’m not gay. I’m heterosexual.” 

After that there were moments
like in 2004 when he passed Carlton Fisk for first place on the all-time
list home run list for catchers. But the team stopped winning and the
fans then wanted to see Piazza and his popgun arm move to first base.
As if it was so easy. Piazza struggled in his new role, playing first
base with the footwork of Jerry Springer on “Dancing With the Stars.”
It was obvious it was time to move on and he did to the West Coast to
San Diego, where things are calm and it’s much easier to breath. Easier
to live. 

It made sense. 

He would return to New York on August 8, 2006, during a three-game series, Piazza drew frequent, repeated standing ovations indicative of the high level of regard New York's fans still hold for him. Even more telling was an event on August 9th in which he drew a rare curtain call in an opposing park following a home run off Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez. An overdue thank you from fans who were with him through thick and thin, and didn’t care about the validity of the city’s gossip columns.

He had jumpstarted a struggling organization on the verge of a World Series and helped a city lick its collective wounds following tragedy. Their ovations every time he stepped to the plate made him feel wanted again, as he tried to regain that same fun-loving, laid-back style that he came here with. Now in Oakland in the twilight of his career, you have to wonder how much playing in New York changed Piazza since he sat in the front car of the roller coaster for 8 years. He is assured to go into the Hall with orange and blue, rewarding fans for their love during the great times and respect during the bad times.

The culmination of a very bumpy ride, playing on the world’s biggest stage.

CBS Sportsline is reporting that the A's and former Mets C Mike Piazza are close to completing a deal and it could be announced as early as Wednesday or Thursday.

Rotoworld speculates Piazza will recieve either a 1-year $8 million deal or a 2-year $15 million deal.

Hopefully this means Barry Bonds can sign with San Francisco and stop all these stupid Bonds to Boston rumors Steve Phillips made up.

The Philadelphia Daily News is reporting that the Phillies could bring in formet Met C Mike Piazza to replace C Mike Lieberthal behind the plate.

Knowing Piazza grew up as a Phillies fan, you know he is gonna jump all over this. As much as I don't want to him going to a division rival, I kind of feel good for him because he is playing for his favorite team, which is something I would imagine is a crapload of fun.

Mike Piazza's 8 million dollar option for next year was declined by the Padres, they did however pick up Mike Cameron's 7 million dollar option reports ESPN.

“There absolutely is a chance” Piazza could return to San
Diego, said his agent, Dan Lozano of the Beverly Hills Sports
Council.

“Kevin has indicated to me at some point he is going to want to
talk about bringing him back,” Lozano said. “Mike loved playing
the year in San Diego. He thought the organization was fantastic,
the fans were tremendous and is definitely considering going back.
But at the same time, being a free agent does allow you to see who
else is interested in you. That's something he'll explore also.”

The 38-year-old catcher hit .283 with 22 home runs and 68 RBI
in 126 games after signing with the Padres as a free agent. He made
99 starts and had a $1.25 million salary.

Lozano said Piazza's not necessarily looking to DH in the
American League.

“I believe he proved to the NL that he can still catch 100 to
110 games a year. He does not have a preference, so he feels he's
in a good spot. Mike really wants to win. He's at a point where we
don't know how many more years he has left. He really wants to try
to win a ring.”

Towers said he'd like to have Piazza back, at a lower price.

“He did a great job for us last year. He's a tremendous guy in
the clubhouse, a great leader,” Towers said. “I think he enjoyed
his year here, and I think the feeling is mutual. He proved that
he's still got a lot left. He caught more ballgames than people
expected. Certainly there will be interest out there for him.”

Piazza's 22 home runs set a single-season record for a San Diego
catcher. On April 26, he became the 41st player in big league
history to reach the 400-homer plateau. He has 419 homers and is
the career leader with 396 home runs as a catcher.

Mike Piazza remembers the outpouring of support and love from the New York Mets in the aftermath of those life altering days after 9/11. On MLB.com, they share how Mike made a connection with a boy who lost his father on that fateful day.

A writer friend of Piazza's put him in touch with the young son of a
North Jersey fireman who had perished in one of the towers. Piazza and
the boy spent a day hanging out together. They made a connection.
Piazza checks up on the boy, now a teenager, and is heartened to hear
he's doing well.

“It wasn't anything contrived,” Piazza said. “We didn't feel obligated
to do these things. We did a lot of things behind the scenes, with no
cameras around. We just wanted to do something. What were we going to
do? Sit around watching the news and be depressed?”

Mike shares how the Mets led the charge around baseball to try and do their best to help those effected by the horrible tragedy, and mend a city with a broken heart.

The Mets took the lead, and Piazza was their leader.

“They were always active in the community,” he said. “There were a lot
of firefighters and policemen who took us to hospitals to talk to
people, and to Ground Zero to talk to workers there. We had a mass at
the stadium, and they'd have a roll call of the guys from that precinct
who'd passed on. It was touching to experience all of that.

“The Mets would let any firefighter or policeman on the field during
batting practice. They'd come down on the field and we'd talk. The club
gave away tons of tickets.

“The owners of the club, Mr. [Fred] Wilpon and Mr. [Nelson] Doubleday,
spoke to us in a team meeting. Both men were very connected to the
city, and they were emotional. We were just trying to figure out
logistically what we should do. It was a team effort. I can't take any
more credit than anybody else.”

Mike recalls “The Home Run”, that sent shivers down the spines of anyone who witnessed it, and gave the city a much needed distraction from the events of the past week.

Except, of course, for The Home Run. There has been none quite like it in the history of the baseball-mad city.

It was the first baseball game played in New York after 9/11. Shea
Stadium. The mournful bagpipes at the outset. For once, more tears than
cheers. Raw emotion everywhere, in every face.

“We were all drained,” Piazza said. “We were all stretched from
everything that had gone on. To come back and play baseball, we were
all kind of perplexed. Where does this fit in? I mean, what are we
doing here?

“It was surreal, really, the whole night.”

On MLB.com, Chris Girandola reports that Guillermo Mota has been assigned Mike Piazza's old locker. Hot Foot wonders if Mike will stuff him in it next time he comes to visit.

Mets fans tuned into Mike Piazza return to Shea on SNY in droves. The Padres-Mets game pulled a 5.7 rating (over 420,000 households) and was the highest rated Mets telecast on a regional sports network since the Sept. 21, 2001 Mets-Braves game.

That game, broadcast on FSNY, featured perhaps Piazza's signature Met moment, when he homered off Steve Karsay to lift the Mets over the Braves in the first game played in the city after 9/11.

Mike Piazza went from returning folk hero to annoying visitor in a hurry, stealing a line from Gary Cohen on tonights SNY broadcast. After hitting his second homer of the night, Piazza stepped to bat in the eight inning but this time with the Mets nursing a 2 run lead and 2 runners on for Mike. The reception he heard this time around was decidedly different, with the Shea faithful returning to their blue and orange loyalties, booing him like he was the drunken uncle who parked his RV in the driveway. Mike nearly had his third dinger of the night but Beltran reeled it in just short of the warning track.

Despite the drama, it was another successful outing for Heilman who has had just one poor one to show for since the departure of the dirty one. Pedro Martinez was outstanding, giving up just three hits, two of them leaving the yard off Piazza's bat. He's been rock solid since his return from the DL, looks like the rest did him well.

Lastings Milledge went from 1st to 3rd on a bunt using some
aggressive baserunning. I think its a just a matter of time before this kid hits a rhythm and really shows people what he can do.

Endy Chavez continues to fill in admirably, using his speed to run down fly balls in left and going 3-3 with an RBI and a walk.

Billy Wagner continues to walk the line, promptly giving up a dinger to Barfield but settling down to earn his 26th save of the year.