Archive for the ‘Mike Piazza’ Category
Mike Piazza is one of the few people who could return to New York in enemy laundry and be treated like royalty. Every time Mike stepped to bat tonight, the entire stadium was on its feet. His first at bat, the Mets played walk up music, unheard of for a visiting player. The opening riff of Voodoo Child played, which Mike often came out when he called games behind the plate at Shea, and there he stood tipping his hat to those who came to chant his name. Not only that, but he was given loud ovations from the moment he entered the field for pregame warmups. It was a sight to behold, and I personally had chills seeing the face of the franchise for so many years of my Mets fandom receive the ultimate reception.
Oh, at the Mets won 3-2, it what was actually a thrilling ballgame, upstaged by the return of an icon. Steve Trachsel was good enough to win, again. Five relievers combined to shut down the Pods over the final 3 1/3 innings. Paul Lo Duca continues to be the best hitter in the majors, despite his reputation for having poor second halfs. David Wright showing signs of breaking out of his mini slump, going 3-4, stealing a base, and knocking in 2 runs that would be the difference in this game. Carlos Beltran continues to prove his case for NL MVP with a 3-4 night, all three hits for doubles tying a Mets record for doubles in a single game. A Met has hit three doubles in a game 20 times. The previous time was Wright at San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2004.
Lastings Milledge hit into a double play with no outs and the bases loaded to score the first run. Milledge caught a bad break on a fly ball that the wind caught up to and blew over the right field fence. Eli Marrero was designated for assignment after the game to make room for newly acquired Ricky Ledee. Willie Randolph commented on his joining the club.
Mike Cameron slapped a double for his only hit of the night, in his return to Shea. He received a very warm reception as well, a huge favorite in the Mets clubhouse in the past 2 years.
Billy Wagner pitched a scoreless 9th for his 25th save.
Sphere: Related ContentMike & Mike were both dominating figures in the clubhouse, Piazza carried a quiet, cool demeanor, and stood out for how he was the man who returned the franchise to glory. Cameron made his mark with his million dollar smile, his ability to loudly crack jokes with everyone in the clubhouse, and his magnificent glove. Cameron still stays on top of the Mets and stays in touch with one of his favorite people, Cliff Floyd, even though they're not a locker away from each other anymore…
Cliff Floyd and Mike Cameron shared neighboring lockers for two years,
and now they share voice mails and text messages
Last week, Cameron
told a reporter that he still watches virtually every Mets game. Floyd
was unaware of that, but “he's always giving me messages, letting me
know how bad I am.”
David Wright was also a friend of Cameron's and was sad to see him go, hoping to grab lunch or dinner with Cameron while he's in town.
“I think he's a great teammate; I think he's a great leader,” Wright said of Cameron. “He was great to me.”
Added Floyd: “It's just a shame he wasn't here long enough to enjoy what we're going through.”
Sphere: Related ContentSeveral of Mike Piazza's ex-teammates on the Mets were excited about his return to Shea, here are some comments from today's New York Post…
Trachsel will pitch carefully to the greatest Mets hitter of
all-time when he steps to the plate tonight, likely to a raucous
ovation from a thankful fan base.
“It's still Mike Piazza,” Trachsel said. “He's still a power threat. He drives in runs and gets a lot of clutch hits.
“All the things you think of Mike Piazza, he's still capable of doing.”
Former teammates still hold the 37-year-old future Hall of Famer in high esteem.
“He did a lot of beautiful things here,” Jose Reyes said.
“Hopefully he gets a nice ovation when he comes back in,”
manager Willie Randolph said. “He's meant a lot to this organization
and the city. And he's having a nice year.”
Willie had more nice things to say about Mike in The New York Daily News.
“He has a champion's heart and know-how,” Randolph said. “When a guy
has been a great player, he has a way of challenging himself to get as
much out as possible. I never thought he was done.”
David Wright expects a huge ovation for Mike.
“There aren't too many (former) Mets who have come back and been
cheered,” David Wright said. “They should be, especially if they did
great things. Mike is one of those and deservedly so. He's done
tremendous things for this organization and for this city. I think fans
will show their appreciation for what he's done.”
Mike's numbers, .297 with 16 home runs and 49 RBI, are good enough to keep him in the upper echelon of catchers in baseball, but as Tom Glavine points out, Mike will always be compared to himself in his prime, which few players at any position can keep up forever.
“His biggest obstacle is that he is compared to himself,” Glavine said.
“He is compared to Mike Piazza in his prime. He's not that player. None
of us are. Compare any of us to what we were in our prime when we are
past it and we're not the same.
Adam Rubin gets the scoop via Tom Krasovic from the San Diego Union-Tribune for his observations on the ex-Met's season. Check out Rubin's Daily News Blog for the story.
Sphere: Related ContentUncle Mike Goes Yard In First At Bat Of 2006
Posted by Anthony De RosaApril 3, 2006 at 11:40 pm
3 Apr
Good for you Mike, the Hot Foot still loves Uncle Mike. Best of luck in San Diego, as long as you're not playing us.
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