Mike Piazza Appreciation Thread

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>He just belted a home run to pass Carlton Fisk become the greatest hitting catcher in history.

Appreciate him here.

I would like to start by stating that Mike Piazza is the man.</font> :y:

[Dragon]

Doesn't he play first base now. I remember back in the day he was the man but then he injured his shoulder or something and I haven't really followed what hes done since then.

[Evil Vito]

Doesn't he play first base now. I remember back in the day he was the man but then he injured his shoulder or something and I haven't really followed what hes done since then.

<font color=goldenrod>He plays first base sometimes, but he still plays catcher most of the time. He's looking to permenantly move to first base, it's a work in progress. He and Jason Phillips swap positions every 2 or 3 games.</font>

[John la Rock]

Piazza is a great hitter but shit defensevily. He should move to the AL and become a DH

[VonErich Lives]

<font color=goldenrod>He just belted a home run to pass Carlton Fisk become the greatest hitting catcher in history.

</font>

Sorry, takes more then Home Runs to be the greatest hitting catcher.

Nothing against him, good offensive numbers, but I wouldn't put him #1 (even if you forget about defense).

[BCWWF]

I love playing baseball video games, because no matter who you are, Piazza can never throw you out on a tag. For that, I appreciate Mike.

[DaveWadding]

Joe Mauer is better.

[VonErich Lives]

Joe Mauer is better.

Josh Gibson, Mickey Cochrane, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Johnny Bench.. those can all be argued...

Joe Mauer? a guy who has played in 2 MLB games? you were kidding right?

[Loose Cannon]

^^Good to see another baseball history buff on the boadrs. IMO, Gibson, if his numbers are what everyone says they were, was the greatest catcher of all-time. I mean if he hit 900 homers, that's just incredible and I don't care what league it was in.

[BCWWF]

Don't mind him VEL, Dave hasn't yet gotton over a really funny joke from last year. However, if Dave was trying to mock me by saying Joe Mauer is better, in the context that I was talking, I would say Mauer is better. Piazza is probably the worst defensive catcher out there right now.

[PureHatred]

Piazza is a great hitter. He was my favorite Dodger. Great hitter and he was clutch. He'd go on a tear in August and September while the rest of the line-up couldn't hit of they were handed tennis rackets.

Great player. Future HOF'er. And I haven't seen a game live since he left.

[DaveWadding]

Joe Mauer? a guy who has played in 2 MLB games? you were kidding right?

Yes, yes I was :yes:

[BCWWF]

Just you wait :shifty:

[mitch_h]

Okay... well, while were on the topic of catchers I would just like to announce my love for Jason Varitek.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Piazza strikes again:

Pitcher's duel, bottom of the 11th, he blasted one out of the park to win the 4th game in a row for the Mets and sweeping the series against the Giants.</font> :cool:

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Totally unrelated but my cousin got drafted by the NY Mets :cool:

[VonErich Lives]

Okay... well, while were on the topic of catchers I would just like to announce my love for Jason Varitek.

One of the best defensive catchers in the league and great at calling games, but has never seemed to worked hard on his hitting... he's kinda the anti-piazza.

[mitch_h]

He hit 25 bombs, the only AL catcher I can think of who hit more is Jorge Posada

[VonErich Lives]

He hit 25 bombs, the only AL catcher I can think of who hit more is Jorge Posada

and Rob Deer hit over 30...

Also, he hit 25 once (Last year), he hit 20 in 1999 and in between the most was 10, he has a career avg of .267

Great defense, good at calling games, needs to work on hitting, or figure out what he did last year and keep doing it.

I think his stats last year are also a product of the lineup he's in, he's one of the few they feel they don't need to pitch around.

[BCWWF]

I read somewhere that Veritek and Manny Ramirez are the two hardest working guys on the Red Sox.

[VonErich Lives]

I read somewhere that Veritek and Manny Ramirez are the two hardest working guys on the Red Sox.

Probably true, I'm sure there are a few others up there.. Schiliing, Nomar are two that come to mind.

I have doubts he'll be back, his agent is a di</>ck and the truth is a catcher has a short life, as they get older they go downhill fast, the body simply can't take the stress for that long, and if he doesn't improve his hitting he wont make a good DH/1B.

I like'em, good player, great work ethic etc... Just not sure he'll be back... or how much is too much...

[Yashamaga]

He hit 25 bombs, the only AL catcher I can think of who hit more is Jorge Posada

And that doesn't count, because he was cheating by pissing on his hands

[DaveBrawl]

I appreciate Mike even though he is a Met as a Braves fan. I mean I even liked him as a Dodger and I was a Rockies fan.

[Boomer]

I dunno...making him a first baseman isn't the greatest idea ever. And I'm a braves fan as well, so I can't terribly like him. But he's accomplished and (I believe) a probable first ballot hall-of-famer