Yankees to get Piazza

[Schnit Dick]

http://www.yesnetwork.com/yankees/pinstripedblog.asp


ALL THE WORLD IS BIRTHDAY CAKE, SO TAKE A PIECE ... BUT NOT TOO MUCH
As Mark Hale reported in today's New York Post, Mike Piazza is still looking for a job. It's not too late for the Yankees to rethink their plan to use Bernie Williams as a frequent DH and Kelly Stinnett as the reserve catcher, and grab the future Hall of Famer as a 350 at-bat a year player for both positions. While Piazza isn't the hitter he used to be, he should still be capable of batting .280/.370/.450, especially in part-time play. For the first time ever, the Yankees would be protected from the hole in the lineup created when Jorge Posada takes a day off, and it's worth noting that while Posada has been a uniquely durable catcher, he's 34 and he's not going to stay off the DL forever. If that day comes, be it for 20 days or two months, would the Yankees be more competitive if the starter is Stinnett or Piazza? If Stinnett, the reserve is going to be some kid in a catcher costume, which means the falloff is going to be that much greater.


I dont know what I think about this :icon_conf

[TreeFortRichard]

As a redsox fan i am not surprised...The yankees are like the best rides at the amusement park...You have to be old enough to get on...They grab up all the old players because they can afford to make a mistake and cut their losses....The small markets can't do that. I think that is where the real fiscal problem is in baseball...it is not in signing new talent to huge sums of money, it is in being able to risk signing a lot of older players for more than they are really worth...

[OandA_Chris]

as a mets fan i hope that is just buzz.

[jerseyrob]

For the first time ever, the Yankees would be protected from the hole in the lineup created when Jorge Posada takes a day offBut what about the hole in the lineup created when Jorge Posada is playing? Ol' creaky legs is way past his prime.

[timmy tonsils]

Good luck with piazza. He wont throw shit out and he wont hit for shit either. Dont know how hes filling a hole, with out his boyfriend being in the room.

[Schnit Dick]

As a redsox fan i am not surprised...The yankees are like the best rides at the amusement park...You have to be old enough to get on...They grab up all the old players because they can afford to make a mistake and cut their losses....

You are right my bad...i forgot the red sox were a small market team

[Stormrider666]

If they do get Piazza, this is just to sell tickets plain and simple. The Yankees do not need him. What happen to all that talk that Cashman was making about getting younger, more atheletic and decrease payroll?

[BeltOfScotch]

This move makes zero sense. First off, Bernie already signed so they'd have to find a roster spot for him and Piazza, and management is not dumb enough to even entertain dumping Bernie Williams to make room for Mike Piazza, the fans wouldn't have it.

Second, Stinnett isn't just a backup catcher, he was Randy Johnson's personal catcher in Arizona. If I remember correctly, Johnson did pretty well there so it was actually a very shrewd move to pick up Stinnett to catch when Johnson pitches and play back up.

Finally, you know, the Yankees haven't done so bad the last couple of years with John Flaherty as a back up catcher, and he's far from an offensive powerhouse. This has to be just bullshit one guy is making up, signing Piazza does not work on any level.

[askewcore]

This has to be just bullshit one guy is making up, signing Piazza does not work on any level.


I agree. The NY media makes up new stories everyday. I dont buy this for a second.


You are right my bad...i forgot the red sox were a small market team

Hahaha. FACE!

[Budyzir]

I was kinda expecting this. He's not the hitter he used to be but if he's not catching everyday and stays healthy he would be a good DH. And, knowing the Yankees, they would sign him for his name. As Stormrider said, tis just to sell tixs.

[OandA_Chris]

it will never happen.

[Lambo]

if this is true, lil' jimmy is gonna freak!

[fandango86]

No team in the northeast in the NFL Playoffs = start making up wacky baseball rumors. Wocka Wocka!

And no, Pittsburgh is not a northeast team, so before you start....shhh!

[Fred Told Me]

Thanks for scaring me with that headline. Post Yankees to get Piazza, when it's official, or it's going to happen. Not when you hear some wacky Newspaper story. There was also a story in the paper a couple of months ago that Jeter or A-Rod was going to the Outfield.

[CM Mark]

I wish I had had a camera, but on some tollbooths in PA I think it was I saw signs for Mike PIazza's Used Car Super Store. So I guess he has that going for him and he doesn't need to sign with the Yankmees.

[Mother Shucker]

No team in the northeast in the NFL Playoffs = start making up wacky baseball rumors. Wocka Wocka!

And no, Pittsburgh is not a northeast team, so before you start....shhh!
Yeah, you can say that two or three football weeks every ten years. Yeah you.

[HockeyHelmet]

I dont see it happening unless he wants to be a bench player

[TheBattleVirus]

If they do get Piazza, this is just to sell tickets plain and simple.

This is just speculation. It's one guy making it up, saying, "What the Yankees could do is..." He never writes that league sources confirm or that word around the Yankees organization is that this is going to happen. It's just bullshit. And I'd find it pretty hard to believe that signing Piazza would sell tickets for them, especially with the huge names they have already, like Sheffield, Jeter, A-Rod, RJ, Giambi, etc.

[Schnit Dick]

http://www.yesnetwork.com/yankees/pinstripedbible.asp


TUESDAY, January 17, 2006
IN WHICH MOLINA REMAINS A PLEASANTLY UNLIKELY HYPOTHETICAL
Several readers have written in to suggest — and some columnists have opined — that the Yankees ought to sign Bengie Molina as a way of staving off the vesting of Jorge Posada's 2007 option, something that happens if he catches 81 games this year. Molina would do a lot of the catching, bumping Posada into an amorphous DH/part-time catcher role. The reasoning seems to be: (a) Posada is declining and the Yankees should avoid having him for another year; (b) Molina is available, and, since few teams seem interested in him, presumably inexpensive, or relatively so; (c) Molina is pretty good, so when Posada goes, there won't be any fall-off.

Evaluating Posada is quite important for the Yankees. No one in the minor league system resembles a major league catcher. No one in the minor league system resembles an overweight Bronx pretzel vendor doing an impression of a major league catcher. As the free agent class of 2006-2007 now stands, the Yankees won't be able to buy themselves a new catcher of remotely the same quality as Posada; the only backstop with even a glimmer of star potential who will assuredly be available is Javy Lopez. He will be 36 and is already being fitted for DH duty this year.

Putting aside an unlikely scenario such as the Yankees acquiring Brian McCann for Carl Pavano and a loofah rub to be named later, if the 2007 Bombers wish to enjoy the same kind of above-average production at catcher they've had since Posada finally pried the job out of Joe Girardi's cold, dead, hands, they're going to have to hope that Jorge can hold it together for another couple of years.

Molina is not a solution. Molina has hit a translated .275/.316/.407 in his career, below average numbers even by the low standards of catchers. Last year he outdid himself, hitting a translated .307/.358/.478. Now it's time to bet your millions of dollars and World Series rings: Molina had never come close to that level of productivity before. He's 31 years old. Do you believe he's likely to do it again? Don't waste your time cogitating. The answer is that it's extremely unlikely. Molina's career year was driven by an increase in batting average. Such increases are transitory, so pencil him in for something closer to .270 next year. Since Molina isn't a power hitter and doesn't walk, what you're left with is something like Girardi II: Return of the Out Machine. Add in the perception that Molina's defense has slipped in the last couple of seasons and there is very little to be excited about.

Though Posada had one of his weakest years and Molina had his best, Posada was still the better player. The catcher's trademark patience was a bit off for most of the season (before reviving down the stretch), but he still reached base more often than did Molina, and hit for more power (.169 isolated power versus .151 for Molina). Posada's power and patience should stay with him as he ages, which means that even as his batting averages decline he will still be able to post useful on-base and slugging averages. Molina will decline faster, and harder — and you'll start hearing about it as soon as he signs somewhere, no matter where he signs (with the possible exception of Colorado or another offense-inflating ballpark).

There was definitely a difference in Posada last year. As mentioned before, he saw fewer pitches per plate appearance than had been his custom. The fall revival of his bat suggests that this was more of a stylistic problem, an honest slump, than a sign that he had hit the age where catchers suddenly collapse. It seems unlikely that Posada reached that point at 33 or that he will reach it at 34. No doubt giving him a few extra days off this year will help preserve him, though the team can't afford to do it too often with Kelly Stinnett being the only alternative. When Posada's bat is taken out of the lineup, the offense takes a serious hit.

This last factor makes it essential that the Yankees carry Posada through his 2007 option. Though the fans seem not to have fallen for Posada in the same way as they did for other stars of the current run, Posada has been a key player in the successes of the Torre era. Since 1998, Posada has been one of the top two or three most productive backstops in the game. Along with Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams — the younger, productive Williams, that is — the offense that he has provided at a position where most teams would be thrilled to settle for league average has allowed the Yankees to survive poor-to-miserable seasons from corner infielders and outfielders. Rondell White put in a season in left field that would make most shortstops sick, but the Yankees won 103 games anyway. You can thank Posada for that. Paul O'Neill spent the last three seasons of his career rehearsing for retirement, but the Yankees won three pennants. That's on Jorge, too. Tino Martinez posted a .749 OPS and Scott Brosius batted .230/.299/.374 in 2000 and the Yankees won the World Series. Posada again. Tony Womack? Jorge Posada.

Let's assume for a moment that Posada resembles Bernie Williams in that Williams had his last good season at age 33 and declined rapidly thereafter. If Posada's 2005 level of productivity is what can be expected from him for the next couple of years, the Yankees are in very good shape. His .262/.352/.430 — .266/.368/.457 translated — is still far better than what is provided by most major league catchers. If he declined to .250/.340/.420, that would still be a decent amount of bang for the position. On the other hand, if Posada is not like Bernie Williams and has a comeback in him, the return could be much, much greater.

Posada has caught 1,088 games through his age-33 year. At that stage of his career, Carlton Fisk had caught 1,082. Fisk had one of his best seasons at 35, then posted three strong years in a row at ages 40-42. He's an outlier of course, and one popular explanation for Fisk's longevity is that he had so many injuries in his early career that his workload became manageable, which can't be said of Posada. Though it took both players 11 years to catch their 1,000 games, Posada has actually been worked harder, even with his endless "apprenticeship" to Girardi. Posada also caught more games in the minors than did Fisk, even with the former's late conversion from second base.

Posada isn't going to last forever, and an important part of maintaining a winning baseball team is making proactive changes. However, the alternatives have to be better than the player you're discarding. That isn't the case for Posada — yet. Nor will it be if the Yankees don't find a young catcher they can bring along quickly. Catchers who can hit like Posada are rare, and the team shouldn't be expected to find another one right away. It may take years. They will surely miss his production until they do.

[FreeTheCricket]

For some reason, I just don't see this happening. Even psycho George can realize when a player is totally washed up. If the Yankees do happen to sign him, then it is official - George Steinbrenner knows NOTHING about baseball.

[TheBattleVirus]

Even psycho George can realize when a player is totally washed up.

Even though he might have had slight mental lapses when he traded for the then 38-year old Kevin Brown, signed then 39-year old Al Leiter, and desperately attempted to acquire the then 42-year old Jamie Moyer, all within the last few years.

[askewcore]

Even though he might have had slight mental lapses when he traded for the then 38-year old Kevin Brown, signed then 39-year old Al Leiter, and desperately attempted to acquire the then 42-year old Jamie Moyer, all within the last few years.

You forgot trading the team for Big Useless.

[tysonpunchinguterus]

OK, both articles aren't even rumors. They are just someone writing about other reporters' opinions. If I write an article saying that I think the Yanks should trade Giambi for Todd Helton, that doesn't mean that it's going to happen. The Yanks have their catchers and are not going to sign another one just to have 3--especially Piazza, who can't even catch anymore.

[LilJimmyRbinson]

As a redsox fan i am not surprised...The yankees are like the best rides at the amusement park...You have to be old enough to get on...They grab up all the old players because they can afford to make a mistake and cut their losses....The small markets can't do that. I think that is where the real fiscal problem is in baseball...it is not in signing new talent to huge sums of money, it is in being able to risk signing a lot of older players for more than they are really worth...

Cry me a $150 million dollar river.

[Perch1019]

When I read the header for this thread I said "Please tell me this is a joke". Thats all it better be or im gonna go into this season very negative.

[timmy tonsils]

From mlb.com
Fourteen-year Major League veteran Mike Piazza is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Padres on Monday. Piazza, coming off seven-plus seasons with the Mets and six-plus with the Dodgers, plans to be the Padres' full-time catcher in 2006.
Good fucking ridens.

[Fred Told Me]

From mlb.com
Fourteen-year Major League veteran Mike Piazza is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Padres on Monday. Piazza, coming off seven-plus seasons with the Mets and six-plus with the Dodgers, plans to be the Padres' full-time catcher in 2006.
Good fucking ridens.

Good fuckin ridens? That's a nice message for the best hitter the franchise has ever had. It was definently time for him to move on, but show a little respect for the guy. You are a Met fan aren't you?

[FreeTheCricket]

Yankees to get Piazza

Or not. :action-sm

[Action Blackson]

"Yankees to get 6-years past his prime Mike Piazza!"

Sucks for the Yankees...

[askewcore]

"Yankees to get 6-years past his prime Mike Piazza!"

Sucks for the Yankees...


see...that would have almost maybe come close to being funny like 3 weeks ago. but since piazza signed with the padres today, now you just look plain silly.

[Action Blackson]

I see the Padres got him. San Diego... where baseball careers go to die.

[KneeKnee]

Good fucking ridens.

Jesus dude, how about a "Thanks a lot, Mike; Good luck!!!"?

[ORGAZMOE]

San Diego... where baseball careers go to die.
I thought that was Shea Stadium. Where is Mo Vaughn these days?

[The O&A Van]

Jesus dude, how about a "Thanks a lot, Mike; Good luck!!!"?
Good fuckin ridens? That's a nice message for the best hitter the franchise has ever had. It was definently time for him to move on, but show a little respect for the guy. You are a Met fan aren't you?

It's a business, Piazza isn't what the Mets need/want anymore. What should they do, pay an aging backup catcher millions of dollars because he used to be good???

They gave him a nice video package at the end of the season, what more do you want? You sound like chicks.

(And I am one of the biggest Mets fanatics here)

[KneeKnee]

It's a business, Piazza isn't what the Mets need/want anymore. What should they do, pay an aging backup catcher millions of dollars because he used to be good???

They gave him a nice video package at the end of the season, what more do you want? You sound like chicks.

(And I am one of the biggest Mets fanatics here)


I do not want Mike on the Mets anymore. I do, however, appreciate all he has done for the team and am happy he played for us. Saying "good riddance" is a lot different than saying "Thanks a lot Mike, you did well".

When Mike comes back to Shea I will cheer for him wholeheartly and not boo him. Unlike Benitez whom I scream my lungs raw at so he can hear how much I hate his guts.

See the difference?

[Schnit Dick]

I thought that was Shea Stadium. Where is Mo Vaughn these days?

Uhhhhhh since when was Mo Vaughn good when he came to the Mets??? He had already stunk for years at that point. Shea is where old hasbeens come to try and think they are good again would be a point to bring up Mo Vaughn, not careers dying.

[frankjg]

I do not want Mike on the Mets anymore. I do, however, appreciate all he has done for the team and am happy he played for us. Saying "good riddance" is a lot different than saying "Thanks a lot Mike, you did well".

When Mike comes back to Shea I will cheer for him wholeheartly and not boo him. Unlike Benitez whom I scream my lungs raw at so he can hear how much I hate his guts.

See the difference?

Why did you have to say that fucking monkeys name.. Now I have world series rage all over again. FUCKING ANIMAL!!!!

[HockeyHelmet]

"Yankees to get 6-years past his prime Mike Piazza!"

Sucks for the Yankees...

I see the Padres got him. San Diego... where baseball careers go to die.

At least no one can say your not trying

[The O&A Van]

I do not want Mike on the Mets anymore. I do, however, appreciate all he has done for the team and am happy he played for us. Saying "good riddance" is a lot different than saying "Thanks a lot Mike, you did well".

When Mike comes back to Shea I will cheer for him wholeheartly and not boo him. Unlike Benitez whom I scream my lungs raw at so he can hear how much I hate his guts.

See the difference?

The Mets gave him a farewell day, how many Mets in the past have gotten one? And how exactly have they said "good riddance"? Nobody (including Piazza) thought the Mets were going to sign him again.

And do you really think they didn't say thanks behind closed doors? Come on.


PS - I would never boo Mike Piazza, I don't care if he's playing in Atlanta.

[The O&A Van]

Why did you have to say that fucking monkeys name.. Now I have world series rage all over again. FUCKING ANIMAL!!!!

Then this will make you smile:

Todd Zeile and Timo Perez's baserunning
The Umpire who didn't eject Clemens
Mike Hampton

(Games 1 and 2 should have been the Mets...plus the Game 3 victory...up 3-0 playing at Shea for Games 4 and 5)

Yeah, I was the only Mets fan in my High School in North Jersey in 2000. I hate those 4 men.

[FreeTheCricket]

Jesus dude, how about a "Thanks a lot, Mike; Good luck!!!"?

Thanks for what, exactly? Losing the World Series in 2000? Tying up HUGE amounts of money that could have gone to better players? Steadily declining in production from 2001 on? Pretty much allowing every single baserunner to steal safely? Missing the playoffs for 5 straight years? 3 straight years of sub-.500 baseball?

Really... the Mets are MUCH better without him and his stifling contract, and they could have avoided some of that misery if they would have dumped his ass long ago.

[askewcore]

Thanks for what, exactly?

Someone had to say it.

But, apparently if you read the post above you the Mets would have swept that world series but they got screwed...

[HockeyHelmet]

Then this will make you smile:

Todd Zeile and Timo Perez's baserunning
The Umpire who didn't eject Clemens
Mike Hampton

(Games 1 and 2 should have been the Mets...plus the Game 3 victory...up 3-0 playing at Shea for Games 4 and 5)

Yeah, I was the only Mets fan in my High School in North Jersey in 2000. I hate those 4 men.


But you where not and I got to leave the andrew dice clay show at MSG to watch the yankees win the world series on a televeision at the ESPN ZONE.

[ORGAZMOE]

Uhhhhhh since when was Mo Vaughn good when he came to the Mets??? He had already stunk for years at that point. Shea is where old hasbeens come to try and think they are good again would be a point to bring up Mo Vaughn, not careers dying.Uhhhhh players going to a place near or at the end of their careers means "a place where careers go to die" to me...

Mo Vaughn, for example, came to the Mets at the decline of his career, thus his career DIED at Shea Stadium.