Mike Piazza Going To The Yankees? (!!)

[Baseball Guru]

He was just a DH who spent his time on the field stinking it up at the catching position. IMO<<<<<<<<

Thats a bit harsh... He was poor at one thing, throwing runners out... There's more to catching than that... He called great games (most every pitcher that has thrown to him says that) and he does a great job at blocking the plate (fielding %. etc)

Surely some team can use a bat like Piazza at the very least as a DH...
Seattle is using Jose Vidro.. Are you kidding?

[Old Sweater]

Thats a bit harsh... He was poor at one thing, throwing runners out... There's more to catching than that... He called great games (most every pitcher that has thrown to him says that) and he does a great job at blocking the plate (fielding %. etc)

Surely some team can use a bat like Piazza at the very least as a DH...
Seattle is using Jose Vidro.. Are you kidding?

May be a bit harsh but the Dodger pitchers sure didn't miss him when he left the team. Said they could throw one in the dirt again. Another weak part of Piazza behind the plate. As far as calling a good game I'd have to see Piazza's catchers ERA stats compared to the teams backup catchers. Hats off to Piazza for blocking the plate though.

[Old Sweater]

Guess Piazza did call a pretty good game according to catchers ERA compared to the small sample size of the backup catchers.

PRESENTING THE "IFFY" CERA DATA

The following two tables list the TOP 25 CATCHERS in Best CERA for a Season and Cumulatively (data for the years 1990-2003 only). The list has been sorted by d-CERA which is the difference between an individual catcher's CERA and the other catcher's ERA (O-ERA). The O-ERA is computed as the Team ERA (T-ERA) components (INN and ER) minus the catcher's CERA components.

Table 2 - Season CERA Leaders (100 Games Caught Minimum)


NickName LastName Year Team GC INN C-ER CERA T-ER T-INN T-ERA O-ER O-INN O-ERA d ERA
MIKE PIAZZA 1994 LAN 104 860.7 376 3.932 477 1014.0 4.234 101 153.3 5.928 -1.996
PAUL LODUCA 2003 LAN 123 1080.0 327 2.725 511 1457.7 3.155 184 377.7 4.385 -1.660
JASON KENDALL 2003 PIT 146 1278.3 635 4.471 744 1444.3 4.636 109 166.0 5.910 -1.439
BENITO SANTIAGO 2001 SFN 130 1080.0 461 3.842 680 1463.3 4.182 219 383.3 5.142 -1.300
A.J. PIERZYNSKI 2003 MIN 135 1165.7 537 4.146 716 1461.7 4.409 179 296.0 5.443 -1.296
BRAD AUSMUS 2001 HOU 127 1056.7 472 4.020 707 1454.7 4.374 235 398.0 5.314 -1.294
CHARLES JOHNSON 1996 FLO 120 998.0 395 3.562 633 1443.0 3.948 238 445.0 4.813 -1.251
JOE GIRARDI 1997 NYA 111 979.3 374 3.437 626 1467.0 3.840 252 487.7 4.651 -1.214
CHRIS HOILES 1995 BAL 107 871.7 381 3.934 607 1267.0 4.312 226 395.3 5.145 -1.211
JOE GIRARDI 1995 COL 122 1044.3 550 4.740 711 1288.0 4.968 161 243.7 5.947 -1.207
MIKE PIAZZA 1996 LAN 146 1255.7 462 3.311 567 1466.0 3.481 105 210.3 4.493 -1.181
BRENT MAYNE 2003 KCA 112 948.0 494 4.690 809 1438.7 5.061 315 490.7 5.778 -1.088
JORGE POSADA 2001 NYA 131 1111.7 466 3.773 649 1451.3 4.025 183 339.7 4.849 -1.076
JASON VARITEK 2000 BOS 128 1076.0 473 3.956 683 1452.3 4.232 210 376.3 5.022 -1.066
DAVE NILSSON 1999 ML4 101 762.0 387 4.571 812 1442.3 5.067 425 680.3 5.622 -1.051
DARRIN FLETCHER 1998 TOR 121 971.3 425 3.938 698 1465.0 4.288 273 493.7 4.977 -1.039
DAMIAN MILLER 2001 ARI 121 978.0 384 3.534 627 1459.7 3.866 243 481.7 4.540 -1.007
JOE OLIVER 1997 CIN 106 837.0 372 4.000 712 1449.0 4.422 340 612.0 5.000 -1.000
MIKE PIAZZA 2000 NYN 124 1026.3 441 3.867 670 1450.0 4.159 229 423.7 4.865 -0.997
BRAD AUSMUS 2003 HOU 143 1158.0 471 3.661 622 1450.0 3.861 151 292.0 4.654 -0.993
BRIAN HARPER 1993 MIN 134 1124.7 562 4.497 756 1444.0 4.712 194 319.3 5.468 -0.970
A.J. HINCH 1998 OAK 118 940.3 471 4.508 770 1434.0 4.833 299 493.7 5.451 -0.943
HENRY BLANCO 2001 ML4 102 837.3 395 4.246 740 1436.3 4.637 345 599.0 5.184 -0.938
TODD HUNDLEY 1992 NYN 121 892.3 328 3.308 588 1446.0 3.660 260 553.7 4.226 -0.918
BENITO SANTIAGO 1996 PHI 114 982.0 459 4.207 710 1423.0 4.491 251 441.0 5.122 -0.916




Table 3 - Cumulative 1990-2003 CERA Leaders (500 Games Caught Minimum)

NickName LastName GC C-INN C-ER CERA T-ER T-INN T-ERA O-ER O-INN O-ERA d ERA
DAMIAN MILLER 584 4715.3 2020 3.856 4727 10139.0 4.196 2707 5423.7 4.492 -0.636
RAMON HERNANDEZ 591 4808.0 2047 3.832 3237 7230.0 4.029 1190 2422.0 4.422 -0.590
MIKE PIAZZA 1379 11636.6 4911 3.798 8680 19706.3 3.964 3769 8069.7 4.204 -0.405
JASON VARITEK 657 5311.7 2353 3.987 3989 8683.3 4.134 1636 3371.7 4.367 -0.380
BENITO SANTIAGO 1338 11047.0 4862 3.961 8314 18211.3 4.109 3452 7164.4 4.336 -0.375
BRAD AUSMUS 1296 10743.3 5000 4.189 8081 16830.0 4.321 3081 6086.7 4.556 -0.367
IVAN RODRIGUEZ 1564 13075.7 6858 4.720 9725 18182.3 4.814 2867 5106.7 5.053 -0.332
TONY PENA 633 4858.7 2096 3.883 4918 10991.0 4.027 2822 6132.3 4.142 -0.259
LENNY WEBSTER 512 3496.3 1564 4.026 7163 15301.0 4.213 5599 11804.7 4.269 -0.243
JOE OLIVER 868 6912.7 3225 4.199 8720 18182.0 4.316 5495 11269.3 4.388 -0.190
KIRT MANWARING 858 6825.7 3386 4.465 7014 13858.7 4.555 3628 7033.0 4.643 -0.178
SCOTT SERVAIS 792 6210.3 2869 4.158 8582 18149.7 4.256 5713 11939.3 4.307 -0.149
MIKE MATHENY 985 7561.7 3731 4.441 6922 13864.3 4.493 3191 6302.7 4.557 -0.116
RICK WILKINS 649 5039.0 2358 4.212 9333 19556.0 4.295 6975 14517.0 4.324 -0.113
RON KARKOVICE 666 5100.3 2354 4.154 4460 9571.3 4.194 2106 4471.0 4.239 -0.085
TOM PAGNOZZI 673 5676.0 2516 3.989 4938 11028.3 4.030 2422 5352.3 4.073 -0.083
CHRIS HOILES 809 6706.7 3249 4.360 5362 10987.0 4.392 2113 4280.3 4.443 -0.083
TERRY STEINBACH 999 8276.0 4359 4.740 6558 12379.3 4.768 2199 4103.3 4.823 -0.083
JORGE POSADA 820 6830.6 3115 4.104 5328 11592.0 4.137 2213 4761.4 4.183 -0.079
CHARLES JOHNSON 1050 8839.0 4406 4.486 8401 16718.7 4.522 3995 7879.7 4.563 -0.077
BILL HASELMAN 521 3768.7 2055 4.908 8405 15242.0 4.963 6350 11473.3 4.981 -0.074
TONY EUSEBIO 522 4031.3 1832 4.090 5759 12529.3 4.137 3927 8498.0 4.159 -0.069
BRENT MAYNE 1061 8326.6 4255 4.599 10133 19674.7 4.635 5878 11348.0 4.662 -0.063
MIKE MACFARLANE 811 6455.3 3162 4.408 6846 13882.0 4.438 3684 7426.7 4.464 -0.056
KELLY STINNETT 536 4208.3 2042 4.367 7499 15317.0 4.406 5457 11108.7 4.421 -0.054


http://members.tripod.com/bb_catcher...hers/cera1.htm

[stejay]

I would like to see this. What if Posada gets injured for a long time? Molina isn't up to anything, and we could need someone like Piazza to keep the season a good one if that happens.

[Old Sweater]

I would like to see this. What if Posada gets injured for a long time? Molina isn't up to anything, and we could need someone like Piazza to keep the season a good one if that happens.

Not me stejay. All Piazza has going for him is his name at this point. He didn't even swing that good of a bat last year for the A's and never was a good catcher. If he was behind the plate every walk would turn into a double if the guy has any speed at all.



Mike Piazza

PB 102/WP356/1629 GAMES=.28 a game

Jose Molina

PB 24/WP 132/397 GAMES=.39 a game

Mike Piazza

SB 1400/CS 423=23% THROW OUT AVERAGE

Jose Molina
SB 158/CS 108/=40% THROW OUT AVERAGE

Mike Piazza 2007 age 39

.275/.313/.414

Jose Molina 2007 age 33

.257/.274/.340

Piazza just don't have enough bat left to cover that throw out percentage(which would be worse then 23% now) for a every day catcher plus at 39 he isn't young enough to catch every day.

[Baseball Guru]

He didn't even swing that good of a bat last year for the A's and never was a good catcher.

In all fairness, Mike was injured for about half the season last year, which led to his lack of production at the plate.. Molina's excuse for lack of production is that he just isnt good enough to be the #1 catcher ever in his career....

[NYMets523]

Piazza has mentioned his unwillingness to play 1B. I remember when Steve Phillips was the Mets GM, Piazza made a big stink in the press about his not being given advance notice about the team's intention to have him play 1B. If his arm wasn't that strong and guys were running the bases on him, why wouldn't he consider a switch? That seemed as if he was more concerned with getting the catcher's offensive titles, mostly HR record, than anything else.

First off, Steve Phillips is a complete *******.

Second, he made a stink about moving to 1B because he never played the position his entire career. Yes, Piazza had a weak arm. However, there's more to catching than throwing out runners such as blocking the plate, calling a game, and managing a pitching staff which Piazza did well. If you want to bash him for not changing positions, Jeter deserves the same criticism.

I personally believe Piazza should hang up the spikes. However, he could be a contributor for a team looking for a right handed bat to DH. I think the idea of the Reds signing him is completely stupid though and probably just a pipe dream of Baker's to add more veterans to a franchise that needs to rebuild.

[howiek]

I think Piazza should just hang it up. Why do former stars like him try to extend there carerrs. Go out on top already. I loved Mike as a Met. I can't imagine him as a Yankee. He can't throw and runners will take atvantage of him. The yanks don't need anymore DH's. I think they have 5 already.

[NYMets523]

He can't throw and runners will take atvantage of him.

The Yankees already have that problem with Posada's dead arm.

[Old Sweater]

In all fairness, Mike was injured for about half the season last year, which led to his lack of production at the plate.. Molina's excuse for lack of production is that he just isnt good enough to be the #1 catcher ever in his career....

He compiled those stats last year before and after the long stint on the DL. In all fairness I think it's his age. Molina can at least throw out a runner who isn't using a walker.

[Baseball Guru]

Molina can at least throw out a runner who isn't using a walker.

Too bad he can't hit or get on base

[NYMets523]

That is all Molina can do and he doesn't even do a great job of it. There's a reason why he's been a back-up most of his career.

[Old Sweater]

Too bad he can't hit or get on base

He gets on base about 64% more then Piazza throws out runners for his career. Molina is a backup catcher and Piazza never was a catcher who could do his job behind the plate very well.

[Baseball Guru]

Molina is a backup catcher and Piazza never was a catcher who could do his job behind the plate very well.

The one thing he couldn't do well is throw out runners.. Seeing how he is the greatest hitting catcher of all-time, I think he more than made up for his deficiencies of throwing runners out...

[Old Sweater]

The one thing he couldn't do well is throw out runners.. Seeing how he is the greatest hitting catcher of all-time, I think he more than made up for his deficiencies of throwing runners out...

He didn't have the good hands for the pitch in the dirt either. Like I said before, the Dodger pitchers weren't crying when they loss him when he was a young man. Posada can hit but the Yankees sure don't have him behind the plate with his Piazza like arm right now.