Baseball Guru
03-03-2004, 09:54 AM
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-mets-piazza&prov=ap&type=lgns
March 2, 2004
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -- Mike Piazza passed his first test. Scott Erickson failed his.
During a Mets intrasquad game at Tradition Field,
Piazza played first base for the first time this spring during a Mets' intrasquad game at Tradition Field. He caught a line drive that he turned into a double play, was on the back end of another double play where he handled a less-than-perfect throw and was charged with an error when Erickson failed to cover first base.
``It's good right away to get a ball hit at you,'' Piazza said. ``It's kind of like the old cliche that if you have one guy out of place, the ball's going to find him.''
Erickson's coverage mistake wasn't his only one. The right-hander who is trying to win the No. 5 spot in the Mets' rotation gave up seven runs in less than an inning. He also issued two walks and gave up a three-run homer to Raul Gonzalez on his final pitch.
Erickson was supposed to pitch two innings during the contest, his outing ended when he reached his predetermined pitch count. Earlier this week, Erickson had two live batting practice sessions and liked the second one. The first one he called ``shaky.''
``I would have like to have done a little better,'' Erickson said Tuesday. ``I'll give this one a shaky too. Just not enough strikes, plain and simple.''
Mets manager Art Howe said Erickson will get several more chances to prove himself.
``He just didn't have his command at all today,'' Howe said. ``He walked a couple of guys in the inning which tells you he wasn't sharp.''
Howe said that he was pleased with the play of outfielders Karim Garcia and Timo Perez, and first baseman Craig Brazell. Gonzalez was 2-for-2, including the home run, with three RBIs. Brazell had a hit, drove in a run and also scored one for the winning team. Perez was 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Center fielder Mike Cameron displayed midseason form when he ran down a ball hit by Victor Diaz. Cameron backhanded the line drive that was headed to the top of the wall and may have robbed him of a home run.
``I think (Mike) Cameron showed you what he can do in center field,'' Howe said. ``You know that I like what we have out there. He's just gifted.''
However, not everything went according to plan for the manager.
``There were a few things we didn't do today, defensively and offensively,'' Howe said. ``This early in camp you expect that and that's how you start ironing them out.''
March 2, 2004
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -- Mike Piazza passed his first test. Scott Erickson failed his.
During a Mets intrasquad game at Tradition Field,
Piazza played first base for the first time this spring during a Mets' intrasquad game at Tradition Field. He caught a line drive that he turned into a double play, was on the back end of another double play where he handled a less-than-perfect throw and was charged with an error when Erickson failed to cover first base.
``It's good right away to get a ball hit at you,'' Piazza said. ``It's kind of like the old cliche that if you have one guy out of place, the ball's going to find him.''
Erickson's coverage mistake wasn't his only one. The right-hander who is trying to win the No. 5 spot in the Mets' rotation gave up seven runs in less than an inning. He also issued two walks and gave up a three-run homer to Raul Gonzalez on his final pitch.
Erickson was supposed to pitch two innings during the contest, his outing ended when he reached his predetermined pitch count. Earlier this week, Erickson had two live batting practice sessions and liked the second one. The first one he called ``shaky.''
``I would have like to have done a little better,'' Erickson said Tuesday. ``I'll give this one a shaky too. Just not enough strikes, plain and simple.''
Mets manager Art Howe said Erickson will get several more chances to prove himself.
``He just didn't have his command at all today,'' Howe said. ``He walked a couple of guys in the inning which tells you he wasn't sharp.''
Howe said that he was pleased with the play of outfielders Karim Garcia and Timo Perez, and first baseman Craig Brazell. Gonzalez was 2-for-2, including the home run, with three RBIs. Brazell had a hit, drove in a run and also scored one for the winning team. Perez was 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Center fielder Mike Cameron displayed midseason form when he ran down a ball hit by Victor Diaz. Cameron backhanded the line drive that was headed to the top of the wall and may have robbed him of a home run.
``I think (Mike) Cameron showed you what he can do in center field,'' Howe said. ``You know that I like what we have out there. He's just gifted.''
However, not everything went according to plan for the manager.
``There were a few things we didn't do today, defensively and offensively,'' Howe said. ``This early in camp you expect that and that's how you start ironing them out.''