GaryMrMets
12-13-2004, 01:37 AM
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/nym/news/nym_news.jsp?ymd=20041212&content_id=921361&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp
12/12/2004 2:50 AM ET
Notes: Piazza incommunicado
Randolph yet to speak to club's star player
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
ANAHEIM -- Willie Randolph has been the manager of the Mets for more than a month, but he has yet to speak to the club's marquee player.
Though Randolph has reached out to Mike Piazza, the All-Star catcher hasn't gotten back to the rookie skipper. Randolph doesn't see the lack of communication as a problem at this point, though.
"I worked with Derek Jeter for eight or nine years and we played phone tag all the time," Randolph said. "He's probably busy. He could be on some island somewhere sipping piña coladas."
Randolph also said that he hasn't decided where Piazza would play, though the organization had indicated earlier that if the All-Star catcher was with the Mets in 2005, he would be behind the plate.
"I'm just going to let the Piazza thing play out," Randolph said. "I don't have to make a decision now. I'm sure I'll get the chance to speak to him before Spring Training. I've only spoken to half the team."
General manager Omar Minaya said that he would rather Randolph sit down and talk with Piazza before publicly discussing what his role would be in 2005.
"It's better for Mike to know what we're thinking before he reads it in the newspaper," Minaya said.
Piazza's status has been a sensitive issue since the subject of his moving to first base was initially broached. Former manager Art Howe inadvertently let slip during a television interview that he would be using Piazza at first base in May 2003 before telling Piazza himself, and the result was a firestorm.
The Mets may also be reluctant to discuss Piazza's future because there is still a chance he will be traded. New York has shopped Piazza with the understanding that he would only be traded to certain teams.
Kazmatazz: Randolph said that he was eager to begin working with Kaz Matsui, who will be making the transition to second base. He has yet to speak to Matsui, though, and wasn't sure if he would be at next month's minicamp in Port St. Lucie.
"I think Matsui's biggest adjustment will be on the double play with his back to the runner," Randolph said. "If you don't have the nerve of a burglar, it can be tough. You have to be able to trust yourself that you'll get rid of the ball and not get knocked on your butt."
Matsui was somewhat leery of turning the double play last season when he saw the runner coming, so his ability to make the pivot from the right side of the infield could be an issue. But with Randolph, Sandy Alomar, Sr., Manny Acta and Jerry Manuel -- all of whom had plenty of big league infield experience -- making the switch shouldn't be all that traumatic.
"I've always been a working coach," Randolph said. "If I see something I can help with, I will. Alomar is an infield guy, and Acta and Manuel are, too. I just don't want to confuse Kaz with too many voices. I understand he still has an interpreter but that he's more outgoing than Hideki [Matsui]."
Matsui's place on the team is at second base, though there is still no guarantee that he will be with the club come Spring Training. The Mets have had contact with Orlando Cabrera's representatives, and it's possible that he could be brought in to play short with Reyes remaining at second base. For now, however, Minaya has said that Matsui is in his plans as the club's second baseman.
The former Japanese League All-Star also has a limited no-trade clause, though the Mariners are believed to have expressed mild interest in him. Cabrera, however, is a big favorite of Minaya, who has already surrounded himself with many of his own people.
This and that: Dan Horwits, the agent for former Mets captain John Franco, said that four teams have been in contact with him over the last month and that three of the teams were in the western part of the country. "John doesn't care where he pitches," Horwits said. "He's OK with that." ... The Kia Tigers of South Korea are planning to send a representative to New York next month to negotiate a deal for Jae Seo, who has expressed a desire to return to his native country. ... Norihiro Nakamura, who spurned the Mets two years ago after agreeing to a multiyear deal, was at Santa Ana Community College on Saturday working out for seven Major League teams, including the Mets. Nakamura, a power-hitting third baseman, spent last spring with the Dodgers but was largely unimpressive. ... The Nationals are still shopping first baseman Nick Johnson, and the Mets are reportedly one of the teams interested.
Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/2004/06/18/mjE8qMuh.jpg
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/2004/06/07/arlglU7s.jpg
Willie Randolph isn't sure yet if Mike Piazza will be back behind the plate in 2005. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
12/12/2004 2:50 AM ET
Notes: Piazza incommunicado
Randolph yet to speak to club's star player
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
ANAHEIM -- Willie Randolph has been the manager of the Mets for more than a month, but he has yet to speak to the club's marquee player.
Though Randolph has reached out to Mike Piazza, the All-Star catcher hasn't gotten back to the rookie skipper. Randolph doesn't see the lack of communication as a problem at this point, though.
"I worked with Derek Jeter for eight or nine years and we played phone tag all the time," Randolph said. "He's probably busy. He could be on some island somewhere sipping piña coladas."
Randolph also said that he hasn't decided where Piazza would play, though the organization had indicated earlier that if the All-Star catcher was with the Mets in 2005, he would be behind the plate.
"I'm just going to let the Piazza thing play out," Randolph said. "I don't have to make a decision now. I'm sure I'll get the chance to speak to him before Spring Training. I've only spoken to half the team."
General manager Omar Minaya said that he would rather Randolph sit down and talk with Piazza before publicly discussing what his role would be in 2005.
"It's better for Mike to know what we're thinking before he reads it in the newspaper," Minaya said.
Piazza's status has been a sensitive issue since the subject of his moving to first base was initially broached. Former manager Art Howe inadvertently let slip during a television interview that he would be using Piazza at first base in May 2003 before telling Piazza himself, and the result was a firestorm.
The Mets may also be reluctant to discuss Piazza's future because there is still a chance he will be traded. New York has shopped Piazza with the understanding that he would only be traded to certain teams.
Kazmatazz: Randolph said that he was eager to begin working with Kaz Matsui, who will be making the transition to second base. He has yet to speak to Matsui, though, and wasn't sure if he would be at next month's minicamp in Port St. Lucie.
"I think Matsui's biggest adjustment will be on the double play with his back to the runner," Randolph said. "If you don't have the nerve of a burglar, it can be tough. You have to be able to trust yourself that you'll get rid of the ball and not get knocked on your butt."
Matsui was somewhat leery of turning the double play last season when he saw the runner coming, so his ability to make the pivot from the right side of the infield could be an issue. But with Randolph, Sandy Alomar, Sr., Manny Acta and Jerry Manuel -- all of whom had plenty of big league infield experience -- making the switch shouldn't be all that traumatic.
"I've always been a working coach," Randolph said. "If I see something I can help with, I will. Alomar is an infield guy, and Acta and Manuel are, too. I just don't want to confuse Kaz with too many voices. I understand he still has an interpreter but that he's more outgoing than Hideki [Matsui]."
Matsui's place on the team is at second base, though there is still no guarantee that he will be with the club come Spring Training. The Mets have had contact with Orlando Cabrera's representatives, and it's possible that he could be brought in to play short with Reyes remaining at second base. For now, however, Minaya has said that Matsui is in his plans as the club's second baseman.
The former Japanese League All-Star also has a limited no-trade clause, though the Mariners are believed to have expressed mild interest in him. Cabrera, however, is a big favorite of Minaya, who has already surrounded himself with many of his own people.
This and that: Dan Horwits, the agent for former Mets captain John Franco, said that four teams have been in contact with him over the last month and that three of the teams were in the western part of the country. "John doesn't care where he pitches," Horwits said. "He's OK with that." ... The Kia Tigers of South Korea are planning to send a representative to New York next month to negotiate a deal for Jae Seo, who has expressed a desire to return to his native country. ... Norihiro Nakamura, who spurned the Mets two years ago after agreeing to a multiyear deal, was at Santa Ana Community College on Saturday working out for seven Major League teams, including the Mets. Nakamura, a power-hitting third baseman, spent last spring with the Dodgers but was largely unimpressive. ... The Nationals are still shopping first baseman Nick Johnson, and the Mets are reportedly one of the teams interested.
Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/2004/06/18/mjE8qMuh.jpg
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/2004/06/07/arlglU7s.jpg
Willie Randolph isn't sure yet if Mike Piazza will be back behind the plate in 2005. (Al Bello/Getty Images)