GaryMrMets
09-14-2005, 01:44 PM
Banged-Up Piazza Not Ready to Retire
By MIKE FITZPATRICK
.c The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) - Mike Piazza is sure he has more baseball left in his banged-up body, and he hopes to prove it next year.
Recovering from a concussion and broken hand, the latest in a string of injuries to hamper him the past few years, the Mets catcher said Tuesday he still wants to play next season - even if it's not in New York.
``Everyone is assuming that I'm not going to be here next year, but I've never said anything either way,'' Piazza said before the Mets opened a three-game series against Washington. ``I'm just going to finish as strong as I can and see what the options are.''
The 37-year-old Piazza was still having some headaches after he was beaned Saturday night by St. Louis reliever Julian Tavarez and was not in the starting lineup against the Nationals.
Mets manager Willie Randolph said Piazza was available to pinch hit, but he wanted to give him another day to recuperate.
``I feel all right,'' Piazza said. ``I've been getting some headaches and stuff, it's probably to be expected, but I don't think it's anything more serious than that.''
In the last year of his contract, the 12-time All-Star came off the disabled list Saturday after missing 23 games with a broken left hand and homered in his first at-bat against Jeff Suppan. He was hit on the front of his helmet on the first pitch from Tavarez in the eighth and sustained a concussion.
The career leader in home runs by a catcher, Piazza was batting .263 with 15 homers and 56 RBIs in 98 games this year - not the big numbers he's accustomed to putting up.
But he fully expects to find somewhere to play next season.
``I hope so, unless you know something I don't,'' Piazza said. ``Whatever I have left, I plan to give it all. I've got the rest of the season.''
Piazza also sustained a concussion when he was beaned by Roger Clemens in 2000, but said he isn't worried about any cumulative effects.
``I've had a long career at a very physical position,'' he said.
The Mets went 10-13 while Piazza was sidelined, fading from contention in the NL wild-card race. He will split playing time the rest of the way with backup Ramon Castro, who has been productive as a fill-in.
``A couple weeks ago I didn't think I'd be able to play for the rest of the year,'' Piazza said. ``Whatever Willie feels is best for the team, I'll be 1,000 percent supportive.''
That means Mets fans might only have a few more chances to cheer one of the most popular players in franchise history - and one of the game's great hitters, too.
``It's just been wonderful. I don't put too much into what the future holds,'' Piazza said. ``I'll see plenty of action at home.''
Notes:@ LF Cliff Floyd was not in the starting lineup because of a tight hamstring. ... The Mets recalled LHP Dae-Sung Koo from Triple-A Norfolk.
09/13/05 20:02 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
By MIKE FITZPATRICK
.c The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) - Mike Piazza is sure he has more baseball left in his banged-up body, and he hopes to prove it next year.
Recovering from a concussion and broken hand, the latest in a string of injuries to hamper him the past few years, the Mets catcher said Tuesday he still wants to play next season - even if it's not in New York.
``Everyone is assuming that I'm not going to be here next year, but I've never said anything either way,'' Piazza said before the Mets opened a three-game series against Washington. ``I'm just going to finish as strong as I can and see what the options are.''
The 37-year-old Piazza was still having some headaches after he was beaned Saturday night by St. Louis reliever Julian Tavarez and was not in the starting lineup against the Nationals.
Mets manager Willie Randolph said Piazza was available to pinch hit, but he wanted to give him another day to recuperate.
``I feel all right,'' Piazza said. ``I've been getting some headaches and stuff, it's probably to be expected, but I don't think it's anything more serious than that.''
In the last year of his contract, the 12-time All-Star came off the disabled list Saturday after missing 23 games with a broken left hand and homered in his first at-bat against Jeff Suppan. He was hit on the front of his helmet on the first pitch from Tavarez in the eighth and sustained a concussion.
The career leader in home runs by a catcher, Piazza was batting .263 with 15 homers and 56 RBIs in 98 games this year - not the big numbers he's accustomed to putting up.
But he fully expects to find somewhere to play next season.
``I hope so, unless you know something I don't,'' Piazza said. ``Whatever I have left, I plan to give it all. I've got the rest of the season.''
Piazza also sustained a concussion when he was beaned by Roger Clemens in 2000, but said he isn't worried about any cumulative effects.
``I've had a long career at a very physical position,'' he said.
The Mets went 10-13 while Piazza was sidelined, fading from contention in the NL wild-card race. He will split playing time the rest of the way with backup Ramon Castro, who has been productive as a fill-in.
``A couple weeks ago I didn't think I'd be able to play for the rest of the year,'' Piazza said. ``Whatever Willie feels is best for the team, I'll be 1,000 percent supportive.''
That means Mets fans might only have a few more chances to cheer one of the most popular players in franchise history - and one of the game's great hitters, too.
``It's just been wonderful. I don't put too much into what the future holds,'' Piazza said. ``I'll see plenty of action at home.''
Notes:@ LF Cliff Floyd was not in the starting lineup because of a tight hamstring. ... The Mets recalled LHP Dae-Sung Koo from Triple-A Norfolk.
09/13/05 20:02 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.