Piazza retires after 19 seasons

"LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee RemoveThis @spamsux.net> wrote in message
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>
> "LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee RemoveThis @spamsux.net> wrote in message
> news:ONHYj.103$Di1.14@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>> http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080520&content...=273568
>>
>> 05/20/2008 3:28 PM ET
>> The Associated Press
>>
>> BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Mike Piazza is retiring from baseball following
>> a 19-season career in which he became one of the top-hitting catchers in
>> history.
>> "After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it is
>> time to start a new chapter in my life," he said in a statement released
>> by his agent, Dan Lozano. "It has been an amazing journey."
>>
>> The 39-year-old Piazza was not on a team this season.
>>
>> Taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 amateur
>> draft, Piazza became a 12-time All-Star, making the NL team 10
>> consecutive times starting in 1993.
>>
>> He finished with a .308 career average, 427 home runs and 1,335 RBIs for
>> the Dodgers (1992-9, Florida (1998), New York Mets (1998-05), San Diego
>> (2006) and Oakland (2007).
>>
>
> The one trade that changed the the Dodgers and Dodger fans for many years.
> May 15, 1998, the day I stopped being a Dodger fan.

But we got Charles Johnson! And we all know how he contributed to the team
for so long.
 >> Stay informed about: Piazza retires after 19 seasons 

"Triple" <rhager4.TakeThisOut@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
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>
> "LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee.TakeThisOut@spamsux.net> wrote in message
> news:tRHYj.104$Di1.69@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>
>> "LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee.TakeThisOut@spamsux.net> wrote in message
>> news:ONHYj.103$Di1.14@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>> http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080520&content...=273568
>>>
>>> 05/20/2008 3:28 PM ET
>>> The Associated Press
>>>
>>> BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Mike Piazza is retiring from baseball following
>>> a 19-season career in which he became one of the top-hitting catchers in
>>> history.
>>> "After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it
>>> is time to start a new chapter in my life," he said in a statement
>>> released by his agent, Dan Lozano. "It has been an amazing journey."
>>>
>>> The 39-year-old Piazza was not on a team this season.
>>>
>>> Taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 amateur
>>> draft, Piazza became a 12-time All-Star, making the NL team 10
>>> consecutive times starting in 1993.
>>>
>>> He finished with a .308 career average, 427 home runs and 1,335 RBIs for
>>> the Dodgers (1992-9, Florida (1998), New York Mets (1998-05), San
>>> Diego (2006) and Oakland (2007).
>>>
>>
>> The one trade that changed the the Dodgers and Dodger fans for many
>> years. May 15, 1998, the day I stopped being a Dodger fan.
>
> But we got Charles Johnson! And we all know how he contributed to the team
> for so long.

It's not who we got...it's who we had. With Paulie in the wings there was
no need to pay Piazza and with Martin in the wings there was no reason to
keep Paulie. I wonder if Piazza girl is retiring from fandom now.
 >> Stay informed about: Piazza retires after 19 seasons 

"AguaGirl" <someone.TakeThisOut@somewhere.net> wrote in message
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>
> "Triple" <rhager4.TakeThisOut@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:nsKYj.2412$l97.2183@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
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>> "LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee.TakeThisOut@spamsux.net> wrote in message
>> news:tRHYj.104$Di1.69@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>>
>>> "LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee.TakeThisOut@spamsux.net> wrote in message
>>> news:ONHYj.103$Di1.14@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>>> http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080520&content...=273568
>>>>
>>>> 05/20/2008 3:28 PM ET
>>>> The Associated Press
>>>>
>>>> BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Mike Piazza is retiring from baseball
>>>> following a 19-season career in which he became one of the top-hitting
>>>> catchers in history.
>>>> "After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it
>>>> is time to start a new chapter in my life," he said in a statement
>>>> released by his agent, Dan Lozano. "It has been an amazing journey."
>>>>
>>>> The 39-year-old Piazza was not on a team this season.
>>>>
>>>> Taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 amateur
>>>> draft, Piazza became a 12-time All-Star, making the NL team 10
>>>> consecutive times starting in 1993.
>>>>
>>>> He finished with a .308 career average, 427 home runs and 1,335 RBIs
>>>> for the Dodgers (1992-9, Florida (1998), New York Mets (1998-05), San
>>>> Diego (2006) and Oakland (2007).
>>>>
>>>
>>> The one trade that changed the the Dodgers and Dodger fans for many
>>> years. May 15, 1998, the day I stopped being a Dodger fan.
>>
>> But we got Charles Johnson! And we all know how he contributed to the
>> team for so long.
>
> It's not who we got...it's who we had. With Paulie in the wings there was
> no need to pay Piazza and with Martin in the wings there was no reason to
> keep Paulie. I wonder if Piazza girl is retiring from fandom now.
Didn't we get Johnson from Florida, which was Piazza's first stop on the
"Out of LA Express?"

No reason to keep a hitter like that? There is always a reason to keep a
hitter like that. I was no fan of Piazza the catcher but a great fan of the
hitter. I did enjoying watching Paulie and now enjoy watching Martin on both
sides of the game. Piazza was not losing it when the Dodgers so rudely
parted company with him.

>
 >> Stay informed about: Piazza retires after 19 seasons 

"AguaGirl" <someone.RemoveThis@somewhere.net> wrote in message
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>
> "Triple" <rhager4.RemoveThis@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:nsKYj.2412$l97.2183@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
>>
>> "LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee.RemoveThis@spamsux.net> wrote in message
>> news:tRHYj.104$Di1.69@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>>
>>> "LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee.RemoveThis@spamsux.net> wrote in message
>>> news:ONHYj.103$Di1.14@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>>> http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080520&content...=273568
>>>>
>>>> 05/20/2008 3:28 PM ET
>>>> The Associated Press
>>>>
>>>> BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Mike Piazza is retiring from baseball
>>>> following a 19-season career in which he became one of the top-hitting
>>>> catchers in history.
>>>> "After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it
>>>> is time to start a new chapter in my life," he said in a statement
>>>> released by his agent, Dan Lozano. "It has been an amazing journey."
>>>>
>>>> The 39-year-old Piazza was not on a team this season.
>>>>
>>>> Taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 amateur
>>>> draft, Piazza became a 12-time All-Star, making the NL team 10
>>>> consecutive times starting in 1993.
>>>>
>>>> He finished with a .308 career average, 427 home runs and 1,335 RBIs
>>>> for the Dodgers (1992-9, Florida (1998), New York Mets (1998-05), San
>>>> Diego (2006) and Oakland (2007).
>>>>
>>>
>>> The one trade that changed the the Dodgers and Dodger fans for many
>>> years. May 15, 1998, the day I stopped being a Dodger fan.
>>
>> But we got Charles Johnson! And we all know how he contributed to the
>> team for so long.
>
> It's not who we got...it's who we had. With Paulie in the wings there was
> no need to pay Piazza and with Martin in the wings there was no reason to
> keep Paulie. I wonder if Piazza girl is retiring from fandom now.

I must reply to my own post. I was right. See this devastating article about
the trade.

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080520&conten...d=27378
 >> Stay informed about: Piazza retires after 19 seasons 

"Triple" <rhager4 RemoveThis @sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:JuOYj.4193$ah4.1339@flpi148.ffdc.sbc.com...
>
> "AguaGirl" <someone RemoveThis @somewhere.net> wrote in message
> news:4833b222$0$7058$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>
>> "Triple" <rhager4 RemoveThis @sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>> news:nsKYj.2412$l97.2183@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
>>>
>>> "LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee RemoveThis @spamsux.net> wrote in message
>>> news:tRHYj.104$Di1.69@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>>>
>>>> "LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee RemoveThis @spamsux.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:ONHYj.103$Di1.14@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>>>> http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080520&content...=273568
>>>>>
>>>>> 05/20/2008 3:28 PM ET
>>>>> The Associated Press
>>>>>
>>>>> BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Mike Piazza is retiring from baseball
>>>>> following a 19-season career in which he became one of the top-hitting
>>>>> catchers in history.
>>>>> "After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it
>>>>> is time to start a new chapter in my life," he said in a statement
>>>>> released by his agent, Dan Lozano. "It has been an amazing journey."
>>>>>
>>>>> The 39-year-old Piazza was not on a team this season.
>>>>>
>>>>> Taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 amateur
>>>>> draft, Piazza became a 12-time All-Star, making the NL team 10
>>>>> consecutive times starting in 1993.
>>>>>
>>>>> He finished with a .308 career average, 427 home runs and 1,335 RBIs
>>>>> for the Dodgers (1992-9, Florida (1998), New York Mets (1998-05),
>>>>> San Diego (2006) and Oakland (2007).
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The one trade that changed the the Dodgers and Dodger fans for many
>>>> years. May 15, 1998, the day I stopped being a Dodger fan.
>>>
>>> But we got Charles Johnson! And we all know how he contributed to the
>>> team for so long.
>>
>> It's not who we got...it's who we had. With Paulie in the wings there
>> was no need to pay Piazza and with Martin in the wings there was no
>> reason to keep Paulie. I wonder if Piazza girl is retiring from fandom
>> now.
> Didn't we get Johnson from Florida, which was Piazza's first stop on the
> "Out of LA Express?"

What I meant was they didn't trade him to get Johnson, they traded him to
get something for him (FA year) and since they had Paulie they could afford
to do so.

> No reason to keep a hitter like that? There is always a reason to keep a
> hitter like that. I was no fan of Piazza the catcher but a great fan of
> the hitter. I did enjoying watching Paulie and now enjoy watching Martin
> on both sides of the game. Piazza was not losing it when the Dodgers so
> rudely parted company with him.

Yeah, he was a great hitter, but was he worth 13 million a year? That is
some serious change even by todays standards. He had already announced he
didn't want to move to 3rd base, and that he would be looking for a long
term big dollar contract. When he went FA, he ended up getting 91 million
dollars and 7 years. I don't know if you remember but he wasn't exactly on
fire the entire 7 years. I liked Mike, he did a lot for the Dodgers and
they in turn gave him a chance when no one else would. But...I am not sorry
we had Martin last year instead of Piazza and his salary..nor am I sorry we
had Paulie and his salary instead of Piazza.

AG
>
 >> Stay informed about: Piazza retires after 19 seasons 

"Triple" <rhager4.TakeThisOut@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
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>
> "AguaGirl" <someone.TakeThisOut@somewhere.net> wrote in message
> news:4833b222$0$7058$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>
>> "Triple" <rhager4.TakeThisOut@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>> news:nsKYj.2412$l97.2183@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
>>>
>>> "LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee.TakeThisOut@spamsux.net> wrote in message
>>> news:tRHYj.104$Di1.69@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>>>
>>>> "LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee.TakeThisOut@spamsux.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:ONHYj.103$Di1.14@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>>>> http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080520&content...=273568
>>>>>
>>>>> 05/20/2008 3:28 PM ET
>>>>> The Associated Press
>>>>>
>>>>> BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Mike Piazza is retiring from baseball
>>>>> following a 19-season career in which he became one of the top-hitting
>>>>> catchers in history.
>>>>> "After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it
>>>>> is time to start a new chapter in my life," he said in a statement
>>>>> released by his agent, Dan Lozano. "It has been an amazing journey."
>>>>>
>>>>> The 39-year-old Piazza was not on a team this season.
>>>>>
>>>>> Taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 amateur
>>>>> draft, Piazza became a 12-time All-Star, making the NL team 10
>>>>> consecutive times starting in 1993.
>>>>>
>>>>> He finished with a .308 career average, 427 home runs and 1,335 RBIs
>>>>> for the Dodgers (1992-9, Florida (1998), New York Mets (1998-05),
>>>>> San Diego (2006) and Oakland (2007).
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The one trade that changed the the Dodgers and Dodger fans for many
>>>> years. May 15, 1998, the day I stopped being a Dodger fan.
>>>
>>> But we got Charles Johnson! And we all know how he contributed to the
>>> team for so long.
>>
>> It's not who we got...it's who we had. With Paulie in the wings there
>> was no need to pay Piazza and with Martin in the wings there was no
>> reason to keep Paulie. I wonder if Piazza girl is retiring from fandom
>> now.
>
> I must reply to my own post. I was right. See this devastating article
> about the trade.
>
> http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080520&conten...d=27378

Yeah, this from a writer who quoted Fred Claire. <g> The real end of the
Dodgers came when the O'Malleys sold the team, not when they traded Piazza.
 >> Stay informed about: Piazza retires after 19 seasons 

LACountyRefugee wrote:
> "LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee RemoveThis @spamsux.net> wrote in message
> news:ONHYj.103$Di1.14@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>
>>http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080520&content_id=2735681&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
>>
>>05/20/2008 3:28 PM ET
>>The Associated Press
>>
>>BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Mike Piazza is retiring from baseball following a
>>19-season career in which he became one of the top-hitting catchers in
>>history.
>>"After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it is
>>time to start a new chapter in my life," he said in a statement released
>>by his agent, Dan Lozano. "It has been an amazing journey."
>>
>>The 39-year-old Piazza was not on a team this season.
>>
>>Taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 amateur
>>draft, Piazza became a 12-time All-Star, making the NL team 10 consecutive
>>times starting in 1993.
>>
>>He finished with a .308 career average, 427 home runs and 1,335 RBIs for
>>the Dodgers (1992-9, Florida (1998), New York Mets (1998-05), San Diego
>>(2006) and Oakland (2007).
>>
>
>
> The one trade that changed the the Dodgers and Dodger fans for many years.
> May 15, 1998, the day I stopped being a Dodger fan.

Same here, but the trade was just a symptom of greater issues.
The Fox ownership nightmare is what drove me away, and the
Piazza trade was just one miserable result of that horrid mess.
 >> Stay informed about: Piazza retires after 19 seasons 

AguaGirl wrote:

> "Triple" <rhager4.RemoveThis@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:JuOYj.4193$ah4.1339@flpi148.ffdc.sbc.com...
>
>>"AguaGirl" <someone.RemoveThis@somewhere.net> wrote in message
>>news:4833b222$0$7058$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>
>>>"Triple" <rhager4.RemoveThis@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>>>news:nsKYj.2412$l97.2183@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
>>>
>>>>"LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee.RemoveThis@spamsux.net> wrote in message
>>>>news:tRHYj.104$Di1.69@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>>>
>>>>>"LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee.RemoveThis@spamsux.net> wrote in message
>>>>>news:ONHYj.103$Di1.14@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>>>>
>>>>>>http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080520&content_id=2735681&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
>>>>>>
>>>>>>05/20/2008 3:28 PM ET
>>>>>>The Associated Press
>>>>>>
>>>>>>BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Mike Piazza is retiring from baseball
>>>>>>following a 19-season career in which he became one of the top-hitting
>>>>>>catchers in history.
>>>>>>"After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it
>>>>>>is time to start a new chapter in my life," he said in a statement
>>>>>>released by his agent, Dan Lozano. "It has been an amazing journey."
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The 39-year-old Piazza was not on a team this season.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 amateur
>>>>>>draft, Piazza became a 12-time All-Star, making the NL team 10
>>>>>>consecutive times starting in 1993.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>He finished with a .308 career average, 427 home runs and 1,335 RBIs
>>>>>>for the Dodgers (1992-9, Florida (1998), New York Mets (1998-05),
>>>>>>San Diego (2006) and Oakland (2007).
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>The one trade that changed the the Dodgers and Dodger fans for many
>>>>>years. May 15, 1998, the day I stopped being a Dodger fan.
>>>>
>>>>But we got Charles Johnson! And we all know how he contributed to the
>>>>team for so long.
>>>
>>>It's not who we got...it's who we had. With Paulie in the wings there
>>>was no need to pay Piazza and with Martin in the wings there was no
>>>reason to keep Paulie. I wonder if Piazza girl is retiring from fandom
>>>now.
>>
>>Didn't we get Johnson from Florida, which was Piazza's first stop on the
>>"Out of LA Express?"
>
>
> What I meant was they didn't trade him to get Johnson, they traded him to
> get something for him (FA year) and since they had Paulie they could afford
> to do so.
>
>
>>No reason to keep a hitter like that? There is always a reason to keep a
>>hitter like that. I was no fan of Piazza the catcher but a great fan of
>>the hitter. I did enjoying watching Paulie and now enjoy watching Martin
>>on both sides of the game. Piazza was not losing it when the Dodgers so
>>rudely parted company with him.
>
>
> Yeah, he was a great hitter, but was he worth 13 million a year? That is
> some serious change even by todays standards. He had already announced he
> didn't want to move to 3rd base, and that he would be looking for a long
> term big dollar contract. When he went FA, he ended up getting 91 million
> dollars and 7 years. I don't know if you remember but he wasn't exactly on
> fire the entire 7 years. I liked Mike, he did a lot for the Dodgers and
> they in turn gave him a chance when no one else would. But...I am not sorry
> we had Martin last year instead of Piazza and his salary..nor am I sorry we
> had Paulie and his salary instead of Piazza.

LoDuca is no replacement for Piazza. That's just a losing
argument. Martin, on the other hand, is the first Dodger
backstop to make me forget Piazza.
 >> Stay informed about: Piazza retires after 19 seasons 

Triple wrote:

> "AguaGirl" <someone.TakeThisOut@somewhere.net> wrote in message
> news:4833b222$0$7058$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
>>"Triple" <rhager4.TakeThisOut@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>>news:nsKYj.2412$l97.2183@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
>>
>>>"LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee.TakeThisOut@spamsux.net> wrote in message
>>>news:tRHYj.104$Di1.69@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>>
>>>>"LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee.TakeThisOut@spamsux.net> wrote in message
>>>>news:ONHYj.103$Di1.14@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>>>
>>>>>http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080520&content_id=2735681&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
>>>>>
>>>>>05/20/2008 3:28 PM ET
>>>>>The Associated Press
>>>>>
>>>>>BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Mike Piazza is retiring from baseball
>>>>>following a 19-season career in which he became one of the top-hitting
>>>>>catchers in history.
>>>>>"After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it
>>>>>is time to start a new chapter in my life," he said in a statement
>>>>>released by his agent, Dan Lozano. "It has been an amazing journey."
>>>>>
>>>>>The 39-year-old Piazza was not on a team this season.
>>>>>
>>>>>Taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 amateur
>>>>>draft, Piazza became a 12-time All-Star, making the NL team 10
>>>>>consecutive times starting in 1993.
>>>>>
>>>>>He finished with a .308 career average, 427 home runs and 1,335 RBIs
>>>>>for the Dodgers (1992-9, Florida (1998), New York Mets (1998-05), San
>>>>>Diego (2006) and Oakland (2007).
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>The one trade that changed the the Dodgers and Dodger fans for many
>>>>years. May 15, 1998, the day I stopped being a Dodger fan.
>>>
>>>But we got Charles Johnson! And we all know how he contributed to the
>>>team for so long.
>>
>>It's not who we got...it's who we had. With Paulie in the wings there was
>>no need to pay Piazza and with Martin in the wings there was no reason to
>>keep Paulie. I wonder if Piazza girl is retiring from fandom now.
>
>
> I must reply to my own post. I was right. See this devastating article about
> the trade.
>
> http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080520&conten...d=27378

What was the name of the Fox dweeb that made that deal?

Carrey something or other?
 >> Stay informed about: Piazza retires after 19 seasons 

AguaGirl wrote:

> "Triple" <rhager4 DeleteThis @sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:5AOYj.118$ui2.67@nlpi069.nbdc.sbc.com...
>
>>"AguaGirl" <someone DeleteThis @somewhere.net> wrote in message
>>news:4833b222$0$7058$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>
>>>"Triple" <rhager4 DeleteThis @sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>>>news:nsKYj.2412$l97.2183@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
>>>
>>>>"LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee DeleteThis @spamsux.net> wrote in message
>>>>news:tRHYj.104$Di1.69@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>>>
>>>>>"LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee DeleteThis @spamsux.net> wrote in message
>>>>>news:ONHYj.103$Di1.14@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>>>>
>>>>>>http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080520&content_id=2735681&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
>>>>>>
>>>>>>05/20/2008 3:28 PM ET
>>>>>>The Associated Press
>>>>>>
>>>>>>BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Mike Piazza is retiring from baseball
>>>>>>following a 19-season career in which he became one of the top-hitting
>>>>>>catchers in history.
>>>>>>"After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it
>>>>>>is time to start a new chapter in my life," he said in a statement
>>>>>>released by his agent, Dan Lozano. "It has been an amazing journey."
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The 39-year-old Piazza was not on a team this season.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 amateur
>>>>>>draft, Piazza became a 12-time All-Star, making the NL team 10
>>>>>>consecutive times starting in 1993.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>He finished with a .308 career average, 427 home runs and 1,335 RBIs
>>>>>>for the Dodgers (1992-9, Florida (1998), New York Mets (1998-05),
>>>>>>San Diego (2006) and Oakland (2007).
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>The one trade that changed the the Dodgers and Dodger fans for many
>>>>>years. May 15, 1998, the day I stopped being a Dodger fan.
>>>>
>>>>But we got Charles Johnson! And we all know how he contributed to the
>>>>team for so long.
>>>
>>>It's not who we got...it's who we had. With Paulie in the wings there
>>>was no need to pay Piazza and with Martin in the wings there was no
>>>reason to keep Paulie. I wonder if Piazza girl is retiring from fandom
>>>now.
>>
>>I must reply to my own post. I was right. See this devastating article
>>about the trade.
>>
>>http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080520&content_id=2737852&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la
>
>
> Yeah, this from a writer who quoted Fred Claire. <g> The real end of the
> Dodgers came when the O'Malleys sold the team, not when they traded Piazza.

I mostly agree, but it started before that, when Peter O'Malley
opted not to shake things up at the end of the '87 season and
insert a LEGIT replacement for Campanis, making Claire's interim
title permanent. Claire was unqualified, having been - help me,
what was it - a PR guy before that?

So Peter was not really doing that great in the last few years
of ownership. Bill Russell as a manager was also lame.
 >> Stay informed about: Piazza retires after 19 seasons 

"Miguel MB" <PUN.RemoveThis@yaho.com> wrote in message
news:PMPYj.70$5g7.64@newsfe02.lga...
>
> LoDuca is no replacement for Piazza. That's just a losing argument.
> Martin, on the other hand, is the first Dodger backstop to make me forget
> Piazza.

LoDuca AND HIS SALARY is. Mike is / was one of the best hitting catchers
ever and he was a good backstop...but 13 million? 7 years? That would have
been a big chunk out of the Dodgers payroll for one player....for 7 years.
Big ol ouch.
Instead, we got a decent catching hitter AND still had the 13 million or at
least most of it. Plus they were able to move Paulie to make room for
Martin because LoDuca was worth his salary. I am not so sure they would
have been able to do the same with Piazza's salary.
 >> Stay informed about: Piazza retires after 19 seasons 

"AguaGirl" <someone.TakeThisOut@somewhere.net> wrote in message
news:483438be$0$20192$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
> "Miguel MB" <PUN.TakeThisOut@yaho.com> wrote in message
> news:PMPYj.70$5g7.64@newsfe02.lga...
>>
>> LoDuca is no replacement for Piazza. That's just a losing argument.
>> Martin, on the other hand, is the first Dodger backstop to make me forget
>> Piazza.
>
> LoDuca AND HIS SALARY is. Mike is / was one of the best hitting catchers
> ever and he was a good backstop...but 13 million? 7 years? That would
> have been a big chunk out of the Dodgers payroll for one player....for 7
> years. Big ol ouch.

Yeah, IT WAS a BIG OL OUCH!!! Except that pain came from Kevin Brown
instead. So I gues the question is in hindsight, who would you rather have
paid that money to? Which would have been better for the image and overall
health of the franchise. The trade of Piazza alienated tens of thousands of
Dodger fans.

> Instead, we got a decent catching hitter AND still had the 13 million or
> at least most of it. Plus they were able to move Paulie to make room for
> Martin because LoDuca was worth his salary. I am not so sure they would
> have been able to do the same with Piazza's salary.
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Piazza retires after 19 seasons 

"LACountyRefugee" <LACORefugee.RemoveThis@spamsux.net> wrote in message
news:AWWYj.2$Ti2.0@flpi148.ffdc.sbc.com...
>
> "AguaGirl" <someone.RemoveThis@somewhere.net> wrote in message
> news:483438be$0$20192$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>
>> "Miguel MB" <PUN.RemoveThis@yaho.com> wrote in message
>> news:PMPYj.70$5g7.64@newsfe02.lga...
>>>
>>> LoDuca is no replacement for Piazza. That's just a losing argument.
>>> Martin, on the other hand, is the first Dodger backstop to make me
>>> forget Piazza.
>>
>> LoDuca AND HIS SALARY is. Mike is / was one of the best hitting catchers
>> ever and he was a good backstop...but 13 million? 7 years? That would
>> have been a big chunk out of the Dodgers payroll for one player....for 7
>> years. Big ol ouch.
>
> Yeah, IT WAS a BIG OL OUCH!!! Except that pain came from Kevin Brown
> instead. So I gues the question is in hindsight, who would you rather have
> paid that money to? Which would have been better for the image and overall
> health of the franchise. The trade of Piazza alienated tens of thousands
> of Dodger fans.
>

And the article I posted showed Fred Claire the trade was for NewsCorp PR
and Broadcast right reasons, not baseball reasons. That trumps any argument
that it was a good trade.
 >> Stay informed about: Piazza retires after 19 seasons