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Piazza's Memoir

Edgy MD Feb 10 2013 06:35 AM

What's coming out is, of course, excerpts taken out of context, but so far, it's hard not to be disappointed. I mean, a Latin-mafia conspiracy? “...some kind of weird Hispanic conspiracy against me, almost like a secret brotherhood, a Latin mafia-type of thing.” Also... "I certainly don’t dispute that Latin players are entitled to the same dreams and opportunities that I had, but I’m sorry: when they arrive on U.S. soil, the onus isn’t on the American players to learn Spanish. It’s on the Latin players to learn English.” Opening with "I'm sorry, but..." is young adult code that generally prefaces saying something selfish, weak, and immature that you really aren't sorry about at all. Puffing yourself up as a rebel in front of a safe audience. A lot of Spanish-speaking fans supported him, and he's chosen to align himself with John Rocker.

Ceetar Feb 10 2013 06:46 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

makes me not want to read it, quotes like that.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 10 2013 06:54 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Yeesh. You'd think he'd use this opportunity to bury that early-career douche vibe emanating from him, not to revive it.

TransMonk Feb 10 2013 07:06 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

It's on my list to read this week, but my expectations aren't that high. I'm mostly interested in what he has to say about Valentine and to revisit some of the '99-2001 highlights. But, c'mon, it's Mike Piazza. He married a playmate and would feel more at home on That Metal Show than the NYT Book Review to promote his bio. I'm not saying I expect him to come off as a douche...but I wouldn't be surprised if he did.

Edgy MD Feb 10 2013 07:13 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Piazza went on to add that Asian students are always using their cellphones at the UCLA library and are all like, "Zing-ling dai!" when he's trying to study, or whatever.

Ceetar Feb 10 2013 07:18 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

TransMonk wrote: It's on my list to read this week, but my expectations aren't that high. I'm mostly interested in what he has to say about Valentine and to revisit some of the '99-2001 highlights. But, c'mon, it's Mike Piazza. He married a playmate and would feel more at home on That Metal Show than the NYT Book Review to promote his bio. I'm not saying I expect him to come off as a douche...but I wouldn't be surprised if he did. Well yeah, but it's a fine line (and presumably an editor/co-author's job?) between out of touch elitist jock and racist. On the other hand, some think this guy did everything he could to get better, every edge, including some that might be illegal but wouldn't learn a couple of spanish words to communicate with his pitchers better? This the first entry in the CPF book club right?

batmagadanleadoff Feb 10 2013 08:08 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

If Piazza wants to go into the HOF as a Met, it seems to me that he ought to have appeared on his book cover in a Met uni. I suppose his publisher preferred the neutral look so as not to alienate the LA market.

Fman99 Feb 10 2013 09:28 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Edgy MD wrote: "I certainly don’t dispute that Latin players are entitled to the same dreams and opportunities that I had, but I’m sorry: when they arrive on U.S. soil, the onus isn’t on the American players to learn Spanish. It’s on the Latin players to learn English.” I would think a Latin player would speak Latin.

metirish Feb 10 2013 09:30 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Edgy MD wrote: What's coming out is, of course, excerpts taken out of context, but so far, it's hard not to be disappointed. I mean, a Latin-mafia conspiracy? “...some kind of weird Hispanic conspiracy against me, almost like a secret brotherhood, a Latin mafia-type of thing.” Also... "I certainly don’t dispute that Latin players are entitled to the same dreams and opportunities that I had, but I’m sorry: when they arrive on U.S. soil, the onus isn’t on the American players to learn Spanish. It’s on the Latin players to learn English.” Opening with "I'm sorry, but..." is young adult code that generally prefaces saying something selfish, weak, and immature that you really aren't sorry about at all. Puffing yourself up as a rebel in front of a safe audience. A lot of Spanish-speaking fans supported him, and he's chosen to align himself with John Rocker. Geez, this is not cool, sometimes your fave players/heroes really can disappoint. I can't recall anything outside of the Pedro Martinez business where Piazza had a problem with hispanic players.

Mets – Willets Point Feb 10 2013 09:52 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

metirish wrote: I can't recall anything outside of the Pedro Martinez business where Piazza had a problem with hispanic players. Hola, me llamo Guillermo Mota.

metirish Feb 10 2013 09:55 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Of course.........Mota... I would like to know what he means by conspiracy, I guess I need to buy the book.

Edgy MD Feb 10 2013 10:48 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Mota isn't the only guy who plunked him.

G-Fafif Feb 10 2013 12:32 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Rough translation from the Hispanic Conspiracy's anti-Piazza meeting: "We are in luck. The one they call 'Catcher' will not bother to learn our language. We are free to conspire against him in the openness of the clubhouse."

Benjamin Grimm Feb 10 2013 02:53 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

He was a great player, and I loved having him on the Mets, but there was and is so much about him to laugh at.

G-Fafif Feb 10 2013 03:15 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Benjamin Grimm wrote: He was a great player, and I loved having him on the Mets, but there was and is so much about him to laugh at. Like this, for example.

themetfairy Feb 10 2013 03:46 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

G-Fafif wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: He was a great player, and I loved having him on the Mets, but there was and is so much about him to laugh at. Like this, for example. The milkshade head hairdo was definitely not his best move.

Mets – Willets Point Feb 10 2013 03:48 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Edgy MD wrote: Mota isn't the only guy who plunked him. But he was the only one Piazza went into a violent rage and chased around the field and then looked for him in the clubhouse, which seemed like an overeaction at the time especially for a spring training game (and especially since he didn't have that reaction when a fellow white Republican threw a bat at him in the most important game of his life) . Lends credence to the idea that Mike Piazza thought hispanic players were out to get him and/or he is prejudice against hispanic people.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 10 2013 04:09 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

From his first hit of ice to his last MDMA? “I found it hugely insulting that people believed I’d go so far out of my way — living with Playmates, vacationing with actresses, showing up at nightclubs — to act out a lifestyle that would amount to a charade... If I was gay, I’d be gay all the way.”

batmagadanleadoff Feb 10 2013 04:15 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: From his first hit of ice to his last MDMA? “I found it hugely insulting that people believed I’d go so far out of my way — living with Playmates, vacationing with actresses, showing up at nightclubs — to act out a lifestyle that would amount to a charade... If I was gay, I’d be gay all the way.” What he said. What they said.

Edgy MD Feb 10 2013 04:51 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Mets – Willets Point wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Mota isn't the only guy who plunked him. But he was the only one Piazza went into a violent rage and chased around the field and then looked for him in the clubhouse, which seemed like an overeaction at the time especially for a spring training game (and especially since he didn't have that reaction when a fellow white Republican threw a bat at him in the most important game of his life) . Lends credence to the idea that Mike Piazza thought hispanic players were out to get him and/or he is prejudice against hispanic people. Oh, sure, I'm just saying a few other guys with Spanish surnames (Julian Taverez) that he may interpret as a pattern, given a dose or two of stupid paranoia. Mota got him bad twice. That wasn't paranoia. That was a conspiracy of one.

Frayed Knot Feb 10 2013 05:00 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I may get around to checking this out at some point and maybe some of those comments sound a bit better in context. Although, in general, athlete autobiographies set a pretty low bar.

Ashie62 Feb 11 2013 01:01 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I prefer to remember him for what he did on the fied. These are just book selling excerpts..

Vic Sage Feb 11 2013 01:02 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Although, in general, athlete autobiographies set a pretty low bar. i know that place... down on st. marks, right?

Fman99 Feb 11 2013 01:31 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Hey, I'm not gay either, but $5 is $5.

metirish Feb 11 2013 01:41 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Is the foreword by Sam Champion?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 11 2013 03:12 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Francesa has been reading this for the last ten minutes on air. I'm not sure to what end, exactly... or whether the publishers take issue with the guy reading virtually the entire Clemens bit to a large portion of the book's market. Tim Marchman's WSJ book review. ("'Long Shot' is convincing, if hardly titillating, in its dutiful discussion of drugs. Gossip, though, is where the book shines.")

metirish Feb 11 2013 04:08 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

More from TM via Twitter, cool insight on Ricky.....and telling on Piazza. Tim Marchman (@timmarchman) Posted Monday 11th February 2013 from Twitlonger My favorite Rickey Henderson story ever, from Piazza's book: "The Mets released Rickey in May 2000, which meant that he helped us to the playoffs in his only full season with the ball club. He was instrumental in not only getting us there, but in how the playoff shares—the bonuses earned from MLB for each postseason series—were divided. The shares meeting is always an interesting exercise in human dynamics, sort of a microcosm of democracy. Rickey was the most generous guy I ever played with, and whenever the discussion came around to what we should give one of the fringe people—whether it was a minor leaguer who came up for a few days or the parking lot attendant—Rickey would shout out, 'Full share!' We'd argue for a while and he'd say, 'Fuck that! You can change somebody's life!' I admired Rickey's heart, but I usually came down somewhere in the middle."

G-Fafif Feb 11 2013 05:04 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Ironic, given Henderson's generosity, that the one 2000 Met Steve Phillips refused to grant an N.L. Championship ring to was Rickey, who took the money and loafed. Phillips came up with some half-assed rationale that Henderson went to the playoffs with the Mariners, so he was ineligible. Upon questioning, he admitted he made up that policy because he was pissed at Rickey.

G-Fafif Feb 11 2013 05:05 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Marchman called the Late 1990s Mets "beloved". Hear, hear!

Vic Sage Feb 12 2013 08:55 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

i think the book hurts his HOF chances. Maybe he figured he would be in already so it wouldn't matter, but next year the writers are going to look at his admissions as even further "evidence" (ha!) of his juicing. I thought he'd get in next year before the book, but now i think it might be a while (if ever).

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 12 2013 09:04 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Yes I agree. At least a few writers publicly said they'd wait and see what Piazza's book says on steroids when it comes out, but they didn't say how they'd react. But to me it didn't matter. If he admitted to juicing they'd hang him for that and if he didn't they'd hang him for lying. This sounds like a terrible book by an uninteresting guy. If he's not going to spill the beans on his pop's mob connections and drug use, what's the point?

batmagadanleadoff Feb 12 2013 09:12 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Anybody here read the book yet? It's available for shipping on Amazon as of today. So's this one:

Benjamin Grimm Feb 12 2013 09:14 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: This sounds like a terrible book by an uninteresting guy. Harsh, but probably true. I don't expect that I'll ever read this one. I used to read all Mets related books, but when Lenny Dykstra "wrote" a book and I couldn't bring myself to read it, it broke the spell for me.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 12 2013 09:24 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

This sounds like a terrible book by an uninteresting guy. Harsh, but probably true. I don't expect that I'll ever read this one. I used to read all Mets related books, but when Lenny Dykstra "wrote" a book and I couldn't bring myself to read it, it broke the spell for me. I buy most of them, eventually, especially if the player appears on the cover in a Met uniform. But this is mostly out of habit and my collectiblilty bug. I don't read all of them. Here's a few that I own and might never get around to reading: The Yogi book is mostly Yankee-centric. After the Mets acquired Yogi in '65, an extra chapter was added to reflect Yogi's new association with the Mets, a new Metly cover replaced the original MFY version, and the new edition was rushed to release.

A Boy Named Seo Feb 12 2013 10:38 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

"Major League Dad" sounds like a shitty PG movie starring Tim Allen.

G-Fafif Feb 12 2013 01:03 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

If Piazza played on the '62 Mets... MIKE TO CHACON: YO NO LA TENGO! Catcher demands SS learn to say 'I got it'; Mets swept in twinbill

Edgy MD Feb 12 2013 07:51 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I don't think the book hurts him. I expect the writers to be as lazy as ever and not string Piazza up, seeing as he didn't do what they were hoping he'd do and save them the trouble by stringing himself up. He admitted what was already known, if not widely circulated, and reverberations so far have been minor. Unless somebody has the noive to take him to task for being an anti-immigrant tool, or he makes a nuisance of himself by campaigning like Gary Carter, he's in on next year's vote. Book it.

G-Fafif Feb 13 2013 06:11 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Excerpt, excerpt, read all about it! Conked Catcher Crushes Clemens! Mike's interview with Jon Stewart was pleasant, with Jon asking the only question that matters: When you eventually go into the Hall of Fame, Mets or Dodgers? "Mets, I would think," Piazza said, though he allowed what a boost it was to be coached coming up by Roy Campanella, Johnny Roseboro, Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax. Stewart said if you'd come up with the Mets, you could've been coached by Choo Choo Coleman. Piazza laughed good-naturedly (at a funny name he sort of recognized, I think, not because Choo Choo was Choo Choo) and tried to think of nice old Mets he'd met along the way and amiably came up with three: Mookie Wilson, Ed Kranepool and Felix Millan, while Stewart was realizing Piazza wasn't getting or going along with the "no, I mean catchers who weren't Roy Campanella-caliber" thread he was trying to unspool and threw in J.C. Martin. Jon also congratulated Mike on coming to the Mets and not suffering a broken femur.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 13 2013 07:50 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Anyhow, Matthews had plenty of company. My teammate Darryl Hamilton questioned my pride. Even my pitcher, Mike Hampton, suggested that I should have gone after Clemens and it shouldn't have mattered if it were Mike Tyson. I guess Hampton figured he had proven his manhood by nipping David Justice in the elbow pad five innings later. He told the Post, "I think we should've fought, to be honest with you. But that's not my call. You can't make something happen if guys aren't going to defend themselves." Yeah, fuck you, Mike Hampton. The whole bat-throwing incident conveniently obscures the fact that the snotty coward pitched like shit in that game, including the first inning when instead of drilling somebody in the ribs like he should have instead walked half the team and gave up a shit ton of 2 out runs. FU Mike Hampton!

TransMonk Feb 13 2013 07:57 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I'm a little under halfway through it (up to 1997). So far, he comes off as a self-absorbed tool (maybe my perception changes once he becomes a Met and he matures a little...we'll see). He mentions his back acne twice during the first few chapters as a major problem he's dealt with all his life (truth? who knows?). He's got a chip on his shoulder about the perception that he only got multiple chances to succeed based on his dad's relationship with Lasorda (not all together untrue based on the way he tells it). He also comes off as bitter at not winning the MVP in 1995 and 1996. Overall, he is much more cynical and narcissistic than I thought he would be. I understand that pro athletes are competitors and like to be rewarded when they do good things. Piazza is no exception to this. There is not a lot of humility described during the first several years of his pro career. Stylistically, the writing is about as basic as you'd expect with some of the same old baseball cliches...a few that barely make sense in the context he is using them. His references to music are downright painful.

Vic Sage Feb 13 2013 08:14 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

you don't think he actually WROTE the book, do you? I'm dubious that he's even read it.

TransMonk Feb 13 2013 08:33 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Literal-ized for Vic: TransMonk wrote: Stylistically, the writing is about as basic as you'd expect with some of the same old baseball cliches...a few that barely make sense in the context [that Mike Piazza's ghost writer] is using them. [The ghost writer's] references to music are downright painful.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 13 2013 08:41 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

The ghost is a sportswriter from the Cincinnati Post named Lonnie Wheeler.

metirish Feb 13 2013 08:45 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

After reading the thread I have no interest in reading this, he sounds like a compete asshole, not how I want to remember him.

Centerfield Feb 13 2013 09:25 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I love the Rickey story. I remember how all the Rickey critics during his prime accused him of being money driven. Rickey insisted it wasn't about the money and instead, about respect. I believe Rickey was one of the few crazy enough to be telling the truth here. I loved hearing those same guys try to justify that argument when he was playing in independent leagues after his MLB career.

Fman99 Feb 13 2013 09:29 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

metirish wrote: After reading the thread I have no interest in reading this, he sounds like a compete asshole, not how I want to remember him. This. I don't care what your politics are, just hit the ball and/or throw strikes, for fuck's sake.

Farmer Ted Feb 13 2013 12:32 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Shit, this has me more on edge. The good old days. http://observer.com/2000/10/as-mets-hea ... -playmate/

G-Fafif Feb 14 2013 07:35 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Legend-on-legend crime: Mike claims Vin Scully had it in for him. And takes on the briefest of Met teammates. Mike Piazza has not set foot in Dodger Stadium since his retirement. When the Dodgers offered to honor him with a bobblehead night last season, Piazza declined. "He doesn't want to come back because he thinks the fans will boo," former Dodgers Manager Tom Lasorda, the godfather to Piazza's brother, told The Times last month. Piazza did himself no favors on that score in his new book, "Long Shot." In the book, he blames iconic Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully for turning fans against him during the contract stalemate that preceded his trade to the Florida Marlins in 1998. Piazza, who was eligible for free agency after the 1998 season, said he hoped to stay with the Dodgers but set a deadline of Feb. 15 to reach a new contract. In the book, Piazza wrote that Scully asked him about the deadline in a spring interview. "He wasn't happy about it," Piazza wrote. "And Scully's voice carried a great deal of authority in Los Angeles." Piazza wanted $105 million over seven years. In the book, he said the Dodgers made a take-it-or-leave-it offer of $76 million over six years, said he would have signed at $79 million, and suggested the team leaked that it had offered $80 million. At $80 million -- or even at $76 million -- Piazza would have been the highest-paid player in the game. Dodgers fans took notice that spring, as Piazza wrote. "The way the whole contract drama looked to them -- many of whom were taking their cue from Scully -- was that, by setting a deadline and insisting on so much money, I was demonstrating a conspicuous lack of loyalty to the ball club," Piazza wrote. "I understood that." Piazza ripped the Dodgers in a 1998 opening day interview with The Times. In the book, he said that interview did not play well with the L.A. fans, and neither did the fact that he failed to drive in a run as the Dodgers opened the season with a four-game losing streak. "On top of that, Vin Scully was crushing me," Piazza wrote. Scully flatly denied he maligned Piazza. "That's not true at all," Scully told The Times in a telephone interview Wednesday. Scully said he could not recall the interview in which Piazza said the contract deadline was discussed. However, Scully said, he never would criticize a player about contractual negotiations. "As God is my judge, I don't get involved in these things," Scully said. "I can't imagine I would ever put my toe in the water as far as a player and his negotiations. "I have no idea where he is coming from. I really have no idea. I can't imagine saying something about a player and his contract. I just don't do that, ever. I'm really flabbergasted by that reference." Piazza retired via email on May 20, 2008. No team had signed him for the 2008 season, although he heard from Lasorda that the Dodgers might be interested. Ultimately, the Dodgers signed Gary Bennett to back up Russell Martin. "Even to the end, ten years after they'd traded me, the Dodgers were still jerking me around," Piazza wrote. "If they'd brought in Pudge Rodriguez, sure, I could understand that. But Gary Bennett?"

Edgy MD Feb 14 2013 07:44 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

That just comes out as somebody else's voice, doesn't it?

Frayed Knot Feb 14 2013 07:52 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Maybe he'll later claim it isn't his voice; a move that certainly wouldn't make him the first sports star to throw out the idea that he was misquoted in his own autobiography.

TransMonk Feb 14 2013 08:21 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Edgy MD wrote: That just comes out as somebody else's voice, doesn't it? Very much so, yes. I'm now up through the 2003 season. He has very few nice things to say about the Dodgers organization. His recounts of his years with the Mets, so far, are much more positive. He had some perceived slights by Valentine (who didn't), but overall was positive about him and he did not like dealing with the NY press (especially the whole "Piazza is gay" thing). But his descriptions of the years around the turn of the century were fun to read and were the main reason I decided to read the book. He goes into the Clemens and Mota feuds in much depth. He definitely has a hot head. I've got a little less than a hundred pages left. It's gotten better (mostly because of the stories turning to Mets experiences rather than Dodgers)...but he still comes of as much more of a douche than I remember him. There were several passages that I literally cringed at while reading. I can't believe we would have THAT attributed to him in his autobiography!

batmagadanleadoff Feb 14 2013 08:47 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I'm not necessarily taking sides here, whether it's Piazza against Vin Scully or Piazza against the MVP voters of '95 and '96, (although why he doesn't gripe about '97 is beyond me; I'da voted for Piazza as MVP in '97 no doubter) but for all of his outward politeness, Piazza strikes me as the spoiled kinda guy who can't cope with not getting what he wants. He probably never had a bad day in his life. He was raised fabulously wealthy, by a family rich enough to buy a major league baseball team. And then, Mike Piaza grew up to become Mike Piazza.

TransMonk Feb 14 2013 09:06 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

batmagadanleadoff wrote: ...or Piazza against the MVP voters of '95 and '96, (although why he doesn't gripe about '97 is beyond me; I'da voted for Piazza as MVP in '97 no doubter)... I hadn't gotten to 1997 yet...he was pissed about that one, too. batmagadanleadoff wrote: ...but for all of his outward politeness, Piazza strikes me as the spoiled kinda guy who can't cope with not getting what he wants... Yes.

Edgy MD Feb 14 2013 09:17 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Yeah, I agree that the cordial gentlemanliness may have been a mask on a more conniving and entitled person, but it makes whimpering about situations years (or even decades) later --- with the benefit of reviewing several rounds of proofs for consideration of how they read --- more perplexing. I mean the period when you're waiting for Hall of Fame enshrinement is generally the time an athlete who came across as petulant and self-centered during his career puts on a suit, smiles, plays charity golf tournaments, says nice things, and tries to establish himself as a man of character in ways he never bothered to doing during his career. Piazza appears to be turning that paradigm on its ear.

TransMonk Feb 14 2013 10:14 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I'm guessing that both Piazza and the publisher thought that he would already be elected by the BBWAA by the book's release date when it was set. I'm surprised there is not an added chapter about how pissed he is about that too.

MFS62 Feb 14 2013 10:21 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

TransMonk wrote: I'm surprised there is not an added chapter about how pissed he is about that too. I remember when Rick Barry's book "Confessions of a Basketball Gypsy" had to add chapters and change the picture of the uni he was wearing on the front cover because he kept moving to new teams and leagues. (I worked for the publisher, Prentice-Hall, at the time, and it drove the printers nuts) Later

Benjamin Grimm Feb 14 2013 10:24 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

TransMonk wrote: I'm surprised there is not an added chapter about how pissed he is about that too. That will probably be in the paperback edition.

MFS62 Feb 14 2013 10:28 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Ben, how long is the delay between when the hardcover and paperback editions are released? IIRC, it used to be a year. If so, by that time, there could be more than one chapter added - his first ballot rejection and his second ballot success. Later

Edgy MD Feb 14 2013 11:17 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

A year is still the standard, but pop culture bios often have a short enough shelf life as it is, so that figure could be contracted, and the paperback version could very likely be out by Christmas. In the age of digital publishing destroying the book, "standard" isn't a very meaningful term. Everybody is trying to find a new model.

Swan Swan H Feb 14 2013 05:54 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

[attachment=0:1kiwj5il]IMG957584.jpg[/attachment:1kiwj5il]Mikey showing up for his book signing in Carle Place, NY (my daughter is there).

Edgy MD Feb 14 2013 06:00 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

"And we're so happy today to have Mike Piazza! ... and his pack o' mooks!"

Ceetar Feb 14 2013 07:33 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Edgy MD wrote: A year is still the standard, but pop culture bios often have a short enough shelf life as it is, so that figure could be contracted, and the paperback version could very likely be out by Christmas. In the age of digital publishing destroying the book, "standard" isn't a very meaningful term. Everybody is trying to find a new model. That's true? a year? That definitely seems like one of those things that needs to get caught up with the times.

Frayed Knot Feb 14 2013 07:55 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

A year from now the next HoF vote will be known making that perfect timing for a paperback release with a new chapter - particularly if that vote goes his way. Keith's 'If At First' paperback release came approx a year later and took the obvious addition of including a chapter on the '86 season.

Kong76 Feb 14 2013 08:25 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I was just thinking about Piazza and Seaver exiting Shea. Is it possible in this digital age, and everyone chews on this book a few more weeks that Mikey (I know he hates that), will become the number one most self-absorbed Met over Tom Terrific in the fan's eyes? Stay tuned.

Ashie62 Feb 14 2013 10:20 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

For this generation perhaps

bmfc1 Feb 15 2013 07:04 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

An LA news report on the interview Piazza is talking about: http://ktla.com/2013/02/15/exclusive-ra ... z2KyaMzmZK Legend-on-legend crime: Mike claims Vin Scully had it in for him. And takes on the briefest of Met teammates. Mike Piazza has not set foot in Dodger Stadium since his retirement. When the Dodgers offered to honor him with a bobblehead night last season, Piazza declined. "He doesn't want to come back because he thinks the fans will boo," former Dodgers Manager Tom Lasorda, the godfather to Piazza's brother, told The Times last month. Piazza did himself no favors on that score in his new book, "Long Shot." In the book, he blames iconic Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully for turning fans against him during the contract stalemate that preceded his trade to the Florida Marlins in 1998. Piazza, who was eligible for free agency after the 1998 season, said he hoped to stay with the Dodgers but set a deadline of Feb. 15 to reach a new contract. In the book, Piazza wrote that Scully asked him about the deadline in a spring interview. "He wasn't happy about it," Piazza wrote. "And Scully's voice carried a great deal of authority in Los Angeles." Piazza wanted $105 million over seven years. In the book, he said the Dodgers made a take-it-or-leave-it offer of $76 million over six years, said he would have signed at $79 million, and suggested the team leaked that it had offered $80 million. At $80 million -- or even at $76 million -- Piazza would have been the highest-paid player in the game. Dodgers fans took notice that spring, as Piazza wrote. "The way the whole contract drama looked to them -- many of whom were taking their cue from Scully -- was that, by setting a deadline and insisting on so much money, I was demonstrating a conspicuous lack of loyalty to the ball club," Piazza wrote. "I understood that." Piazza ripped the Dodgers in a 1998 opening day interview with The Times. In the book, he said that interview did not play well with the L.A. fans, and neither did the fact that he failed to drive in a run as the Dodgers opened the season with a four-game losing streak. "On top of that, Vin Scully was crushing me," Piazza wrote. Scully flatly denied he maligned Piazza. "That's not true at all," Scully told The Times in a telephone interview Wednesday. Scully said he could not recall the interview in which Piazza said the contract deadline was discussed. However, Scully said, he never would criticize a player about contractual negotiations. "As God is my judge, I don't get involved in these things," Scully said. "I can't imagine I would ever put my toe in the water as far as a player and his negotiations. "I have no idea where he is coming from. I really have no idea. I can't imagine saying something about a player and his contract. I just don't do that, ever. I'm really flabbergasted by that reference." Piazza retired via email on May 20, 2008. No team had signed him for the 2008 season, although he heard from Lasorda that the Dodgers might be interested. Ultimately, the Dodgers signed Gary Bennett to back up Russell Martin. "Even to the end, ten years after they'd traded me, the Dodgers were still jerking me around," Piazza wrote. "If they'd brought in Pudge Rodriguez, sure, I could understand that. But Gary Bennett?"

Vic Sage Feb 15 2013 07:47 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

well, you know, alot of those Dodger fans... they're latins. They clearly had it in for him.

G-Fafif Feb 15 2013 08:10 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

bmfc1 wrote: An LA news report on the interview Piazza is talking about: http://ktla.com/2013/02/15/exclusive-ra ... z2KyaMzmZK Three takeaways: 1. Vin Scully is a bit of a company man. Given that he'd been the public voice of that company for 48 years to that point, no real surprise. Pretty mild inquisition. 2. Mike Piazza: Awfully touchy from words for a guy who got slammed into at the plate as much as he did. 3. Glen Walker didn't need to stand outside Dodger Stadium to introduce that piece. I'm guessing that the greater Los Angeles area didn't take its cue from a KTLA interview in 1998, either.

TransMonk Feb 15 2013 08:13 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Finished it. For what it's worth, he saves some of his most positive comments for his final days with the Mets and considers his times with the Mets his best times. He states (once again, I believe) that it would be his preference to go into the Hall as a Met and that if the HOF made him go as a Dodger, he would prefer to go in like Catfish Hunter with a blank cap. That being said, I'm still pretty put off about his bratty attitude. I would NOT recommend this book if you have a glowing image of Mikey's attitude in your mind. Mike was a great player. He DID bring legitimacy to the Mets after several years of them missing it. Luckily, he was never my favorite player on any of his teams...but he was a nice piece to have on the field at the turn of the century. But the fact remains that he played on a lot of very good teams in his career. He was on playoff teams in 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2006...and several other contenders. As good as his hitting was, he was never a legitimate leader either in the clubhouse or even on the field. If he was, I would think one of those teams would have a won ring.

G-Fafif Feb 15 2013 08:22 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Monk, any tidbits on any Mets we wouldn't necessarily expect mentioned? On FAN yesterday, for example, he talked about what a cutup Pat Mahomes was.

TransMonk Feb 15 2013 08:36 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Not a lot of surprised in my mind based on reports of the time. Piazza and Pedro did not get along...and I'm not sure that was news. Otherwise, he did not have many bad things to say about his Mets teammates. The 1998-2001 teams were very close in his recollection. He had great relationships with Leiter, Franco, Ventura and Zeile...again, not news. His stories in the Mets years linger on the playoff runs, the Clemens feud, the Mota feud, 9/11, the gay story, his decline into injury in the years following 2001, and not wanting to move to first base. The book focuses a lot on him and he doesn't give too much away about his teammates at any time.

G-Fafif Feb 15 2013 08:39 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

In two of the three interviews I've heard, Mike pays homage to the coaching he received as a Dodger. He should also thank whoever has coached him for these sessions. In all three -- with Greg Amsinger on MBLN, Jon Stewart on TDS and Mike Francesa on WFAN -- when he's asked about steroids, he takes the same pause, emits the same "hmmm, that's an interesting question..." inflection and answers in the same fashion each time. Not so much that it's the same answer (the substance ought to be consistent), but as if the interviewer is the very first person to ask him about it and he's never really thought about it before. It's the kind of spontaneous Charles Van Doren performance Herb Stempel would have pointed out with glee to Congress in Quiz Show.

metirish Feb 15 2013 08:54 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

TransMonk wrote: That being said, I'm still pretty put off about his bratty attitude. I would NOT recommend this book if you have a glowing image of Mikey's attitude in your mind. . Thanks, my fave Met ever.....the reason I really became a fan.....I will not be reading this I think....he seems like a twat.

G-Fafif Feb 15 2013 11:01 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Chass plumbs new depths in condescension, innuendo and overall douchebaggery. Piazza could be the brattiest of brats with a syringe sticking out of his ass and it wouldn't make the Bacne Crusader look a whit better. Had Piazza agreed to an interview this week, I would love to have had the opportunity to ask him about his back and the timing and disappearance of his acne. But the guy who just published an $800,000 book, isn’t doing interviews. Why should he care about book sales? He got his money. The publisher, on the other hand, should care for the same reason, but neither Mr. Simon nor Mr. Schuster wants to ruffle Piazza’s feathers, you know, the ones left from the steroids. Dick. Seriously.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 15 2013 03:12 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I'm starting to get the impression that latter-day Chass reads/watches little besides his own writing and that of a couple of friends. He's not doing interviews with you, you decaying, acrid turd.

Edgy MD Feb 15 2013 03:42 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Why should he care about book sales? He got his money. The publisher, on the other hand, should care for the same reason... Could you imagine anybody anywhere who wouldn't have bought Mike Piazza's book, but for the promotional uptick he got from doing a hostile interview bomb with Murray Chass? That guy so needs a hug.

G-Fafif Feb 15 2013 04:29 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

He really loves that Reggie Jefferson quote. Reggie Jefferson, you'll remember, played alongside Mike at every stop in his major league career from 1992 to 2007, except for 1992 to 2007, when they were never even in the same league. Also, note the quiet pejorative Chassage: "Baseball people" are all knowing. "Cincinnati writer" indicates a step down from Michael Bamberger. If Lonnie Wheeler had been the first choice and turned it down, he'd be the "respected collaborator," whereas Bamberger would be "a magazine writer". Craig Carton is a trustworthy voice of reason. Boomer Esiason's a dumb jock. Lasorda is without insight. Mark McGwire proves that.

themetfairy Feb 17 2013 06:53 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I'm just a little ways into this. But my impression is that, unlike R.A. Dickey, Piazza's early life was based entirely on baseball. Not unlike the academic kids who study all day and have nothing else of relevance in their lives, Piazza really doesn't have anything other than baseball to discuss.

Ashie62 Feb 17 2013 08:19 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I have not been comfortable to this day that Piazza didn't come at Clemens..wuss

Edgy MD Feb 17 2013 09:14 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Do you really believe his decision was based on personal physical cowardice?

Ashie62 Feb 18 2013 09:17 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Edgy MD wrote: Do you really believe his decision was based on personal physical cowardice? Not physical..not at all...Mental ? who knows...

Kong76 Feb 18 2013 09:47 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

That whole situation was a cluster fuck. I still can't believe Clemens did that and got away with it. It's beyond words.

G-Fafif Feb 19 2013 05:51 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

The "Vin Scully was crushing me" thing in L.A. seems to have gained traction to the point it's probably a bigger deal/detriment than anything Mike had to say about PEDs. Comments section of the linked piece, mostly from the estranged and scorned among Dodgers fans, is fairly enlightening (which is rare for a comments section). Bill Plaschke: told Mike to "zip it" in 1998 and still has a major market newspaper column. That's the real crime here.

Edgy MD Feb 19 2013 06:08 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I left boy scouts before doing the requisite work for my Eagle Scout promotion. #VinScullyIsCrushingMe

G-Fafif Feb 19 2013 11:17 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Rob Neyer notices Piazza claims he was criticized in a T#m Gl@v!ne book that doesn't exist. And that Gl@v!ne never criticized Piazza in the manner Piazza's book describes, at least not publicly or in print. Quality Control on a Simon & Schuster product would seem to be lacking.

Edgy MD Feb 19 2013 11:32 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

There's never been a baseball book called Home of the Brave, and it's strange that nobody picked up on that before publication of Piazza's book; I mean, if you're going to criticize an ex-teammate -- and probably a fellow Hall of Famer someday -- you'd probably want to make sure you get something like that right. Probably not as strange as all that. I'm really starting to wonder if this book is 100% nonsense.

Mets – Willets Point Feb 19 2013 11:44 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I think the quote was actually from this book:

G-Fafif Feb 19 2013 11:53 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I think the quote was actually from this book: Mike Piazza: Leave evidence of well-to-do upbringing all over clubhouse bathroom floor, no clean up before Chico use. Tom Glavine: No show proper remorse for bad last outing. Last outing berry, berry bad for Mets. Joe McEwing: Everybody say Joe "super". Joe no so super. Chico es super.

Elster88 Feb 19 2013 07:25 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Piazza will be on Jimmy Kimmel tonight.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 19 2013 08:20 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I bet he'd rather be on Anderson Cooper.

Edgy MD Feb 19 2013 09:01 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Oh, no, you di'n't!!

Mets – Willets Point Feb 20 2013 07:25 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

No interview scheduled with Soledad O'Brien because of the latin mafia.

themetfairy Feb 26 2013 06:12 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I'm about halfway through. Not only does he seem to lack insight, but he seems to revel in keeping a huge chip on his shoulder. Considering all that went right for him, you'd think that he'd have a bit more gratitude and a bit less bitterness.

sharpie Feb 28 2013 07:01 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Not only all of that, now he's picking on an old Band member: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ ... e-20130225

themetfairy Feb 28 2013 07:38 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

The more I read of this, the more I appreciate R.A. Dickey's bio. At least I'm up to 1999 now, which is inherently more interesting material (only because I'm a Mets fan).

metirish Feb 28 2013 08:21 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

sharpie wrote: Not only all of that, now he's picking on an old Band member: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ ... e-20130225 what an interesting story....

Farmer Ted Feb 28 2013 08:34 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

Mike Piazza is a ruthless landlord. Oh wait... http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.d ... sitesearch

Frayed Knot Mar 02 2013 08:10 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

As athlete-penned (or dictated) bios go, I've certainly read worse. Not that I mean that to be a glowing tribute or anything because that genre represents some pretty low-hanging fruit for the most part. This one, coming as it does five+ years after his last game and with the bit of perspective that gives, at least avoids the usual trap of sounding like an "as told to" type of book that is thrown together right on the heels of said athlete's big moment for the sole purpose of cashing in while the fervor is still running high. What this does come off as is someone who, because he remembers every doubt and slight (real or imagined) that's ever come his way, is genuinely concerned with his legacy as a ballplayer and is therefore determined to get his side of the story out into the public. In doing so he comes off like the comedian who gets roaring reviews at a packed house but then goes home obsessing about the one stone-faced guy he saw in the third row; as a bit of an entitled whiner and frankly a little paranoid at times. That method of seeing every slight as both a personal insult and challenge is most likely part of what made him the player he became; it's a trait that gets celebrated by the Michael Jordan worshippers of the world for the fuel to his fire (if he couldn't find detractors he was known to invent them) but it doesn't make it a particularly attractive one. On the plus side he doesn't paint himself only in a glowing light as the standard type of athlete auto-bio tends to do. He admits that those traits didn't always make him the best teammate or a press favorite. He seems to have some regrets that he didn't enjoy his career a little more while it was in progress but doesn't know if he could have succeeded any other way. On the various hot-button issues: - he makes a good case that the charges of him "coming out of nowhere" and therefore his success could only have been due to steroids are off base. He was always strong due to being a weightlifting & nutrition junkie from childhood, and could always hit on account of being obsessed at doing so from a young age. The reasons for the late draft pick (and a favor at that) were due more to being from a small HS in the northeast plus his overall lack of athleticism and a position. Not that any of that stopped him from seeing it all as a personal insult. - he admits to taking various supplements common to the gym-rat crowd including the now-banned Andro but flatly denies the always illegal stronger stuff. Looked into HGH when it was first becoming known but was steered off of it by Dodgers trainers. The "bacne" he says was a family trait that frequently lasted well beyond just the teenage years. Plausible? - yes ... Accurate -- ???, although I think Murray Chass at minimum needs something else to harp on. Overall he pretty much makes the same case I'd make on the whole steroids generation in general: that the players were as ill-informed about it as most GMs, owners, trainers, and journalists were; that it's both impossible and unfair to throw a blanket over the whole thing and pronounce everyone guilty or that you can somehow retroactively fix things by pretending you can pick and choose which records or players were clean or tainted. - had his better overall seasons in LA but felt very mis-treated by them and has much fonder memories of New York - touches only briefly into his father's supposed crime connections. He claims that the rumors that shot down Vince Piazza's attempt to buy the SF Giants to be totally the result of some crooked guy with whom dad had invested money which got him tainted by nothing more than association. And of course he sees it all as a slight that no one can see a successful Italian without also accusing him of being in organized crime. Vince Piazza comes off as a real piece of work btw.

Edgy MD Mar 05 2013 08:48 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I keep coming back to the entourage he's entering the book store with in the photo above. And maybe hanging out with a bunch of yes-men toadies has brought out an uglier part of Piazza's personality --- more reckless, defiant, entitled. He always seemed a little phony as a ballplayer, but he also was mostly a careful, thoughtful, reserved (except when it came to Guillermo Mota) gentleman. John Dowd really made an impression on me when I saw him speak about the Rose investigations during a presentation at a SABR meeting. People were telling him "You can get to him through his teammates --- he won't listen to you but they'll make clear the gravity of the situation he's in." But Dowd responded that none of Rose's teammates were friends with him anymore, and his crew was buncha hangers on from Gold's Gym. And I wonder if Mike's in a similar situation, and he's no longer making choices to please management and teammates and fans, but to please the porn-star-chasing, chip-on-their-shoulder, overgrown wannabe-rocker, toadie guys he's surrounded by now.

Vic Sage Mar 05 2013 10:16 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

i loved having Piazza on my team, but i never connected with him as a player. He always seemed like a jock jerk to me, sort of the hitter's version of Clemens. So the fact that he may come off as a race-baiting right-winger in his book, arrogant, sullen and paranoid, doesn't shock me or change my view very much. He's still the best catcher in the history of a franchise that has had some pretty good catchers over the years. And given the absence of a failed drug test or any evidence that he took illegal drugs, or even legal drugs that were banned when he took them, the fact that hypocritical sports writers kept him out of the HOF is frankly an obscene kind of McCarthyism. And if they do it again, i may have to kill one of them.. just to, you know, send a message.

themetfairy Mar 05 2013 02:34 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

OK - I finally finished this. And it felt like a chore. BTW, last night D-Dad and I were watching video from the 2000 season, including interview clips from Piazza. He was personable, charismatic, and animated. These qualities aren't apparent in the book. As FK said, by the end Piazza at least had enough self-awareness to recognize that he was moody and didn't enjoy his playing days as much as he should have. Piazza comments that the book was a cathartic experience for him, and I believe it. But I think he should have kept the catharsis to his diary. The book didn't do anything to gain him any supporters, and it did a lot to dissuade people from supporting him in the future (dissing people like Vin Scully, Jay Horwitz and Tommy Lasorda is risky business). It did little to humanize him, and it contains a lot of ammunition for those who didn't like him in the first place.

Mets – Willets Point Mar 08 2013 11:13 AM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I just listened to his Fresh Air interview and Piazza comes across as engaging, insightful, and humble. Too bad that the book doesn't seem to be that way.

themetfairy Mar 08 2013 12:48 PM Re: Piazza's Memoir

I know, right? He has always seemed that way. But the book has a real Festivus quality to it....