Sox have interest in Piazza

[maggsmaggs]

I am still betting that the Big Hurt is our DH in 2006. Plus Frank has better power numbers than Piazza. Mike will be an AL DH next year just not with the Sox.

Frank is gone, the Sox don't want the injury risk.

[elrockinMT]

If the sox were looking at a right handed hitting DH [which I don't think will happen--maybe if he's a switch hitter], a guy like Nomar would be better than Piazza.

 

I'm surprised LAA haven't been mentioned with them for DH.

 

 

Nomas isn't going to play DH for any AL team as long as he thinks he can still play SS. Plus he is not ready for super sub play time. The guy plays SS not 2B or 3B.

[beck72]

Nomas isn't going to play DH for any AL team as long as he thinks he can still play SS. Plus he is not ready for super sub play time. The guy plays SS not 2B or 3B.

The key is what decent team will take him as their SS? Not many

[aboz56]

Anyone have any ideas as to what kind of contract Piazza would be looking for?

[rangercal]

Right price? I wouldn't sign him for the league minimum.  He's done.  Might as well resign Crazy Carl.

 

no

[Rowand44]

no

I'd rather have Carl over Mike...no question.

[nitetrain8601]

I'd rather have Carl over Mike...no question.

 

Add me to that list.

[aboz56]

I'd rather have Carl over Mike...no question.

I'd rather have neither.

[rangercal]

I'd rather have Carl over Mike...no question.

My answer was in response to, Mike should not even get the league minimum.

[witesoxfan]

So I take it I'm in the minority?

 

I don't see anything wrong with Piazza as a plan D...that's not a knock on Piazza, because I think he has gas left in the tank is still a pretty solid hitter all around - hell, probably an underrated hitter. I view him more as a last resort if you can't get a number of guys, be it Giles, Thome, Delgado, Overbay, Durazo, and so on down the line.

 

Truth be told...I think I'd almost prefer to bring Thomas back to be the full-time DH while also bringing in a guy that can put up solid numbers if Thomas were to go down as a 4th OFer. Perhaps that player is say Brian Anderson, and perhaps it's someone from outside the organization, and I just can't think of a good player to fill that role off the top of my head.

 

I would say Carl Everett, but there is no way that's happening.

[sayitaintso]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Damn you took my idea, but i will second that

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[knightni]

MIKE PIAZZA?!

[SoxFan562004]

So I take it I'm in the minority?

 

i don't think this would be a horrible move. From the way this is worded this wouldn't be the PK replacement if PK ends up leaving. This would be replacing Carl.

 

The thought might be to have a full time DH like Piazza who can't do much more than that, then leave Anderson on the 25 man roster and have him be the super sub for all 3 outfield positions so he gets some regular at bats.

[Dam8610]

Dear lord, please give Kenny Williams the wisdom to let Mike Piazza sign with Anaheim.

[CWSGuy406]

Anyone notice how hard of a dip/decline Piazza is currently on? It's understandable -- he's a catcher, I'd assume that with all the moving they do behind the plate, their legs go pretty fast.

 

Anyways, since and including 2000, his slugging %s have been -- 614, 573, 544, 483, 444, 452. His OPS+ are also on a steady decline -- 159, 150, 140, 124, 108, 103. He's barely a league average hitter now, and if I had to put money on it, I'd say that his numbers wouldn't be a whole lot better than last year, if at all. He'd be a slight upgrade over Carl Everett, but I'd rather just give Thomas another shot (or, platoon Gload and Anderson).

[ChWRoCk2]

i like piazza, hes a good player, and good in the clubhouse, id say sign him for lowest price possible on his part

[knightni]

As an effort if the Sox fail on Konerko, Delgado, Thome and Thomas...

 

I'd offer Piazza an incentive-laden deal.

[witesoxfan]

Anyone notice how hard of a dip/decline Piazza is currently on?  It's understandable -- he's a catcher, I'd assume that with all the moving they do behind the plate, their legs go pretty fast.

 

Anyways, since and including 2000, his slugging %s have been -- 614, 573, 544, 483, 444, 452.  His OPS+ are also on a steady decline -- 159, 150, 140, 124, 108, 103.  He's barely a league average hitter now, and if I had to put money on it, I'd say that his numbers wouldn't be a whole lot better than last year, if at all.  He'd be a slight upgrade over Carl Everett, but I'd rather just give Thomas another shot (or, platoon Gload and Anderson).

 

Catching has worn on him over the years - that's a given.

 

But Keith, even you have to consider that getting him away from everyday catching, and in fact getting him away from defense all together, along with getting away from the god-awful hitters park that is Shea Stadium and moving to a great hitters Park that is USCF would increase his numbers by atleast a little bit.

 

Like I said before...I'd probably prefer a 4th OF type that can play everyday if necessary to DH for the Sox, while bringing Thomas back to DH. You are counting on Thomas to be your everyday DH, but if his ankle simply cannot take the stress of playing everyday, you have a fallback option that is guaranteed to atleast a little successful.

 

Maybe it doesn't have to be an OFer...perhaps a 1Bman, but I think we all know Gload's fate within the organization. Perhaps it could be a middle infielder, but I'm not sure Nomar would take too kindly to being a supersub if Frank would be able to return at 100%, and there are really no other options out there other than that.

 

 

Hmm...just thought of a guy who might fit just what I was talking about up above. His value will be lower, for obvious reasons, and he can play all 4 OF spots, though not necessarily well. He gets on base and would be a good #2 hitter if he's healthy.

 

Matt Lawton, anyone?

[DBAHO]

Wite, you could look at it from the point of view that Shea Stadium has really dented his power, but then I came across these splits from 2005;

 

HOME - .277/.354/.475

AWAY - .224/.296/.429

 

Add to that, he hits lefties better, count me out. Gimme Durazo for around the same price.

[witesoxfan]

Wite, you could look at it from the point of view that Shea Stadium has really dented his power, but then I came across these splits from 2005;

 

HOME - .277/.354/.475

AWAY - .224/.296/.429

 

Add to that, he hits lefties better, count me out. Gimme Durazo for around the same price.

 

Not sure what the cause of that is - he was worse on the road in '04 too.

 

From 01-03, he was excellent on the road.

 

Whether that is a flukey thing, him being more comfortable at Shea Stadium, or simply because he is just flat out better, I'm not sure. I wanna say it reminds me of Thomas's 2004 season against LHP - hit .200 against them in 50 ABs with 3 homers, but had 18 walks for an .840 OPS overall(his OPS against RHP in 2004 was over 1.000), but Thomas's was such a short time frame, and he erased that trend very quickly this past year, hitting .280 with a 1.000+ OPS against lefties.

 

I don't think Piazza playing in USCF would see worse numbers than he put up this year at all.

[Chisoxfn]

Anyone notice how hard of a dip/decline Piazza is currently on?  It's understandable -- he's a catcher, I'd assume that with all the moving they do behind the plate, their legs go pretty fast.

 

Anyways, since and including 2000, his slugging %s have been -- 614, 573, 544, 483, 444, 452.  His OPS+ are also on a steady decline -- 159, 150, 140, 124, 108, 103.  He's barely a league average hitter now, and if I had to put money on it, I'd say that his numbers wouldn't be a whole lot better than last year, if at all.  He'd be a slight upgrade over Carl Everett, but I'd rather just give Thomas another shot (or, platoon Gload and Anderson).

Piazza was also playing in one of the better pitchers parks in baseball (shea). I think he'd be a better signing (considering he'll probably cost roughly the same as Thomas) because I think he's more likely to stay healthy (especially as a full time DH).

 

People are writing off Piazza too fast, I think he has a solid year next season. I'm talking .280 20-25 HR, 80-90 RBI. That said, its a risk, but I'd rather sign Piazza than Thomas. I also think going with Piazza allows you the flexibility of giving him time off and getting Anderson playing time at DH and the other outfield positions in a super sub role.

 

That said, I still want a serious upgrade at DH. Thomas/Everett would not be back if I were GM.

[Chisoxfn]

We just came off winning the World Series. Were not trying to find magic in a bottle here and hoping for one more good year in Mike Piazza.

 

Lets think bigger here folks, bigger. Im sure KW is.

I'm totally with you on this thing bigger idea. That said, everyone wishing that Thomas will stay healthy and put up great numbers should realize Piazza is a more sure thing to stay healthy and at least put up average DH numbers. I'm not saying it would be a good move.

 

That said, it wouldn't be a horrid move if no other options panned out. That said, if they lost Konerko and than signed Piazza as a DH, moved Dye to 1st and started Anderson everyday I'd be one pissed off fan.

[Chisoxfn]

The Nomar idea is something that might be worth looking into. However, he would DH for the majority, but Nomar might sort of go under the radar this off-season.

 

I think there is still some gas left in the tank with Nomar, and maybe with him strictly being a DH, he could hit .290-.300 again....

Nomar is definatley a better option than Piazza. He's still a good athlete and showed late last season that he can still handle the bat. Once again your going after an injury proned guy and thats something I'd like to see the Sox stay away from.

[Rowand44]

I'm totally with you on this thing bigger idea.  That said, everyone wishing that Thomas will stay healthy and put up great numbers should realize Piazza is a more sure thing to stay healthy and at least put up average DH numbers.  I'm not saying it would be a good move. 

 

That said, it wouldn't be a horrid move if no other options panned out. That said, if they lost Konerko and than signed Piazza as a DH, moved Dye to 1st and started Anderson everyday I'd be one pissed off fan.

I'd rather take a chance on Frank compared to Piazza, Mike hasn't swung the bat well for a while now, Frank proved in 04 he could still hit. Obviously the whole staying healthy part is going to be Franks main concern but I think if we can get him healthy, he can still swing that bat.

[Chisoxfn]

I'd rather take a chance on Frank compared to Piazza, Mike hasn't swung the bat well for a while now, Frank proved in 04 he could still hit.  Obviously the whole staying healthy part is going to be Franks main concern but I think if we can get him healthy, he can still swing that bat.

I don't want any of them. If the Sox are going after Frank for a full time DH or Piazza as a full time DH, the club is going to be in trouble. I'm sorry, nothing Frank has done the past few years have given me any reason to think he'll come back from this injury and play 130 games.