RIP The Monster
This weekend marked the end of Mike Piazza's career in a Mets uniform.
It wasn't a surprise by any means. Indeed, it was pretty evident that the Monster wouldn't be back even in the first few weeks of the offseason. Omar Minaya seemed pretty intent on moving in a different direction, and at the time the conventional wisdom was that Piazza would leave the Mets for the greener pastures of the American League where he would prolong his career as a pinch hitter.
All along, the media reported that a return by Piazza was viewed by both sides as a last resort, the kind of pact you make with a long time best friend of the opposite sex if you're afraid of dying alone -- if no one else comes calling, we'll agree to call each other. Fans of the Julia Roberts vehicle "My Best Friend's Wedding" will be familiar with this arrangement.
Most Mets fans aren't familiar, I'm sure, but so long as Piazza was without a contract for next year, there were always going to be that cross section of the Mets fan-o-sphere that pined for a return by No. 31.
All hopes of that happening were dashed yesterday, officially at last, when Piazza signed a 1yr, $2 million contract with the San Diego Padres with a mutual option for a second season.
For the first day in almost 9 years, Mike Piazza is no longer a Met.
Today, I wanted to spit off the top 5 most memorable Monster moments/quotes. It's kind of sad to see the guy go, but it was right for the Mets and for him as well. The truth is that the guy probably would have been better served by getting a DH job somewhere, but hey, he wanted to be a starting catcher and from the looks of it he'll get that chance in San Diego, Doug Mirabelli not withstanding.
Before launching into the top 5 memorable Monster moments, I want to pay a different respect to Mike. I think it was a very classy move to sign with the Padres. Mike is going to retire a Met and go to Cooperstown as a Met. This guy didn't want to go to Philadelphia to play for a rival.
He wanted to play baseball but also to respect the team that he loves. In the days when Johnny Damon is signing with the Yankees, Monster's decision to go somewhere away from the rivalries deserves our appreciation. This guy was a great Met and a great person and he will be missed.
So now, the top 5 Monster moments.
5. Mike Piazza's comments in regards to the possible acquisition of Juan Gonzalez back in the winter of 2001.
In an article in November 30th's New York Post Mike was quoted:
"How awesome would he look in pinstripes?" Mike Piazza told the New York Post, referring to the Mets' pinstripes. "That big hulking body with his freaking King Kong arms. I love that guy."
Everyone was always concerned about Mike's sexual preference (see No. 3 on this list) so it was only fitting that at the peak of people's suspicions the Monster would spit out this fabulous one liner.
The only thing comparable would be if "Brokeback Mike" went to Willie after the season and weaped, "I wish I knew how to quit you!"
Nonetheless, Mike went on to marry a playmate, so the man is doing OK and it seems that he is just far more comfortable with his sexuality than most.
4. NLCS 2000.
The Mets were playing the Cardinals in the NLCS and the Monster, fresh off his best season as a pro, was struggling in the postseason.
The man knew he needed to step up and he did with a huge double. As it is apt to do, FOX had a mic on a member of the Mets' coaching staff, John Stearns, who responded to Piazza's two-bagger by shouting out repeatedly...
"The monster is out of the cage!"
Mike took us on his back and brought us to our first World Series since 1986. That may have been the best week of my life.
3. May 22, 2002
Responding to a report in the New York Post that indirectly suggested he was gay, the Monster held an on-field press conference to refute the rumors. The following is a transcript of Piazza's statement:
"Well, I'm not gay. The truth is that I'm heterosexual and date women. And that's it."
He then took questions, it was pretty hilarious.
Perhaps the best part of the whole thing is that in researching this entry, I discovered one individual posting on the Fark.com message board under the alias "ToeCutter". ToeCutter wrote the following:
"all you bastards who think he's gay probley just hate the mets, cause the mets are going to win the world series. LETS GO METS LETS GO METS."
I know what you're thinking, and no, I don't know whether Steamin' Mikey Lehman is ToeCutter either. What I do know is that ToeCutter was in for a whale of a disappointing end to his season, as the Mets finished 75-86, 26.5 games behind whichever team was in first place that year. Oh right, it was the Braves.
Everyone had a good laugh at the Monster's expense in the summer of 2002, but Piazza got the last laugh when he married a former Playmate, Baywatch babe, and all-around biscuit in early 2005.
2. June 30, 2000
I remember this game unlike any other. I still have the ticket stub in my wallet.
The Mets entered the 8th inning down 8-0 in the middle of a huge rivalry game against the hated Atlanta Braves.
This was the heart of the Chipper and Rocker hatred.
This was the biggest June series in my entire life as a Mets fan.
So the Mets started to come back. Down 8-7 with 2 outs left in the inning, Mike Piazza drove a 1-1 Terry Mulholland fastball over the left field wall.
The ball never got higher than 10 feet off the ground and left the park in the flash of an eye.
I stood there, jumping in intense euphoria with Old Chipper and AFOMG.
The Monster trotted down the first base line and gave a heroic fist pump that I can still visualize perfectly.
This was the game that defined that season.
1. September 21, 2001
NYC and the entire country were coming off the terrorist attacks of the WTC and Washington. Baseball, our national pasttime had a different meaning. It was a game that we all love that we needed to help get our minds off the atrocity that had occurred a little over a week before.
In the first game in New York since the terror attacks the Mets were playing the Braves in a must win game. Of far more importance than the playoff race was the fact that we were the Mets and this was New York, the place that is often considered the center of the world, but at that time, was even more important.
Down 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th, a loss being enough to destroying the Mets' hopes and a city and country on his back, the Monster delivered a 2 run home run.
The Mets won the game 3-2.
This homerun meant so much. It gave New York and the sports world a hero at a time when people were looking for any sort of inspiration possible.
After having suffered its biggest lost, New York got back a very small but extremely symbolic win.
Mike, we wish you the best, we are really going to miss you.
I'm psyched to have the Monster in SF 9 times this year.
When he's back at Shea, I can't wait for the man to get the love that he deserves.
For all you 24 fans, check this site out:
http://www.notrly.com/jackbauer/index.php?topthirty
Kind of a rip on all the chuck norris talk, but funny nonetheless.
VCD,
SM
It wasn't a surprise by any means. Indeed, it was pretty evident that the Monster wouldn't be back even in the first few weeks of the offseason. Omar Minaya seemed pretty intent on moving in a different direction, and at the time the conventional wisdom was that Piazza would leave the Mets for the greener pastures of the American League where he would prolong his career as a pinch hitter.
All along, the media reported that a return by Piazza was viewed by both sides as a last resort, the kind of pact you make with a long time best friend of the opposite sex if you're afraid of dying alone -- if no one else comes calling, we'll agree to call each other. Fans of the Julia Roberts vehicle "My Best Friend's Wedding" will be familiar with this arrangement.
Most Mets fans aren't familiar, I'm sure, but so long as Piazza was without a contract for next year, there were always going to be that cross section of the Mets fan-o-sphere that pined for a return by No. 31.
All hopes of that happening were dashed yesterday, officially at last, when Piazza signed a 1yr, $2 million contract with the San Diego Padres with a mutual option for a second season.
For the first day in almost 9 years, Mike Piazza is no longer a Met.
Today, I wanted to spit off the top 5 most memorable Monster moments/quotes. It's kind of sad to see the guy go, but it was right for the Mets and for him as well. The truth is that the guy probably would have been better served by getting a DH job somewhere, but hey, he wanted to be a starting catcher and from the looks of it he'll get that chance in San Diego, Doug Mirabelli not withstanding.
Before launching into the top 5 memorable Monster moments, I want to pay a different respect to Mike. I think it was a very classy move to sign with the Padres. Mike is going to retire a Met and go to Cooperstown as a Met. This guy didn't want to go to Philadelphia to play for a rival.
He wanted to play baseball but also to respect the team that he loves. In the days when Johnny Damon is signing with the Yankees, Monster's decision to go somewhere away from the rivalries deserves our appreciation. This guy was a great Met and a great person and he will be missed.
So now, the top 5 Monster moments.
5. Mike Piazza's comments in regards to the possible acquisition of Juan Gonzalez back in the winter of 2001.In an article in November 30th's New York Post Mike was quoted:
"How awesome would he look in pinstripes?" Mike Piazza told the New York Post, referring to the Mets' pinstripes. "That big hulking body with his freaking King Kong arms. I love that guy."
Everyone was always concerned about Mike's sexual preference (see No. 3 on this list) so it was only fitting that at the peak of people's suspicions the Monster would spit out this fabulous one liner.
The only thing comparable would be if "Brokeback Mike" went to Willie after the season and weaped, "I wish I knew how to quit you!"
Nonetheless, Mike went on to marry a playmate, so the man is doing OK and it seems that he is just far more comfortable with his sexuality than most.
4. NLCS 2000.
The Mets were playing the Cardinals in the NLCS and the Monster, fresh off his best season as a pro, was struggling in the postseason.
The man knew he needed to step up and he did with a huge double. As it is apt to do, FOX had a mic on a member of the Mets' coaching staff, John Stearns, who responded to Piazza's two-bagger by shouting out repeatedly...
"The monster is out of the cage!"
Mike took us on his back and brought us to our first World Series since 1986. That may have been the best week of my life.
3. May 22, 2002
Responding to a report in the New York Post that indirectly suggested he was gay, the Monster held an on-field press conference to refute the rumors. The following is a transcript of Piazza's statement:
"Well, I'm not gay. The truth is that I'm heterosexual and date women. And that's it."
He then took questions, it was pretty hilarious.
Perhaps the best part of the whole thing is that in researching this entry, I discovered one individual posting on the Fark.com message board under the alias "ToeCutter". ToeCutter wrote the following:
"all you bastards who think he's gay probley just hate the mets, cause the mets are going to win the world series. LETS GO METS LETS GO METS."
I know what you're thinking, and no, I don't know whether Steamin' Mikey Lehman is ToeCutter either. What I do know is that ToeCutter was in for a whale of a disappointing end to his season, as the Mets finished 75-86, 26.5 games behind whichever team was in first place that year. Oh right, it was the Braves.
Everyone had a good laugh at the Monster's expense in the summer of 2002, but Piazza got the last laugh when he married a former Playmate, Baywatch babe, and all-around biscuit in early 2005.
2. June 30, 2000
I remember this game unlike any other. I still have the ticket stub in my wallet.
The Mets entered the 8th inning down 8-0 in the middle of a huge rivalry game against the hated Atlanta Braves.
This was the heart of the Chipper and Rocker hatred.
This was the biggest June series in my entire life as a Mets fan.
So the Mets started to come back. Down 8-7 with 2 outs left in the inning, Mike Piazza drove a 1-1 Terry Mulholland fastball over the left field wall.
The ball never got higher than 10 feet off the ground and left the park in the flash of an eye.
I stood there, jumping in intense euphoria with Old Chipper and AFOMG.
The Monster trotted down the first base line and gave a heroic fist pump that I can still visualize perfectly.
This was the game that defined that season.
1. September 21, 2001
NYC and the entire country were coming off the terrorist attacks of the WTC and Washington. Baseball, our national pasttime had a different meaning. It was a game that we all love that we needed to help get our minds off the atrocity that had occurred a little over a week before.
In the first game in New York since the terror attacks the Mets were playing the Braves in a must win game. Of far more importance than the playoff race was the fact that we were the Mets and this was New York, the place that is often considered the center of the world, but at that time, was even more important.
Down 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th, a loss being enough to destroying the Mets' hopes and a city and country on his back, the Monster delivered a 2 run home run.
The Mets won the game 3-2.
This homerun meant so much. It gave New York and the sports world a hero at a time when people were looking for any sort of inspiration possible.
After having suffered its biggest lost, New York got back a very small but extremely symbolic win.
Mike, we wish you the best, we are really going to miss you.
I'm psyched to have the Monster in SF 9 times this year.
When he's back at Shea, I can't wait for the man to get the love that he deserves.
For all you 24 fans, check this site out:
http://www.notrly.com/jackbauer/index.php?topthirty
Kind of a rip on all the chuck norris talk, but funny nonetheless.
VCD,
SM
posted by Sippy Momo at 2:24 AM
3 Comments:
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Cousin you are a genious! Keep on writing, us guys back in Jersey need our Mets fix as much as possible in these cold winter days!
I still remember where I was on 9/21/2001...and Sip, you'll be there soon. Yes, it was beautiful Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, or the Net, or whatever they call it now, and I was watching the A's beat Seattle. When they replaced the 1 with a 3 on the scoreboard, I stood up and yelled "PIAZZA!" I didn't actually know it was him. But I knew.
Keep up the good work, SM!
Living in Cousin Awesome's Shadow.
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