The Mets Police

>Mike Piazza announced his retirement from baseball this afternoon.

Now let the debate begin – was Mike a Dodger or a Met and what cap should he wear when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Piazza came up through the Dodger system and established himself as the best offensive catcher in the game while in Los Angeles. However, he played more games and accumulated more numbers in his years with the Mets.

In his statement, Piazza was clear as to how he thinks of himself:

“Last but certainly not least, I can’t say goodbye without thanking the fans,” Piazza said. “I can’t recall a time in my career where I didn’t feel embraced by all of you. Los Angeles, San Diego, Oakland and Miami—whether it was at home or on the road, you were all so supportive over the years.

“But I have to say that my time with the Mets wouldn’t have been the same without the greatest fans in the world. One of the hardest moments of my career, was walking off the field at Shea Stadium and saying goodbye. My relationship with you made my time in New York the happiest of my career and for that, I will always be grateful.”

Yes Gary Carter felt the same way – and still identifies himslef more with the Mets than with the Expos, but Carter only played a few years with New York while Piazza played the bulk of his career here. Personally, he is a Met and should go into the HOF wearing a Mets cap.

Mike Piazza announced his retirement from baseball this afternoon.

Now let the debate begin – was Mike a Dodger or a Met and what cap should he wear when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Piazza came up through the Dodger system and established himself as the best offensive catcher in the game while in Los Angeles. However, he played more games and accumulated more numbers in his years with the Mets.

In his statement, Piazza was clear as to how he thinks of himself:

“Last but certainly not least, I can’t say goodbye without thanking the fans,” Piazza said. “I can’t recall a time in my career where I didn’t feel embraced by all of you. Los Angeles, San Diego, Oakland and Miami—whether it was at home or on the road, you were all so supportive over the years.

“But I have to say that my time with the Mets wouldn’t have been the same without the greatest fans in the world. One of the hardest moments of my career, was walking off the field at Shea Stadium and saying goodbye. My relationship with you made my time in New York the happiest of my career and for that, I will always be grateful.”

Yes Gary Carter felt the same way – and still identifies himslef more with the Mets than with the Expos, but Carter only played a few years with New York while Piazza played the bulk of his career here. Personally, he is a Met and should go into the HOF wearing a Mets cap.

> Sorry to hear Pedro’s father is ill. Taht’s a terrible situation for anyone to deal with.

As he told the Daily news: “It’s taking a toll on me and my family, my dad’s situation,” Martinez told the Daily News. “I haven’t been there for them. I just realized that between last year and this year I haven’t been there for my family, my parents.

“After this season, I’m going to go back home and think about it and I’m going to decide.”

From a baseball standpoint – well there’s that pace of 3.5 wins per year (since June 2006) that we’ll miss.

>On July 30, 2004 the Mets made two trades that would greatly impact the team both in the short and potentially long-term. Both trades involved young pitchers – one left the Mets and one came to the Mets. The one that left is Scott Kazmir – and I think we all know the details of that trade. The other pitcher, the one that came to the Mets, was Kris Benson.