Piazza's Memoir

[Edgy MD]

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]

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

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

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

[TransMonk]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

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]

Of course.........Mota...

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

[Edgy MD]

Mota isn't the only guy who plunked him.

[G-Fafif]

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]

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]

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.

[Guest themetfairy]

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.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

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.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Vic Sage]

Although, in general, athlete autobiographies set a pretty low bar.

i know that place... down on st. marks, right?

[Fman99]

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

[metirish]

Is the foreword by Sam Champion?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Vic Sage]

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).