THE Mets honor Mike Piazza tonight at Shea, trotting out Hall of Famers Yogi Berra, Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Ralph Kiner and Gary Carter, among others.
Seeing all that talent on the field might bring Team Wilpon to its senses. There is only one way to win in New York – bring in the best talent, people who also have the best work ethic.
The best way for the Mets to honor Piazza is to increase the talent on the roster, and yesterday was a decent first step, adding once hard-hitting outfielder Richard Hildago.
That should be a beginning, though, not an end.
The solution to the Mets’ hitting woes was staring them in the face last winter, but the Mets didn’t have the gumption to sign Vladimir Guerrero, who would have been the perfect addition, so now they are forced to play catch-up in the hitting department. Carlos Beltran would have been a fun summer rental, too, but the Mets say they were never in that race.
Add up those swings and misses and that is how you wind up with the worst batting average (.248) in the majors. The Expos’ .232 doesn’t count – they are Bud Selig’s fantasy team. Hildago hasn’t homered in two months so Mets fans can’t get too excited by this trade, but this deal was a no-brainer. The Mets had nothing to lose sending David Weathers and Jeremy Griffiths to Houston.
Perhaps the Mets can get the slumping Hildago working toward a goal again because in this game, it always comes down to hard work.
Listen to legendary college coach Demie (Doc) Mainieri, who won 1,018 games at Miami-Dade North Community College and coached a young first baseman named Mike Piazza just before the Dodgers drafted him in 1988. Mainieri, 75, tells a story that puts Piazza’s work ethic into perspective and explains how the catcher no one wanted has gone on to hit the most home runs in major league history by a catcher.
If Piazza had not been drafted by the Dodgers, Mainieri was set to have Piazza move from first to catcher the next spring for his son Paul, who was coaching at nearby St. Thomas University. Paul Mainieri has gone on to coaching greatness himself at Notre Dame.
Doc Mainieri, now a special assignment scout for the Cubs, and Piazza quickly became friends. One Christmas Eve five years into Piazza’s major league career with the Dodgers, Mainieri called Piazza at his family’s home in Phoenixville, Pa.
Mainieri wanted to wish Mike a Merry Christmas. Piazza’s mom Veronica answered the phone and after exchanging pleasantries, Doc asked to speak to Mike.
“I have to go get him,” Veronica said. “He’s downstairs hitting in the batting cage.”
To this day Mainieri – who grew up in Jersey City, went to Columbia and also coached Steve Carlton, giving him a Hall of Fame battery – marvels at Piazza’s work ethic.
“Imagine that, on Christmas Eve, Mike is hitting in the batting cage and this is after he’s been in the majors for five years,” Mainieri tells me from his home in South Bend. “That is why Mike Piazza is a Hall of Famer. He’s never stopped working to get better.”
Hard work and taking advantage of an opportunity produce success. The Mets have an opportunity to play “meaningful” games because the Marlins and Phillies are not the Yankees.
The Mets not only need to make a deal for another pitcher, they can quickly improve the makeup of this team by calling up young third baseman David Wright. Wright and the legend to be named later, Jose Reyes, will give the Mets a jolt of youth and talent they desperately need.
When young, talented, hard-working players show up, veteran players share their knowledge and suddenly a team is more of a team. Just ask the 2003 World Champion Marlins.
Team Wilpon needs to remember all this tonight when Mike Piazza is honored. Don’t just look back, for a change, look ahead.