Here’s the up-to-the-minute update on Mike Piazza and his chances of participating in Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Seattle, provided by none other than Piazza himself: “I’m definitely not going to not catch and then go to the All-Star Game and catch.”
Got it?
Pardon Piazza if he sounds a bit vague when assessing the likelihood he will be able to take his place as a voted-in National League starter and, perhaps, get a crack at facing his nemesis, Roger Clemens.
Piazza continues to heal from a hairline fracture in his left big toe, an injury suffered last Friday that kept him out of the lineup for four games heading into last night, an injury that could relegate him to designated hitter duties for the three-game series at Yankee Stadium that begins tonight.
Piazza said last night he was cleared to pinch-hit last night against the Cubs, and he did not rule out testing his toe behind the plate in one game against the Yankees, most likely Sunday’s series finale prior to the All-Star break.
Here is the dilemma: His manager, Bobby Valentine, selected only one reserve catcher for the NL squad, Charles Johnson of Florida. Infielder Phil Nevin of the Padres has a catching background, but Valentine said he would not put Nevin behind the plate in an All-Star Game.
If Piazza is not deemed able to catch in Seattle, he won’t even make the trip and another catcher will be selected to take Piazza’s place. The only other way Piazza could make the trip and not catch is if an NL All-Star outfielder gets hurt in the next few days and is replaced on the 30-man roster by a catcher. That unlikely scenario would allow Piazza to participate in the All-Star Game as a DH.
“I want to go, obviously,” Piazza said, “but I’m not going to go if I can’t catch.”
Mets management has already weighed in on the matter. The priority is getting its best hitter healthy and back in the lineup.
“If he can’t go there and play, my distinct preference would be for him to stay home and off the toe, let it heal so when he gets back from the break he can get back to playing and catching,” general manager Steve Phillips said.
That motion was seconded by Valentine.
“I don’t see any reason to get on that flight after the game [Sunday], trek across the country, get in early in the morning to walk over and say, ‘Hi, I’m here,’ get back on a plane 40 hours later and trek back across the country,” Valentine said. “The logical thing would be to say it would be good for him to stay here.”
Luckily for Piazza and the Mets, the option exists this weekend to slot him in as the DH for the upcoming games at Yankee Stadium. Piazza, though, desperately wants to catch at least one game and then head to Seattle.
To test his toe, Piazza yesterday got down in his catcher’s squat and threw balls to second base. He also ran on the grass.
“It felt good,” he said. “There’s still a little bit of soreness there, obviously you want to keep it protected, it’s not to the point where we feel it’s going to hinder anything. It’s improved a lot with icing it.”
The final decision on if he makes the trip to Seattle rests with Piazza.
“I’m not going to say, ‘Hey Mike, you’re elected to the All-Star team, now don’t come because you got hurt,’ ” Valentine said. “I’d like Mike to make that decision, what’s best for Mike.”
