Mike Piazza heard the cheers in pregame last night when he returned to Shea.
“Way to go, Pizza Man!” one fan yelled.
Piazza’s reception last night began early, as the former Mets superstar, the franchise player for 7 ½ seasons, was back in Flushing for the first time since he and the Mets parted ways after last season.
“It’s Tuesday night,” he said when all the media members were in the Padres dugout in pregame for him. “Isn’t there anything else going on in the world.” Piazza, now the starting catcher for the Padres, received a video tribute before the game began last night, the Shea scoreboard inscribing the message “WELCOME BACK 31” before it began. The Beatles’ song “In My Life” accompanied Piazza highlights, as the fans at Shea cheered and gave the 37-yearold slugger a standing ovation.
Piazza watched the video from the left-field foul line.
After it ended, he gave a small wave, then tipped his helmet as he walked along the thirdbase line. He received a standing ovation from the fans, and the catcher waved and blew kisses, and tipped his helmet.
The fans chanted his name then clapped five times in unison.
It was a bit surprising and disappointing, though, to not have all the Mets on the top dugout step or on the field applauding their former teammate.
When it was time for Piazza’s first at-bat, there were cheers as he was getting ready to hit, and Piazza tipped his hat outside the batter’s box.
He received a long standing ovation, and Piazza tipped his helmet again before striking out on five pitches, going down on a Steve Trachsel splitter. But the cheers could still be heard.
“What can I say? I’m really excited to be back here,” he said before the game. “It’s really tough to top the sendoff I had last year. I’m glad everyone’s been really positive about it, and I think it’s probably a tribute to how well the Mets are playing, to the energy here really is so positive and I think that’s great. So I’m going to enjoy it.” Piazza, who entered the game hitting .297 with 16 homers for the Padres and said he will play in 2007, called the Mets “an amazing team” before the game began.
He also admitted the flight to New York on this occasion felt different.
“I’m very nervous, to be totally honest with you,” he said. “Hopefully when I get onto the field it’s just like a duck to water, but you never know.” When Piazza’s homer against the Braves following the Sept. 11 attacks was shown as part of the tribute video, there was a huge roar from the fans. Asked about his impact on the city after that tragedy, Piazza replied touchingly, “I think it’s not always what I meant. But I think what they meant to us, what the people here meant to us.”
Sticking it to ’em
New Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca and former Mets catcher Mike Piazza, whose Padres are in town for a three-game set, are among the hottest hitters in the majors since July 1. Here’s a look:
RANK. PLAYER TEAM BA
1. Paul Lo Duca NYM .430
2. Justin Morneau Min .400
3. Chase Utley Phi .399
4. Derek Jeter NYY .381
5. Scott Hatteberg Cin .380
10. Mike Piazza SD .366
Minimum 75 plate appearances since July 1
-Elias Sports Bureau
