PIAZZA SPEAKS


Mets C/1B refutes all rumors (except the dirty ones)

David Waldstein of the Newark Star-Ledger managed something no one else has been able to pull off the past 2 weeks ; he's got genuine, on-the-record quotes from Mike Piazza concerning the Mets catcher's alleged trade demands.

"I don't want to be traded," Piazza told The Star-Ledger in a casual, matter-of-fact tone by phone yesterday from his L.A. home. "I signed on for seven years. I made a seven-year commitment and I plan to stick to it. I don't know where all this came from, but it didn't come from me. What hurts me is that the fans are confused, and they shouldn't be. It's kind of embarrassing. It shouldn't be about me. It should be about making the team better."

Piazza said he was partially amused by the mischaracterization of his feelings in numerous reports last week. Yes, his agent, Dan Lozano, told the Mets if they were starting a youth movement and didn't believe Piazza fit into the plan, they'd be willing to listen about the possibility of a trade. Lozano wasn't asking for one, Piazza said. He wanted to be cooperative and find out what the Mets were thinking.

Lozano also told them Piazza is prepared to play some first base, as planned.

But Piazza said he could not understand how that was turned into a trade request, or that an unnamed friend could claim he was unhappy.

"No friend of mine would not have the guts to put his name to a story," he said. "What really bothers me is it's all a distraction from the important stuff, like what we need to do to make the team better for next year.

"I'm just trying to be accommodating, to help the team. I think we should have open lines of communication and we should be adults about it. They shouldn't be afraid to come talk to me about anything. I'll do whatever they want me to do. My agent was quoted saying I'm willing to play first base. I've said it over and over again. What do I have to do, go to the top of a mountain at high noon and sign it in blood?"

Much as we appreciate the imagery (mountain, noon, blood), that really shouldn't be necessary.

Posted: Tue - November 25, 2003 at 05:42 PM      

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