Piazza Announces Retirement.

[OldFatGuy]

Unquestionably a HOF'er, he probably will make it on the first ballot.
I always think of him as a Dodger, but it's up to him. I'm guessing that he'll say Dodgers though.

Does he get to pick??? I thought MLB did, but I'm probably wrong again. If he picks, then I say DEFINITELY Dodgers. I know his heart is fond of LaSorda and the Dodgers for giving him a shot.

[ohms_law]

Does he get to pick?

I'm pretty sure that he does.

[Swampdog]

The player does not decide what team cap is on his plaque, nor does MLB, the Hall of Fame does. The HOF will often respect the players wishes, but like someone stated, they dont always (Gary Carter). Also, the player might have a generic cap with no team logo, i.e., Catfish Hunter.

[ayhoser]

Without a doubt 1st ballot HOF. Was the best hitting catcher of all time.

Goes in with a Dodgers cap.

[Red Sox Fan 734]

I would say he just gets enough votes on the 1st ballot, and definitely wearing a Dodgers Hat

[Swampdog]

I think they will give him an LA cap. Probably best hitting catcher (even in the offensive explosion era)...but nowhere near the defensive skills of the other "great" catchers.

[dickay]

I think they will give him an LA cap. Probably best hitting catcher (even in the offensive explosion era)...but nowhere near the defensive skills of the other "great" catchers.

I've always heard he can't call a game, or isn't great defensively. I'd love to see the stats that confirm this however. I know he was subpar throwing runners out and thats an easy stat to dig out, but not many catchers throw out many runners. In comparison to the league, what stats confirm the thought that Piazza couldn't call a game and was poor defensively, in comparison with the other "great" catchers.

[HoustonGM]

I've always heard he can't call a game, or isn't great defensively. I'd love to see the stats that confirm this however. I know he was subpar throwing runners out and thats an easy stat to dig out, but not many catchers throw out many runners. In comparison to the league, what stats confirm the thought that Piazza couldn't call a game and was poor defensively, in comparison with the other "great" catchers.

I don't think any stats can say that. There is really no way to quantify how well a catcher calls a game because it's nearly impossible to seperate the catcher from the pitcher.

The only thing we can quantify is his arm. He threw out 23.2% of basestealers. Ivan Rodriguez, by comparison, has thrown out 47.3%. Take a more middle-of-the-road defensive rep in Jorge Posada, 29.4%. If I knew the league averages, that'd be better, but I think it's very safe to say that Mike Piazza sucked at controlling the running game.

[Arctic Blast]

2nd ballot, just because I have no faith in the sense of HoF voters in ANY sport, really...Dodgers cap.

[HoustonGM]

Jay Jaffe and WARP's take on Mike Piazza's HOF case

[Coach Owens]

Again, I say he shouldn't get in if John Olerud doesn't get in!

[ohms_law]

despite his defense (which was merely lousy until 2002, when he took things to a whole new level of stink)

ROTFL!

[dickay]

I don't think any stats can say that. There is really no way to quantify how well a catcher calls a game because it's nearly impossible to seperate the catcher from the pitcher.

The only thing we can quantify is his arm. He threw out 23.2% of basestealers. Ivan Rodriguez, by comparison, has thrown out 47.3%. Take a more middle-of-the-road defensive rep in Jorge Posada, 29.4%. If I knew the league averages, that'd be better, but I think it's very safe to say that Mike Piazza sucked at controlling the running game.

I-Rod is in the very elite status at throwing runners out. Posada, as you say mid of the road I'd probably agree he's mid road at worst....there are very few catchers that throw out anywheres near half the runners who attempt to steal. I hate accusing a guy of horrific defense based on his ability to throw out runners and that alone. I know many have said that he was a poor defender, but I think that his great offense heck people had to slight something and maybe he got a bad rap.

If you based it solely on throwing runners out Varitek is a HORRIFIC catcher. As a team they don't focus heavily on holding runners, they prefer not to slide step etc. etc.

All my rambling is basically saying that i'm stunned statheads are throwing out this rumor he's a bad catcher with nothing to go on but a poor stat such as % of runners thrown out.

[HoustonGM]

I hate accusing a guy of horrific defense based on his ability to throw out runners and that alone.

Nobody is.

All my rambling is basically saying that i'm stunned statheads are throwing out this rumor he's a bad catcher with nothing to go on but a poor stat such as % of runners thrown out.

You think "statheads" alone are the only one "throwing out the rumor" that he was a bad catcher? Sorry, that's not the case. Piazza has a bad defensive reputation, in all sorts of baseball circles - fans, scouts, "statheads", whatever.

The quote ohms quoted was based on his Fielding Runs Above Average, which take into account his RTO%, but also his other defensive stats, although I'd say FRAA is a shaky defense stat as is because it's based off the "standard" stats such as putouts, assists, and errors. You can see Piazza's FRAA numbers here. The quote was made because Piazza had a -30 mark in 2002. He's been below average every year of his career.

Granted, as I said, that's only one stat, though.

Catcher defense is the hardest position to quantify defense, as I basically said in my previous post. You have some numbers, plus reputation. In this case, the numbers and the reputation agree - he wasn't a good defender. But still, who cares? Even with poor defense, he was one of the best overall catchers in history because his bat was SO good.

[dickay]

You think "statheads" alone are the only one "throwing out the rumor" that he was a bad catcher?

Nope, never said they were.