Piazza Signs............

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Piazza Signs............

Molina isn't all that great, I really don't know why people think he is, his only a .273 carrer hitter. don't get me wrong he's a great defensive catcher.

Defense is an important attribute for a pitcher to have at Petco Park. Molina is a decent hitter who's better than the three catchers the Padres were planning to go into the season with.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: Piazza Signs............

Molina isn't all that great, I really don't know why people think he is, his only a .273 carrer hitter. don't get me wrong he's a great defensive catcher.

The D is exactly why people like him, in a catcher you like them to be very good defensively and any offense is icing on the cake, granted they can't be horrible offensively, but Molina is decent.

[rsox]

Re: Piazza Signs............

Molina is solid defensively, decent offensively...but Tomy LaSorda could beat him in a race. The guy can't run to save his life.
Who does he think he's threatening by saying he is willing to sit out the entire season if he does not get the offer he wants-the 30 teams that aren't paying him?!. As a 31 (will be 32 in july) year old out of shape Catcher with a history of injuries sitting out an entire season could be just the thing...to end his career. Wise up Bengie.

Piazza is a low risk-high reward signing for the Padres. Worst case scenario is he has a bad season and they let him go, and then they can sign Molina (who may still be a free agent by that time).

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Piazza Signs............

It will be interesting to see if Molina follows through on his threat.

The only team that has made him an offer is the Jays. They offered him a 1yr/4 mil deal. JP has said the Jays won't go any higher than that so it's a take it or leave it offer.

The market has closed on Molina. He probably thought he was going to get a 3yr/24mil deal before the FA period started.

I think Piazza will be good value for 2 million dollars. I still like his bat but he is awful behind the plate. He would have been better off going to the AL to be a DH and catch maybe 20-30 games.

[TheTruth916]

Re: Piazza Signs............

Molina isn't all that great, I really don't know why people think he is, his only a .273 carrer hitter. don't get me wrong he's a great defensive catcher.

I would take a career .273 hitter, a gold glove winner, a catcher who throws out near 50% of the baserunners and is a clutch hitter over Mike Piazza at this age.

[bkrich83]

Re: Piazza Signs............

Molina isn't all that great, I really don't know why people think he is, his only a .273 carrer hitter. don't get me wrong he's a great defensive catcher.

You're kidding right? Molina's better than about 80% of the catchers out there. Gold Glover who hits between .270 and .290 with 10 to 15 bombs. I'll take him anyday of the week.

Last year he hit .295 with 15 bombs, and only struck out 41 times in 410 ab's. That along with his defense, and he's not that good?

[ehh]

Re: Piazza Signs............

You're kidding right? Molina's better than about 80% of the catchers out there. Gold Glover who hits between .270 and .290 with 10 to 15 bombs. I'll take him anyday of the week.

Last year he hit .295 with 15 bombs, and only struck out 41 times in 410 ab's. That along with his defense, and he's not that good?

Agreed, Molina is easily one of the best catchers in the game today. He's just fat and looks like a bum, so no one gives him any respect.


I think Piazza going to the Fathers is a good move for both sides. Get Piazza back to the West coast and away from the circus that is NY. A safe deal for the SD at 1yr/$2 mil plus the mutual 2nd year option, though $8 mil is way too much even if Piazza hits .270 with 25 homers and 90+ RBI this year. You can't pay the guy $8 mil for those numbers, esp since he prolly won't duplicate them in '07.

[nyyanksfan20]

Re: Piazza Signs............

Bottom line, Molina is a better catcher at thier stages of thier career, but 2 mil for Piazza is a good deal and worth it.