DODGERS NOTEBOOK: PIAZZA'S BAT CLAMS UP.Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer Mike Piazza Michael Joseph Piazza (born September 4, 1968 in Norristown, Pennsylvania) is an American Major League Baseball player who currently plays for the Oakland Athletics. He began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played for the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres knows people are watching. Every bad swing, every poor at-bat has the look of an angry player in the middle of a difficult contract negotiation. Piazza is trying to put behind him critical comments he made against management last week and hopes to get the contract done soon. It doesn't help the fans' perceptions to be batting .235 (4 for 17) with no home runs or RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in . ``I said some regrettable things, but that's what happens when you get involved,'' Piazza said. ``Since then, my concentration level has been picked up a notch. Basically, I've learned my lesson.'' Piazza is seeking a seven-year, $105 million contract and was stunned when the club countered with a six-year deal for $78 million. It would be baseball's biggest contract, but Piazza has been hoping to become the game's first $100 million player. Both sides are scheduled to speak again Monday. Although several teammates have stated emphatically that the team's poor start is not related to the absence of injured cleanup hitter In baseball, the cleanup hitter is the hitter who bats fourth in the lineup. Strategy Cleanup hitters often have the most power on the team and are typically the team's best all-around hitter; their job is to "clean up the bases", hence the name. Eric Karros ``They are pitching me a little differently,'' Piazza said. ``You don't nearly see the same pitches. Maybe that's because he's not there. Maybe it's because I haven't been swinging the bat well so far.'' Todd Zeile cleanup position, cleanup , is 2 for 15. ``That isn't the problem at all. Don't even go there,'' second baseman second baseman n. Baseball The infielder who is positioned near and to the first-base side of second base. Noun 1. second baseman - (baseball) the person who plays second base second sacker Eric Young Eric Young can refer to:
Rocket booster: Ismael Valdes
``I don't usually pitch very well in my first start, but today I had good use of all my pitches,'' Valdes said. ``I was very prepared.'' Coincidence? The Dodgers (0-4) today could tie the club record for losses to start a season, set in 1970. The team also lost four straight in 1976 and 1987. The Dodgers lost seven of their first eight in 1978 and won the National League pennant. Cedeno update: Roger Cedeno, the Dodgers' projected Opening-Day center fielder, will not be at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday when he is eligible to come off the disabled list. Cedeno, sidelined with a strained right hamstring, remains in Florida and played his fourth camp game on Saturday. Cedeno, who spent the winter rehabbing a fractured big toe big toe n. The largest and innermost toe of the human foot. on his left foot, hurt his hamstring during the third exhibition game. He never played again and reinjured his leg twice. ``Physically, he is ready to play,'' executive vice president Fred Claire said Saturday before returning to Los Angeles. ``But without playing this winter and missing most of the spring, more time is needed to get him back in baseball shape. He is playing in Florida right now and may soon be ready to start a rehab assignment. We have 20 days in those things, but I doubt he will need that much time.'' The delay in Cedeno's return probably saves Wilton Guerrero from a demotion de·mote tr.v. de·mot·ed, de·mot·ing, de·motes To reduce in grade, rank, or status. [de- + (pro)mote. to Triple-A. Guerrero, a utility player after starting last season at second base, has appeared in four games and is 0 for 3, including a strikeout in the eighth inning Saturday. But the team is more concerned with lapses in judgment he has displayed in the outfield and on the bases. Guerrero overthrew a cutoff man Opening Day and got turned around on a fly ball Thursday. Friday night, Guerrero struck out, but he reached first on a wild pitch. He took too wide a turn at first and was thrown out. ``We are very pleased with what he brings to our team,'' Claire said. ``He played well last year, he batted .291 and played 120 games. Anything we have to say about this will be said privately.'' DODGERS vs. CINCINNATI Time: 10:15 a.m. TV/Radio: Channel 5; 1150-AM, KWKW 1330-AM (Spanish). Matchup: Ramon Martinez (0-1, 7.71) makes his second start of the season today against the Reds' Opening-Day pitcher, LHP LHP Left-Handed Pitcher LHP Left Hand Path LHP Lighthouse Point (Broward County, Florida city) LHP Left Half-Plane LHP Lead Hollowpoint (bullet) LHP Living History Project LHP Landslide Hazard Program Mike Remlinger (0-1, 1.82). In the Dodgers' opener on March 31, Martinez allowed four runs in 4-2/3 innings against St. Louis, all on a Mark McGwire grand slam. He is 13-5 lifetime against the Reds, which ties for his highest victory total against an opponent (San Francisco). Remlinger allowed one run in five innings in a 10-2 loss to San Diego. Remlinger was 2-0 against the Dodgers last year, including a four-hit, 8-1 victory on Aug. 10. - Matt McHale CAPTION(S): Box Box: DODGERS vs. CINCINNATI (See Text) |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion