L.A.'S FANS WILL MISS POPULAR PIAZZA; MANY STILL AGREE DEAL HELPS TEAM.

Byline: Peter Hartlaub Daily News Staff Writer

It's the trade fans hate to love.

As news of the seven-player swap that will send Mike Piazza to Florida spread Friday, fans acknowledged that the team will improve, but few wanted to see the popular Dodgers leader leave.

Emotions were high hours before the game at Dodger Stadium, where fans picking up tickets were remiss that the price of admission will no longer include their 29-year-old hero.

``Some players are just meant to wear Dodger blue and Piazza was one of them,'' said Gary Carbo, 36, who has rooted for the home team since he could walk.

``They're trading a true Dodger for four mere baseball players.''

Henry Lerma, 48, of West Covina had never met Carbo before, but they commiserated over Piazza anyway in the stadium parking lot for more than a half hour.

``It's like when we got (Wayne) Gretzky and when we got Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal) except in reverse,'' Lerma said, referring to blockbuster acquisitions benefiting the Los Angeles Kings hockey and Lakers basketball teams. ``We're going to lose an icon.''

Dodger blue turns to Marlin teal for Piazza and teammate Todd Zeile, while the Los Angeles team gets golden-glove catcher Charles Johnson, an All-Star third baseman and two much-needed outfielders in return.

There was plenty of outrage - toward new Dodgers owner Rupert Murdoch, General Manager Fred Claire and Piazza himself - but most fans picking up tickets and calling talk shows acknowledged that the trade could help the team's playoff run.

The Dodgers were 19-21 with Piazza in the lineup when the trade was made, and the team gets a large chunk of the Marlins' 1997 World Series championship team in the deal.

Some fans with a winning-is-the-only-thing philosophy were actually in a celebratory mood.

``He's a real nice guy, but we're trying to win ballgames,'' said Woody Williams of Lynwood, after buying tickets for Friday night's game. ``I think it's a good trade. I think Charles Johnson is a better player defensively.''

The Piazza trade monopolized sports talk radio and Internet message boards, despite a blockbuster NBA deal involving superstars Chris Webber and Mitch Richmond, a news item involving Marv Albert and the Lakers' impending matchup against Utah in the NBA Western Conference finals.

One talk radio host opened his Friday afternoon show with a bugle playing ``Taps.''

Victor Lucio looked like he was at a funeral late Friday morning, standing at the rim of Dodger Stadium with his wife and 4-year-old granddaughter.

``Everything's about money,'' Lucio said, watching the grounds crew prepare the field. ``I don't think they even come out here to play ball any more.''

Lerma and Carbo compared Piazza to other Dodgers greats they watched while growing up - from Sandy Koufax and Roy Campanella to Ron Cey and Bill Russell. Both referred to Piazza in the past tense.

``It's just a kick in the gut, he just embodied being a Dodger,'' Lerma said. ``He was an underdog and he made himself into a great baseball player.''

Even small ballplayers were feeling the pain.

Julien Rubel, 8, plays for the Mets, but his father said his room is basically a shrine honoring Piazza, his favorite Dodger. The first baseman from Hidden Hills was in the middle of practice for his West Hills Pinto League team, but took a break for one last plea to his hero.

``I don't feel too good,'' Rubel said. ``Please don't go to Florida.''

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Photo

PHOTO Patrick Valdez, 7, cheers in his Mike Piazza jersey at Friday's Dodgers game, despite disappointment over his hero's trade to Florida.

David Sprague/Daily News