Piazza did himself no favors on that score in his new book, "Long Shot." In the book, he blames iconic Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully for turning fans against him during the contract stalemate that preceded his trade to the Florida Marlins in 1998.
Piazza, who was eligible for free agency after the 1998 season, said he hoped to stay with the Dodgers but set a deadline of Feb. 15 to reach a new contract. In the book, Piazza wrote that Scully asked him about the deadline in a spring interview.
"He wasn't happy about it," Piazza wrote. "And Scully's voice carried a great deal of authority in Los Angeles." [...]
"The way the whole contract drama looked to them -- many of whom were taking their cue from Scully -- was that, by setting a deadline and insisting on so much money, I was demonstrating a conspicuous lack of loyalty to the ball club," Piazza wrote. "I understood that."
Piazza ripped the Dodgers in a 1998 opening day interview with The Times. In the book, he said that interview did not play well with the L.A. fans, and neither did the fact that he failed to drive in a run as the Dodgers opened the season with a four-game losing streak.
"On top of that, Vin Scully was crushing me," Piazza wrote.
Scully flatly denied he maligned Piazza.
"That's not true at all," Scully told The Times in a telephone interview Wednesday.
Scully said he could not recall the interview in which Piazza said the contract deadline was discussed. However, Scully said, he never would criticize a player about contractual negotiations.
"As God is my judge, I don't get involved in these things," Scully said. "I can't imagine I would ever put my toe in the water as far as a player and his negotiations.
"I have no idea where he is coming from. I really have no idea. I can't imagine saying something about a player and his contract. I just don't do that, ever. I'm really flabbergasted by that reference."
Hope you sell a lot of copies of that book, Piazza, because you just burned the bridge back to Dodger Stadium.
13 comments:
I'm one of the few who liked the trade at the time, and I still don't get why people hate it so much. The guy was fuckin' worthless in the 8th and 9th innings and wouldn't block the plate if his mother's life depended on it. I regretted getting rid of Todd Zeile way more than Piazza. Johnson was a Gold Glover with a bit of pop and a World Series ring. Sheffield was a dynamic, if 'roided-up, hitter. Still one of the quickest bats I've ever seen. Bobby Bonilla was the only really shitty part of that deal--he was a total dick. But, apparently, so is Piazza.
Piazza New York Asshole.
Classless.
#DontFuckWithVin
I listened to Piazza last night on the Daily Show specifically to see if this was brought up, and it wasn't. Piazza has even said that, when (if) he gets into Cooperstown, he's going in as a Met. I don't think he's that concerned with the Dodgers. That said, it's an interesting strategy to try and alienate some of your voters before being elected. I'm curious what the economic benefits of being elected to the HOF are (I might investigate them sometime, I write for http://baseballrethought.com). Do you think that he's going to gain more money and "benefits" from writing this book than by being elected into the hall of fame given that this is the thing that keeps some fringe voters for going for him? I've never seen someone attack such an important baseball figure...this is synonymous with say, attacking Mariano Rivera as an evil person. Even Red Sox fans would glare at you.
Interesting article, thanks.
-Steve
That mutt best hope he never runs into me. I'll bury the motherfucker.
Vin has never said a bad word about anyone in his life or career. You picked on the wrong guy Piazza. You're not welcome in LA ever again. Show your face and see how long you last. Assclown.
Wow! Just wow! I don't want his bobblehead anymore. And now he most definitely will hear Boos from the crowd if he ever comes back to Dodger Stadium.
The bloom is off the vine.
WTF am I saying????
A-hole
Piazza is a wanker and a self- absorbed, first class A-Hole!
At least his comments allow us to practice the hateHateHATE!!!
Whaaaaat a schmuck. If he ever shows up in the Ravine again, expect some Clemens-ian bat tosses toward his direction.
Except we probably wouldn't miss.
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