Francisco Rodriguez is a great closer, there's no question about that, but there are already a ton of miles on his shoulder, and some teams may be shying away from the guy because of that. At the minimum they would like to drop his value a tad before signing.
So the "drop in velocity" rumors have started making the rounds, so much so that his agent has had to come out and defend the guy, in arguably his greatest season yet.
The Mets are of course the heavy favorite for Rodriguez's services, and their was even a story from a Venezuelan newspaper yesterday, that Francisco Rodriguez wass on his way to New York for a physical exam, in advance of signing a contract with the Mets. But a person within the Mets organization tonight said "it's not true."
Give it a week or two. He will be a Met.
Mike Piazza is retiring from baseball following a 19-season career in which he became one of the top-hitting catchers in history. "After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it is time to start a new chapter in my life," he said in a statement released by his agent, Dan Lozano. "It has been an amazing journey." The 39-year-old Piazza was not on a team this season.
My favorite player of all-time. The only reason to watch the Mets for the better part of a decade. He provided my favorite baseball moment of all-time, and if there's justice in this world, he'll have the NY on his cap when he goes into the Hall. I will be in Cooperstown that day, rest assured.
He's going in as a Dodger. Lasorda's godson, best late round draft pick of all time, rookie of the year in the Dodgers' great 90's streak of ROY's, and really put the Dodgers back on the map as far as national relevance goes.
In terms of years served, he split LA and NY equally (3478 AB with the Mets vs. 3268 with LA,). 6 All-Star appearances with each club. He went to 2 NLCS with the Mets, and a World Series. He was the face of the franchise from 1999 - 2005. He cried when they played Voodoo Child at Shea on his first trip back to Queens with the Madres. I think this will be the case where they may let him decide which cap he wants to wear, and like the intelligent man that he is, he'll have some orange in his cap instead of just blue.
PS - The Dodgers suck.
he should go in as a Dodger, thats my guess.
Of course he may have some personal thing with LA for trading him, so if he was asked [the AB's are close] I think he would go in as a Met.
Based on his retirement letter, I'm betting he goes in as a Met, as he should...