BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : ESPN Makes It a Long Day for Piazza

Friday was not just another day at the office for Mike Piazza, the Dodger All-Star catcher.

At 7 a.m., he reported to Blair Field in Long Beach to shoot a commercial for ESPN’s SportsCenter. The shoot lasted 7 1/2 hours. The commercial will run 30 seconds.

“I even had my own trailer,” Piazza said. “With my name on it.”

Piazza said has declined most commercial requests during the season, but said yes to ESPN.

“Money,” Piazza said, rubbing his thumb and index finger together. “It was too much to turn down.”

In the spot, Piazza lies on home plate and dreams about stealing home, a far-fetched notion for the slow-footed catcher.

Piazza was transported by helicopter from Long Beach to City Hall, where he caught a cab to Dodger Stadium.

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Met infielder Howard Johnson, put on the 15-day disabled list Friday with two fractures in his right thumb, will return to New York this week to be re-examined. Johnson, who was injured sliding into second base in the first inning of Thursday’s game, will probably miss the rest of the season. To replace Johnson, the Mets recalled infielder Kevin Baez from triple-A affiliate Norfolk of the International League.