BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Piazza Shies From Attention

Mike Piazza put in a full day’s work in only five innings against the Atlanta Braves, hitting a home run and sacrifice fly and throwing out a runner attempting to steal, before turning the catching gear over to Carlos Hernandez. But the game was far from over, lasting 3 hours 48 minutes until Mike Sharperson’s single in the 12th inning gave the Dodgers an 8-7 victory at Vero Beach, Fla.

By then, Piazza was gone, having first signed autographs for about an hour outside the Dodgertown clubhouse. Four weeks into spring training, Piazza is still doing his best to accommodate the fans, but he says sometimes the attention makes him edgy.

“It’s kind of tough with everybody always wanting something from me all the time,” he said. “I read a story the other day that said I just wanted to be left alone, but that’s not true. I enjoy the people, but sometimes there are just a few bad eggs that ruin it for everybody. They don’t understand I have to get my work done first.”