Fans Get Rips In, and Then Some, in Regards to Piazza

First, I don’t begrudge Mike Piazza his turn at being the highest-paid player du jour. He has earned it. But I do think someone owes Brett Butler an apology. In turning down top dollar because he wants yet a little more, Mike has placed himself squarely in the camp of the ‘90s players Brett described.

Second, Randy Harvey correctly points out that fans usually side with management in player contract disputes. That’s because fans don’t know management’s salaries, whereas those of the players are widely published, especially when all-stars hold out. However this ends, Mike’s salary won’t be near Rupert Murdoch’s but will exceed the combined earnings of several busloads of Dodger faithful like yours truly.

BOB WARNOCK, Eagle Rock

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Boo to the so-called Dodger fans. Mike Piazza has been an ideal player for the Dodgers. Who are those fans to boo him for asking for a pay raise? We do it at our jobs; we just ask for hundreds. Mike works in a profession where millions are the norm.

Mike has never asked to be traded or threatened to hold out. He’s only doing what most people do, looking for job security.

GEORGE LEVIN, Toluca Lake

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Where did Mike Piazza develop his value system? If I was making $8 million a year, I wouldn’t feel confused and unappreciated. If I was the highest-paid player on my team, I wouldn’t feel confused and unappreciated. If I had been offered a multiyear contract that would have made me one of the highest-paid players in baseball, I wouldn’t feel confused and unwanted.

Mike is right about one thing--he’s confused.

FRED SCHOR, Los Angeles

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Mr. Murdoch would be crowned King Rupert by Angelenos if he simply said adios to Mike Piazza and redirected the $100 million to:

* Making 10 inner-city families instant millionaires (cost $10 million).

* Giving 10 USC students new Ferraris (cost $2 million).

* Giving 10 UCLA students new Rolls-Royces (cost $2 million).

* Having 10 free home games with free Dodger dogs to all (cost $6 million).

* Giving 100 free homes to 100 needy families (at $200,000 each, cost $20 million).

* Giving 10 inner-city schools $1 million each for books (cost $10 million).

* Giving $1 million to a suitable applicant to sit in the dugout and provide inspiration in the absence of Piazza (maybe retired Gen. Schwarzkopf?).

* Giving the remaining $49 million to Tom Prince to play ball!

JIM MORAN, Santa Fe Springs

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When the Dodgers were recently purchased by the Fox group, I envisioned major free-agent signings and Dodger games broadcast from April to October.

Now the Dodgers are tinkering with losing the best player in the game today, and I still can’t see the games on TV.

Mr. Murdoch, you are batting 0 for 2.

LORI MOORE, Garden Grove

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Dear Mike Piazza:

As a lifelong Dodger fan (since 1958) I love your game. You are a wonderful player who is a true star. You also make millions of dollars. As a season-ticket holder since 1963, I have seen ticket prices rise to where I have considered not buying them anymore, as a day at the park now costs my family of four more than $100 each game. Many Dodger fans feel this way and if salaries continue their meteoric rise much longer, the only tickets bought will be purchased by corporations.

Settle with the Dodgers, make your millions, but keep your opinions as to the negotiations to yourself. You sound greedy. That’s not good.

GREG FIGGE, Dove Canyon

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Hey Mike, I’m dazed that I’d have to work at my job 200 years to make the 8 million bucks that you’re confused about!

JOE F. GRAY, Perris

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How about this idea: If the Dodgers need to pay a spoiled brat more than $12 million a year, why not trade this spoiled brat behind the plate to Boston for a Mo spoiled brat. This way the Dodgers actually get a left-handed power hitter, (missing ever since Kirk Gibson left) and they still get a spoiled brat who could actually help the team win!

DOUG VON BERG, Costa Mesa

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I think Brett Butler was definitely wrong. Mike Piazza is a leader on the Dodgers. Unfortunately, it appears that his attitude and selfishness are leading them to last place.

SUZANNE GAYLEY, Los Angeles

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Mike Piazza is nothing but a statistics-driven machine: baseball’s version of Adrian Dantley. He will build his own stats, but his team will never see the benefit.

Rupert Murdoch, you would be better off spending your millions producing a sequel to the Spice Girls movie rather than re-signing the poster child for the Generation-X ballplayer.

CRAIG P. FAGAN, San Diego

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The point is not whether Mike Piazza is allowed to struggle on the field because he is worried about his next contract. It’s that paid athletes with large egos feel that they have the inherent right to become the top-paid performers in their sports based on a slightly better than average prior season’s performance.

People like Piazza should be made to work one weekend of each month in a convalescent home, a rehab clinic or an emergency room, in order to develop a realistic perspective about life and work.

LAWRENCE M. KATES, Los Angeles

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No wonder the Dodgers are off to a poor start. If all the players see that Mike Piazza is unhappy making $8 million and turning down $12 million or so, they must all be extremely depressed.

DAVID ARYE, Los Angeles

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I would offer Piazza $10 million for every playoff game he has won, plus all the peanuts he can eat.

SAMUEL F. RENDGE, South Pasadena

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Considering Piazza is a one-dimensional catcher with limited defensive skills, it certainly appears that his inflated salary demand is unjustified. Besides, Piazza and his gimpy knees are probably better suited for a role as a designated hitter in the American League. And he sure would look handsome in one of those newfangled Angel uniforms.

JON B. ENRIQUEZ, Rancho Cucamonga

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So the new president and chief officer of the Dodgers, Bob Graziano, tells us it’s difficult to assess Piazza’s worth. I can very easily assess his worth if he does not re-sign Mike Piazza.

MARIA CICCONE, Long Beach

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The way it ought to work, folks, is that the next time you ask your boss for a raise, Mike Piazza gets to come to the office and boo you.

BURT PRELUTSKY, North Hills

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Fans have every right to boo, but let’s use a little common sense and reserve the booing for those who aren’t trying, those who are bad citizens . . . and those who wear Giants’ uniforms.

FRANK LANSEN, Norwalk