Piazza Hits the Road but Can’t Help Looking Back

Packing for long trips can be difficult, especially when one isn’t certain of his final destination.

So it was easy to understand why Mike Piazza’s thoughts wondered frequently Friday night while he packed for the biggest road trip of his career.

The five-time all-star catcher was preparing to join the Florida Marlins for a game in St. Louis on Saturday after the historic seven-player deal that sent the former Dodger franchise player, well, packing.

(In his first at-bat for Florida on Saturday, Piazza had a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the seventh that tied the score, 4-4, in the Marlins’ 5-4 loss at St. Louis.)

“I don’t know if I should take all of that stuff, but I might need some of it,” Piazza said while loading bags at his home in Manhattan Beach.

“Maybe I need to bring more stuff, but I don’t want to take too much right now, but . . . never mind, I’ll just get more later if I have to.”

And back and forth that continued throughout a lengthy phone conversation. Piazza would be on a flight to join the Marlins in only a few hours, and he was surprised by the work he had remaining.

“I’m just trying to get ready as best I can, to make sure I have the stuff I really have to have right now,” he said. “I know it’s here, so I can get it when I want it, but I don’t like to be unprepared.

“You just don’t realize all the [stuff] you have until you have to pack it to go someplace for a while.”

That’s for sure.

Piazza was on the road earlier Friday as well, saying goodbyes to friends and colleagues at Dodger Stadium.

He said he didn’t have the opportunity to do that properly Thursday night once he and third baseman Todd Zeile were told they would be traded to Florida after the Dodgers’ 4-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

“I step out of the shower, and [trainer] Charlie [Strasser] tells me that Fred [Claire, executive vice president] wants to see me, and I immediately knew what it was--I had been traded,” Piazza said. “I just started laughing, because I knew that was the only thing it could be at that time of night.

“I sure didn’t think it would happen that soon, so I’d have to say I was shocked, but the fact that Todd and I were traded together helped, because we’re kind of like partners in crime. But most of the guys were already out of [the clubhouse] by then, and there were other people I wanted to speak with in person before I took off.”

The reality of the event hit Piazza on Friday while he was at the stadium.

“I’ve spent a lot of time there, and I have a lot of great memories about the place and the people,” he said. “That stuff just doesn’t leave you because you’re not wanted by some people anymore.

“You reflect on the good times, on winning games and having fun. The people you leave, that’s what makes it toughest. You remember all the fans’ support from the first day you come up until you leave. You remember the guys you play with, and those memories are strong.”

And Piazza won’t say it, but he also remembers that the Dodgers failed to surround him with the caliber of talent necessary to win World Series championships. No matter one’s personal opinion of Piazza, he was forced to carry the Dodger offense throughout his Los Angeles experience.

By the end of the season, he was typically worn down.

Piazza could have complained about management’s failure to acquire a consistent left-handed hitter, but he didn’t. He could have lashed out about the team’s subpar bench, but he remained quiet and has produced statistics that may well put him in the Hall of Fame when his career ends.

True, the guy is making $8 million this season.

But you try hitting .362 with 40 home runs and 124 RBIs while catching in 152 games, as Piazza did last season.

“Business decisions are made, but I don’t want to get into that stuff,” he said. “I obviously have my opinions about things, but it wouldn’t be very mature of me to share them in the middle of a situation like this.

“I’m very proud of the effort I gave the Dodgers and the fans every day, and I’m proud of the fact that I was the guy they kind of built the team around. . . . All I want to do now is be that same player, and even better, for Florida.”

Then he’ll have to get a lot done quickly. Piazza isn’t expected to be with the payroll-slashing Marlins for long.

At least five teams already have contacted Dave Dombrowski, Marlin general manager, about acquiring the man who many consider to be the best offensive player at his position in the game’s history. The Marlins have said they will trade Piazza before the July 31 deadline.

“I’ve heard all that stuff, but I can’t think about that now,” he said. “I don’t have any control over any of that, the only thing I can control is my effort out there every day.

“If I start worrying about all of that too, I wouldn’t be able to do the job I have to do for the Marlins.”

So Piazza is trying to keep things as simple as possible during this turbulent time in his life.

“I’m just trying to handle everything as best I can,” he said. “It’s a lot to deal with, but you get your priorities straight, and you make sure you take care of the things you need to.

“What’s the word? Prioritize, yeah, I think that’s it.”

Sound planning by someone on the move.