You Get To Catch NY

[Wolf Hopper]

Who's career would you rather have - and why?

Mike Piazza - be known as the greatest hitting catcher in the history of the game, be an All-Star; but, have all the other baggage - - the flack about being a bad defensive catcher, the legacy of being a whimp, all that "other" stuff..........

or

Jorge Posada - All-Star catcher, the backstop of a three-peat World Champion, catcher of a Perfect Game, and, for the last three years, being the 2nd best offensive catcher in baseball.

[WiredTiger]

I would rather have Piazza's career. He has had an interesting journey and he is the better player.

[poorme]

jeez. not even close. piazza's in a different league as a player. and just the thrill of being able to drive a fastball 475 feet to the opposite field. now THAT would be cool.

[TimmyB]

2nd best offensive catcher and three rings??? No contest.

[gyb13]

another thing some may consider :D

total salary (base only):
Piazza 1993-2002 $62.7 million (and about another $45 mi thru 05)
Posada 1997-2002 $13.1 million (and about another $42-54 thru 06-07)

that said, either figure is more than what i can use...i'd rather take less individual accolades, winning teams, less public attention, and quite a bit of cash

[Skip]

I'll be John Bench. Hisses and boos to all the NY-centric-ness. Thbbb. (J/K)

[LeGrandOrange]

62th round pick to best hitting catcher of all-time? Not only is that a great career, that's motivation for young baseball players. I'd be glad to know I've inspired minor leaguers to keep at it...seeing how no one can be picked lower. ;)

Plus, I wouldn't mind all the $$$. :) I don't care if I'm a tabloid star...that's just one thing you deal with in being a star in New York. And if I'm allegedly of different orientation...well...that's something I live with.

I just hope I can get to be the Mike Piazza of 1993 behind the plate.

[Gosfgiants]

I'm going with Posada. I just can't go with Piazza because he came up with a certain So. Cal team. Once a Dodger, always a Dodger.

[JamesI]

Piazza. Hall of Famer versus Hall of pretty good...

[satchel]

More data to consider:

Piazza has done strange television commercials with the likes of Chewbacca and Alf.

Posada has had to watch his son go through two surgeries to repair a congenital skull problems.

***

Since I'm a Yankees fan, my evaluation is biased, but I have to go with Posada. Baseball is a team sport and Posada has been part of a team that has ranged from darn good to truly great during his career. His contribution to that team success is nothing to be ashamed of, either.

Piazza gets honorable mention for the unorthodox path he took to stardom. Piazza was picked in the very last round of the draft - the one thousand something'th pick. No one pegged him for a major leaguer, much less a star. His success reflects an impressive internal drive and confidence that I'd be proud of.

[KCBOOMER]

For the life of me, I can't even remotely fathom why even a Yankee fan would pick Posada over Piazza. Piazza is 34 with an RCAA of 426 and an OPS of .964 versus Posada who is 31 with an RCAA of 61 and an OPS of .835.

Posada two closest comps are Mike Lieberthal (.950+) and Stan Lopata (.940+). Piazza's closest??? He has none. He is unique.

Next thing you guys will be telling me is you would rather have Andy Pettitte instead of Pedro Martinez because Andy is a "winner".

I have high regard for Posada, he is a fine player. But you are comparing a guy who is top 50 at his position versus top 5.

[rcartman28]

Piazza for the Clio-award caliber commercials he's been in.....

[gyb13]

Originally posted by KCBOOMER
For the life of me, I can't even remotely fathom why even a Yankee fan would pick Posada over Piazza. i thought the point of the question was - if you were to be a baseball player, and had to choose the career of either, which would you rather have?
not - which player would you rather have on your team?

If I'm putting together a team, of course I take Piazza's bat. But if I was to choose to be either of them, I don't.

[Wolf Hopper]

Originally posted by KCBOOMER
For the life of me, I can't even remotely fathom why even a Yankee fan would pick Posada over Piazza.

Piazza is the superior hitter - without question.
I took Posada because he
1. Is still good offensively
2. Is better defensively than Piazza
3. Is free of all the "crap" that comes with being Piazza

Again, the question is - who's career would you rather have - - not, who was the best hitter, or, who would you rather have on your team...........etc.

It's about "who's legacy would you rather have, if it was your own."

[SmedIndy]

Vance Wilson!

[gyb13]

smed! go back to your room and go stare at your Alan Ogg card

[SmedIndy]

What's not to like - you play 1/4 of the time - sit in the bullpen and get six figures? And since you're just the backup, there's not a lot of pressure at all. Could be worse.

[gyb13]

Q: so why not Alberto Castillo or John Flaherty?
A: a guy's gotta have standards

[JamesI]

Originally posted by SmedIndy
What's not to like - you play 1/4 of the time - sit in the bullpen and get six figures? And since you're just the backup, there's not a lot of pressure at all. Could be worse.

I like it.

[Skip]

This is sort of interesting ... as baseball is the ultimate paradox of being a team sport defined by individual performances. I bet if most players were given the choice between the Posada/Piazza lines insofar as winning goes they'd pick Posada ... but when the whole context came out, they'd pick Piazza's individual stats over the team's multiple rings for Posada in about a 9:1 ratio. Dont you agree? This is MLB emulating the NBA and other sports ... perhaps not as bad, but it is an issue.

I'd pick Piazza too. As Gyb would say, there is a big 'I' in skIp.

[Luis]

I don't see any option but Piazza. Posada is ok but Piazza's a possible hall of famer.

[pathogan]

Originally posted by KCBOOMER
For the life of me, I can't even remotely fathom why even a Yankee fan would pick Posada over Piazza. Piazza is 34 with an RCAA of 426 and an OPS of .964 versus Posada who is 31 with an RCAA of 61 and an OPS of .835.

Posada two closest comps are Mike Lieberthal (.950+) and Stan Lopata (.940+). Piazza's closest??? He has none. He is unique.

Next thing you guys will be telling me is you would rather have Andy Pettitte instead of Pedro Martinez because Andy is a "winner".

I have high regard for Posada, he is a fine player. But you are comparing a guy who is top 50 at his position versus top 5.

Ditto...this one is silly

[satchel]

Originally posted by KCBOOMER
Ditto...this one is silly
Next thing you guys will be telling me is you would rather have Andy Pettitte instead of Pedro Martinez because Andy is a "winner".



Originally posted by pathogan
Ditto...this one is silly

Why? The question wasn't "which one would you want for your team?" It was "Which one would you want to be?"

I don't think it's remotely "silly" that someone would rather be a very good player who has played on three championship teams, than a great player who has not. By the way, I don't think the opposite choice is silly either.

Please, read the question before attacking others' choices.

[Wolf Hopper]

Thanks Satch - - good point.
Again, all, the NDF Community Standards state - - "Certain topics evoke strong passions, and the NetShrine Discussion Forum aims to provide a safe place for the free expression of those passions and differing views. Members must provide respect to other values, opinions, and ideas even if they strongly disagree with those ideas."

Thanks all.

[SmedIndy]

Should have put none of the above...backup catcher for me. Heck, back in the day I'd love to be the Johnny Oates type backup!

[satchel]

I just want to add that I apologize for misquoting KCBOOMER above - he disparaged the question, but didn't say the "this one is silly part" that somehow snuck into my quote of his post. Sorry for the misattribution.