The LTJ Report: Donate Coats for Mets Coat Drive, Colon becomes our new SP4, and why Wheeler is going for HARVEY-like numbers in 2014

The LTJ Report
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

If you are able to donate some old/still usable coats on Wednesday, December 18th, 2013 at Citi Field from 9:00am – 5:00pm EST I'm sure the New York Mets will be extremely grateful. Living in New York is brutally colder when you are less fortunate and don't have a coat, so if you are able to, please do so! You can donate them at the Mets Team Store inside the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. As a treat, you will get a voucher for two free tickets to a Mets home game in 2014. You will also get a coupon for a 15% discount off regularly priced merchandise in the Mets Team Store for that day only. Also note, if you attend between 11:00am – 11:30am EST, both Starting Pitcher Zack Wheeler and Second Baseman Daniel Murphy will be on hand to greet and thank fans!

I was very happy to hear that the Mets were able to bring in Starting Pitcher Bartolo Colon to the team on a reasonable deal. He was offered and accepted a two-year/$20 million deal and effectively becomes our fourth Starting Pitcher in our rotation. Confirmed for the most part are Wheeler, Gee, Niese, and now Colon. I'd like to see maybe Mejia get that 5th spot but I still see the Mets grabbing one more veteran arm to throw in there as he continues to develop and come back from injury. Mejia had some bone spurs removed from his throwing elbow, so if anything, he should come back better. Another big reason why Colon makes sense is because his experience of over 15 years in baseball will help give the younger pitchers around him some invaluable advice in pitching. Overall, nice acquisition.

You know a starting pitcher has a good head on his shoulders when all he wants to do is prepare ahead of everyone else before deadlines hit. Wheeler stated that he plans to be in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday February 5th, 2014, ten days before pitchers/catchers report. I love his mentality and willingness to start preparing because now, the spotlight will be on him since Starting Pitcher Matt Harvey will be out for most of if not all of the 2014 season. I've always believed that the early bird gets the worm, and now, he can focus on making us all not miss Harvey too much in 2014. I predict he will have a breakthrough season, I'm sure Harvey will be chiming in his ear to make him continue his progression.

The LTJ Editorial: "What Chris Young brings to the Mets"

The LTJ Editorial
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 11-26-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

"What Chris Young brings to the Mets"

As I'm sure you've already heard, free agent Center Fielder Chris Young has agreed on a one-year deal with the New York Mets for about $7.25 million. Last season, every baseball analyst figured the Mets outfield would be one of the worst in MLB but they surprised everyone, they exceeded expectations. With solid hitting from Marlon Byrd, the highlight creating defensive machine of Juan Lagares, and the speedy base-stealing of Eric Young Jr., it was entertaining to watch. Once Byrd was traded though, the trio was missing that offensive punch that Byrd provided so nicely. One of the needs the Mets needed to fill this offseason was to try to find a solid free agent to fill the void Byrd left. They hope they started to fill that void with their latest acquisition. Let's take a look at the pros and cons Young will bring to the table once he puts on his first ever Mets uniform.

Overall, Young's career hitting average is at a low .235 and he is known for striking out.... a lot. It's more of the fact that he swings at pitches he really shouldn't swing at but I'm sure with patience and coaching he will fit in just fine with the Mets. Despite this, remember, he brings something that the Mets have been lacking, power hitting. I've seen plenty of highlights of the time he spent with the Oakland Athletics and boy, does he hit with such raw power. It'll be great to see the damage he is going to cause in Citi Field. The Mets need it because their home winning record last season was absolutely horrible. They looked anemic at home and didn't hit that many homeruns. Perhaps Young will fix that with hitting balls out the ballpark so much that maybe the fan attendance will improve too.

I'm sure most of you diehard baseball fans out there enjoy a great baseball move, right? I'm sure you have seen or at least heard of the movie "Moneyball" right? Well, a part of me loves the theory crafting of the fact that if you have players that can get on base, you are statistically proven to have a better chance to win. Some agree, some disagree, all I know is, the Mets need to score more runs than they did last year. Another good attribute that Young brings is that he has a very good walk rate which is one of the aspects to Moneyball. Over the past few seasons of his career, a few times he was among the top 20% of all MLB hitters to walk in at-bats, pretty impressive if you ask me. So even though he strikes out a lot, he kind of makes up for it by at least getting walks to get the ball rolling on scoring runs. He is also very good at stealing bases, with over 120 in his career. So now if you have a threat to steal bases with someone who is very good at getting on base from walks, better scoring games are ahead of us!

Now the best part about Young is his defense in the outfield. It's probably one of the big reasons why they brought him in. In his career, Young has been ranked one of the best Center Fielders in Defensive Runs Saved. He has a keen eye when fielding and a decent arm to prevent bases and runs from the opposition. He is a quick decision maker and makes the right call most of the time. I don't really see the Mets moving him to the corners of the outfield since his most experience comes from center field. It would make sense to keep him there, keep Eric Young Jr. at left field, and move Juan Lagares to right field. Of course I still think the Mets should add one more free agent outfielder to the mix for depth and insurance in case of any unforeseen injuries.

Overall I like this signing as it's going in the right direction. I've always said that the Mets are really just a few missing pieces away from having a contending team. Realistically I think this signing is one of many more to come but I don't see them bringing any crazy big free agent to the team for insane amounts of money. I think they will sign a handful and bring in low-key players who will contribute and be productive. I'm sure they are doing all their research and doing their best to do what's right for this team. They have a long way to go to reach that goal but I'm patient, after all, it's still quite some time before Spring Training opens up again. Still have lots of free agents up for grabs and mark my words, the Mets are planning something big via trade. I sense it!

What do you think? Please leave your comments below and let's get some intelligent sports discussions brewing!

The LTJ Editorial: “Have we truly seen the last of Johan Santana?”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 11-8-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“Have we truly seen the last of Johan Santana?”

All through my life, I've always enjoyed getting the sports jersey of my favorite players on the various teams I root for. Yeah, it's no secret, while I do cover both the New York Yankees and New York Mets, deep inside my heart, I love my Mets. Ever since 1986 when I saw the World Series trophy in the hands of guys like Strawberry, Hernandez, Gooden, etc when I was about 5 years old, I was hooked on this team. That image to this day is burned into my memory, it's the last time I ever saw any of my teams actually win a championship that I can remember. These past few years have been rough on a diehard Mets fan like me but we have our moments here and there. One amazing memory that is actually up there with that '86 championship to a degree, was the first ever no-hitter in Mets history. I'll never forget back on June 1^st, 2012 when for the first time in team history, the New York Mets FINALLY achieved a no-hitter. I watched every inning that game getting goosebumps with every successful out leading to the 9^th inning. Once it finally happened, I knew that the player who ended up bringing that elusive no-hitter to the Mets would be immortalized forever. Of course it went to one of my favorite players on the team, Starting Pitcher Johan Santana.

Some say the decision Manager Terry Collins made to keep Santana in that game potentially led to the shoulder issues that nagged him thereafter. He re-tore his shoulder capsule going into this past MLB season and ultimately needed season-ending surgery that technically stemmed from that perfect game. He missed the entire season and being at the age of 34 years old, everyone wondered if he would ever be the same again. A few weeks ago, the Mets had the decision to pick up his team option or decline it. The team ultimately made the decision to not bring him back. At the time of this editorial, he will be testing the free agency market. There is a possibility he will return to the Mets if no interesting offers are presented from other teams. There is also talk he might be presented with a new deal by the Mets that is incentive based since he is coming off surgery and a year away from MLB. It’s the first time in his career Santana will be a free agent so this is all new to him as well as Mets fans seeing his name there.

When you look at the big picture, many questions need to be answered. Can Santana be effective as a starter again next year? Since he's towards the last leg of his solid career, would there be a chance he would change pitching positions? Maybe converting to a Relief Pitcher or even a Closing Pitcher at this point of his career? Of course the big elephant in the room is would the Mets make some kind of offer to bring him back since we are down an ace? We all know Starting Pitcher Matt Harvey will be out for all of the 2014 MLB season due to Tommy John Surgery on his throwing shoulder so we have a spot open. Would it make sense to bring back an established ace to fill the void without Harvey?

Let's try to dissect all this for a moment.

In the long-term sense, bringing back Santana would be a mistake. For the short-term idea of things, perhaps a simple one-year deal as insurance would be ideal for the Mets. I still think though, this could truly have been the last time we've seen Santana wear a Mets uniform and I'll explain why. We all know the Owners of the Mets, the Wilpons, have made it quite clear they want to bring in some top notch talent to the team to make a quality season out of 2014. They want great pitching, solid defense, hard-hitting players, and gradually mix in their young amazing prospects into the majors. The Mets farm system is one of the best in baseball, especially with pitchers. The Wilpons want to make the organization and its fans know the “youth movement” is coming, no more memories of aging superstars eating away at the finances of the team. No more old players just standing around being unproductive or way past their prime. The key is to upgrade areas with established productive players through the free agency and build from within. Sadly, a player like Santana doesn't fit this criteria anymore when you think about it. He's coming off an entire year of no baseball activity and off of back to back major shoulder surgeries. It's more than likely he's seen his better days and for the Mets to bring him back would be a setback. It would seem like they're just bringing him back for namesake purposes and not for the benefit of the long-term big picture. Sure, there is that slight chance he will return and be decent but history shows that most players don't after these circumstances. They come back and easily require a few more years of re-learning the mechanics and techniques of what made them originally famous. It's not easy to say the least.

It's sad that Santana's final moments with the Mets ended this way. I don't see him returning to the team and he will end up playing somewhere else battling struggles to keep up with everything. I'll always be grateful for his contributions to the Mets as well as finally bringing that no-hitter to this franchise. I finally got to witness something other than a championship that will be remembered for generations to come. Santana pitched that in Citi Field too, you can't put a price on how awesome it all was.

The first Mets jersey I ever bought was back in 2008. When it comes to jerseys, I always take my time and think about who I want to represent. Sure, I could have easily got one of David Wright, Jose Reyes, or even Carlos Beltran since they were all awesome at the time. Something told me though, I had to get the jersey of a true warrior. Someone who exemplified greatness and extraordinary skill. A baseball player who fascinated me every single time I saw them play this sport I love so much.

I went with #57.

The LTJ Editorial: “It's just a game, right folks?”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 10-25-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“It's just a game, right folks?”

A few days ago, a man was arrested for tweeting severe threats to players of the NY Mets, other members of the team, and saying that Citi Field would be bombed. NY Giants Running Back Brandon Jacobs was threatened on Twitter as well yesterday. A man tweeted him that if he didn't run for a lot of yards and score touchdowns against the Philadelphia Eagles, it would be over for him and his family. This so-called “fan” even ended it using a racial slur. Some college football teams have banned players from even having their own Twitter accounts due to “distractions” off the field. Over the past few years personally, I've grown to love Twitter over any other social media outlet, even more than Facebook. It's a place where sports fanatics like me don't have to worry about silly statuses, thousands of pictures of food posted, or read how people enjoyed their lunches or naps. Twitter is all about information and having it customized just the way you want it. Lately though, it's been used as an outlet to violently vent some frustration directly to those that caused it... the players.

Many high profile sports athletes have an official Twitter tag. It's a way to advertise products, charity events, and just promote anything to your followers. Most of the time, you can actually tweet directly to your favorite athlete. This is an easy way to let them know you're a fan, how great they are doing, or lately, how much they need to disappear off the face of the planet. The latest involving the Mets fan who tweeted to almost every official Twitter player account of the team definitely took things way too far. I know these past few years have been really hard being a Mets fan, but nowhere near the extremes to start violating the livelihood of the players you root for. Could this fan have had some mental issues? Had he not been arrested, could he have done any serious damage to a Mets player? We'll never know, but I'm glad he's been taken into custody and away from the team I root for and the stadium I call my second home.

If you are frustrated with a player or team, then don't watch them. Don't attend their games, don't buy their merchandise, and just block them out of your everyday routine. To resort to threatening players on Twitter is sad since the majority of the time, they all tweet good things. I follow all my favorite teams/players and enjoy what they contribute. Even when the going gets tough, they show their human side and how they will practice harder to get that win. It's also pathetic how these so-called “fans” will threaten players based on something as silly as a Fantasy League. I've never done a Fantasy League before but am part of one for this NFL Season. I'm not going to lie, it's extremely fun and addictive. Every week I'm checking the ESPN Fantasy Football app on my iPhone to see who will be in my starting lineup and adjusting where need be. It's great, even more so since I play with a bunch of good friends of mine. You know the most obvious thing people forget about what makes Fantasy Leagues so great? It's actually in the name.... FANTASY!

Shocking I know. It's all a game when you really think about it. The players in any Fantasy League accumulate stats based on what they do in real life, nothing more, nothing else. To think that some so-called “fan” would tweet racial slurs and family threats over something as silly as that is beyond ridiculous. Hopefully fans remember that at the end of the day, it's all just a game. No need to tweet things that embarrass yourself and the organization you claim to be a fan of. Remember, part of being a fan is going through the ups and downs of sports. Your team won't win a championship every single year and some of your favorite players will get into slumps. Real fans root for them no matter what, not bash them on Twitter for something as minor as Fantasy League points.

Stay classy, folks.

The LTJ Editorial: “Renovation around Citi Field another step towards success”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 10-18-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“Renovation around Citi Field another step towards success”

For well over two decades now, I've been going to a ton of NY Mets games. I have many fond memories of going to Shea Stadium with my family and friends to see the Mets play while having a great time at the ballpark. I remember wins, losses, the organ music rallying the crowd, and of course, getting ice cream in a small Mets helmet. One of the memories though that has always stuck around when I think back to Shea Stadium was the area around it. It was literally just a dump. I never understood why the surrounding area was always filled with way too many places for tires, car parts, and used automobiles. It stuck out like a sore thumb every single time you walked around the area because it looked dingy and trashy. There was really nothing justifying having all those places around Shea Stadium that had no business with baseball.

Back in 2009, the Mets debuted Citi Field which would usher in new memories for us all. A brand new home for the Mets which featured so many new advancements, I figured they would also open up nice places around it. Nope, it seems they didn't really pay much mind to the surrounding area and left things as is. I always thought how does that look for baseball fans who travel from all over the world to see the Mets and they take a look around the area? If you have tourists coming in, there really isn't anything to see around Citi Field besides Flushing Meadow Park, the subway station, and the parking lot. After most Mets games, I love walking at that park since it's beautiful, especially after a victory. Only thing is, that's pretty much all the options you have. There are no nice restaurants, places to shop, not even any nice hotels around the area if you're visiting from abroad and looking for a place to spend the night. Just literally, tons of places to get an oil change, change your tires, and look at over 50 car shops to get random parts for cars.

I am happy to say though, the Mets and the city of New York finally took note of what I've been writing about and announced a renovation project. I guess it's something about “2014” that will bring a new aura to the Mets and everything they are involved in since we all correlate it with possible success. In addition to doing their best to have an offseason of bringing top talent to the team, they will begin a $3 billion renovation project for the area around Citi Field. It was approved by the City Council of New York and they will fill the area with brand new retail stores, hotels, restaurants, and small businesses to make the area more appealing for tourists and baseball fans worldwide. It will be performed by the Queens Development Group and it couldn't have come at a better time.

It's safe to say ever since the Mets opened up their new stadium, it's been filled with nothing but declining issues. They've steadily gone down in ticket sales, concession money, attendance, and even in team losses. It's a bit sad that the only time the stadium was filled to the brim was when the MLB All-Star Weekend came to town this year and whenever the NY Yankees visit. Every other time, unless it was a Matt Harvey or Zach Wheeler start, was a very light crowd. I'm not saying the area around Citi Field has anything to do with what I mentioned, but it could only add more value to what should be a solid new outlook for the Mets. I don't know if the Mets will be in the postseason next year, but at least they are doing the right steps to achieve better than what we have been getting use to. Getting rid of the nonsense around Citi Field and bringing in more attractive places to visit, shop, and eat is what New York is all about. Nobody wants to travel from a far away state just to look at car part shops in an area around a MLB stadium. People want to eat, shop, and see attractions so they can remember it for a lifetime.

Once the renovation project is done, which I'm sure will take a few years, it'll be a refreshing change to the area surrounding Citi Field. It'll be nice to see it all be transformed so in addition to nice walks at Flushing Meadow Park, I can go sit in a nice place to eat to talk about the game and relax. By then, the Mets will surely have a winning season and more. If not, at least we'll have retail outlets to spend our sorrows away at.

The LTJ Editorial: “Cuba, baseball, and here is to the Mets bringing the next big sensation!”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 10-11-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“Cuba, baseball, and here is to the Mets bringing the next big sensation!”

For decades, the country of Cuba has been known as a hidden gem for tropical sights, world class cigars, and some of the purest sugar the world has ever seen. They have also been known to treat baseball like a religion out there. Children at very young ages practice in the streets and yards dreaming about making it in the big leagues. Cubans love baseball, it's just beyond words to describe the thrills of what happens on the diamond. For a really long time though, Cuban baseball players were banned from defecting to America to play for MLB. Luckily, just a few weeks ago, the government of Cuba officially lifted the ban of players playing in professional leagues outside of the country. Now, instead of having to defect, players are free to leave to join foreign leagues across the world. However, we all know that the fame, the glory, and of course, the money, comes from the USA. Keep in mind the embargo is still in place between the USA and Cuba, meaning, no business transactions can occur between both countries, this lift is just for athletes. The fact that now Cubans can come play the sports they love in this country is huge, provided they meet some criteria. They have to apply for a license through the US Treasury Department and have a residence outside of Cuba. All players also are required to pay taxes on their earnings to the Cuban government.

For the past 20 years, over 200 athletes have left Cuba to pursue their sports dreams in the USA. This MLB season alone, 21 Cubans defected to MLB teams and have made a tremendous impact on the game of baseball. Some of the most famous ones in the past few years are of course guys like Outfielder Yasiel Puig, Starting Pitcher Bronson Arroyo, Shortstop Yunel Escobar, and Outfielder Raul Ibanez just to name a few. Before Cuba lifted the ban, all salaries earned went directly to the Cuban government. Now they can start to live the American dream and start showing the world all the amazing talent that has come out of the country. The next big superstar proclaimed by most has already been scouted by some of the best scouts in all of MLB. Three of which are scouts from the NY Mets, much to the excitement of Mets fans everywhere. This particular player earned two Triple Crowns in the Cuban National Series league, which is unheard of. We all saw the damage this player caused in the World Baseball Classic this past March where he hit three home runs, and while batting .360 had nine runs batted in. I'm talking about Cuban First Baseman Jose Abreu.

Towards the start of October, Abreu held private auditions for over 30 different team scouts in the Dominican Republic, where he resides. He has officially been declared as a free agent and will certainly have a ton of interest from pretty much half the teams in MLB. He has such a raw power when hitting, he will grow into quite the sensation to whichever team gets to acquire his services. He could easily get 25-35 home runs against the top pitchers MLB has to offer, that's how much of an impact Abreu is going to have once he makes his major league debut. His defense at First Base is pretty solid as he has a decent arm and knows how to be quick with decisions. He's not the fastest of guys when it comes to base running and probably won't steal many bases, but he will be a great middle of the batting order kind of player. His at-bat presence is one of patience and waiting for the right opportunity to hit which will make him great in clutch game-winning situations.

It's no secret the Mets will have money to play with this offseason to bring in some much needed talent to make 2014 one to hopefully remember. When I think of First Base, one immediately thinks of the inconsistency of Ike Davis. I highly doubt the Mets will play the same game again next year of “hoping” Davis doesn't start off on another bad slump. Josh Satin is serviceable at best and while he would be a reliable backup to have, he just doesn't scream starting material at this moment. I love what Justin Turner did at First Base, but it's not really his natural position. While he filled in when needed nicely, I don't see Turner as the long-term answer. Same goes for Satin, who needs more time in the minors to develop. Abreu could be that huge missing piece the Mets need to bring solid defense, a hot bat, and some international flare to the team. Reports indicate that Abreu is seeking a deal in the area of four-years/$40 million since there is no guarantee he will replicate the success he had in Cuba in MLB. Bidding could get really out of control between teams. Once all the offers are on his table, who knows where he plans to go. Some say teams can easily go up to $60 million, so it all depends on what these scouts see that we don't to have the teams spend top money to grab him.

Is it a longshot that the Mets will bring in Abreu? Not really because bringing him in would give so many positives to the team. It's a fresh new soon to be superstar that will adjust very well with the Mets and of course in Citi Field. He would immediately fix our First Base situation and fans from across the world will come to see him play. The Mets would send a clear message to its fanbase that they want to contend in 2014 and for years to come. Acquiring Abreu and building around him would bring more credibility to that statement and have I mentioned, Abreu will bring us more wins. We haven't had a super productive and defensive First Baseman since the days of Carlos Delgado back in 2006.

Perhaps I'm getting too excited about all this. If the Mets had a press conference with the announcement of coming to terms with Abreu, can you imagine the headlines across the globe we'd see? Abreu can become the next big New York sensation and that will definitely pack the masses to get a first-hand look at any ballpark he plays in. Obviously the Mets aren't the only team in the hunt since most predict he will land in either Texas, Boston, San Francisco, Miami, and yeah, even Pittsburgh. It's going to be a fun offseason like always in baseball, especially if you are a Mets fan. I just hope he does land with the Mets since that would not only surprise the baseball world, but it could the the first piece in building that championship caliber team we've been patiently waiting for.

The LTJ Editorial: “The best memory Mike Piazza gave me”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 9-27-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“The best memory Mike Piazza gave me”

I will have the privilege of attending the final NY Mets game this coming Sunday, September 29^th, 2013 at Citi Field and it won't just be another baseball game for me. This will be the day the Mets will induct Mike Piazza into their own Hall of Fame and will honor him in a pre-game ceremony tribute. I have plenty of memories about Pizza especially a huge one that I'll never forget to this very day. More on that later in this article but for now, let us take a look at some of the accolades Piazza earned wearing a Mets uniform.

Piazza is a 12-time All-Star and in the eyes of most baseball enthusiasts, easily one of the best catchers to ever play the game. When you look at professional baseball as a whole, he holds the most home runs hit by a catcher at the amazing number of 427. The last time the Mets went to the World Series back in 2000, one of the biggest reasons they were able to get there in the first place was because of the hot bat of Piazza. I remember he had a hitting streak of 15 straight games where he at least got one run batted in. During his tenure with the Mets, he honored every single game in the contract he signed back in 1998 and played for about 7 years. During that stretch, he played in 972 games, had 532 runs, 1028 hits, 193 doubles, two triples, 220 home runs, 655 runs batted in, 7 stolen bases, a batting average of .296, and a .373 on base percentage. Absolutely incredible stats and many say that the trade the Mets made to acquire Piazza was one of the best in baseball history to turn a franchise into the right direction. A winning direction at that.

When you look at his career, he has not only been quite the class act, but he's been a phenomenal superstar no matter where he ended up playing. Even though he debuted for the Los Angeles Dodgers and played for teams like the Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres, and the Oakland A's, he will almost always be remembered for his tenure with the Mets. He even said when his time comes to get into the MLB Hall of Fame, he wants to be inducted as a Met. Before his professional baseball debut, ever since he was a little boy, baseball was his world. Did you know when Piazza was just five years old, his Dad was working on his arm strength by making him throw baseballs and practice catching? Another fun fact is that when he was just twelve years old in his custom-made backyard batting cage, he had a very special instructor. One who showed him what kind of batting stance he should always use. It was Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams! It was Williams who actually showed him how to bat and made sure to teach Piazza that no matter what any coach ever told him, to never change his batting stance.

Many baseball fans, especially Mets fans, cherish every memory he brought to this team. I remember one very big memory though because it helped distract me during a difficult time not only in my life but in the lives of millions. I will never forget the terrorist attacks that struck this nation, especially in New York with the September 11^th, 2001 attacks. I remember just a huge sadness that hit me the day it happened that lasted that entire week and still bothers me to this day. Everything in New York was on lock down, every night I went to bed I would worry if in the news the next day more attacks would occur. The sports world stopped and you couldn't even watch TV or even listen to Sports Radio because everyone was focusing on the coverage of what would be another upcoming war this country would face. After the week was over, some kind of sports returned that weekend I remember. It was another NL East game featuring the Atlanta Braves coming to Shea Stadium to take on the Mets. Everyone was sad, crying, it was really emotional since all the players wore NYPD/FDNY caps to honor New York. It was the first sporting event held after the 9/11 attacks, so it meant a lot to a ton of people, regardless if you followed baseball or not. What's my all-time favorite Piazza memory? That at-bat where Piazza hit a ball for a home run that even though I wasn't physically at the game, I heard the Shea Stadium crowd from my home in Queens. It was huge and gives me goosebumps every single time I see that hit. At the time, it lifted the entire city to forget just for a little bit of what occurred earlier that week.

Mike Piazza stands for a lot of things. Integrity, loyalty, and of course, doing things the right way. I know a number of years ago he admitted to using something called Androstenedione but at the time it wasn't anything banned by MLB. Piazza used it for muscle mass and it really isn't any kind of Performance Enhancing Drug when you think about it. It's not like he was a horrible player, took Andro, and starting to hit 10 home runs a game thereafter. As far as I'm concerned, he has brought nothing but great memories and will be remembered as an incredible player. Does he belong in the MLB Hall of Fame? Absolutely! No catcher in the history of the game has made as much an impact as Piazza did and while he didn't get enough votes the last time he was eligible, he will eventually get in. This time though, in Cooperstown.