01-25-2005, 11:27 PM
Over his career, Piazza has a FP of .989 (league FP .990). That's not shitty, that's average.
His career RFg is 7.23 compared to a league RFg of 6.32. Pretty impressive.
Carlton Fisk: .988 5.58
Johnny Bench: .990 5.80
Yogi Berra: .989 5.61
Roy Campanella: .988 5.98
Elston Howard: .993 6.09
Mike Piazza: .989 7.23
As for how Piazza handles his pitchers, check this:
Team ERA with Piazza catching vs. overall Team ERA
2004: Piazza 3.99, Mets 4.09
2003: Piazza 3.97, Mets 4.48
2002: Piazza 3.84, Mets 3.89
2001: Piazza 4.05, Mets 4.07
2000: Piazza 3.87, Mets 4.16
1999: Piazza 4.40, Mets 4.27
1998: Piazza 3.91, Mets 3.77 (Mets only)
1997: Piazza 3.50, Dodgers 3.63
1996: Piazza 3.31, Dodgers 3.48
1995: Piazza 3.66, Dodgers 3.66
1994: Piazza 3.93, Dodgers 4.23
1993: Piazza 3.42, Dodgers 3.50
So in 12 seasons, pitchers have a lower ERA with Piazza behind the plate in nine, one is dead even, and two are higher. Clearly, pitchers tend to pitch better with Piazza behind the plate.
And where do pitching staffs tend to rank against other teams with Piazza catching?
Dodgers
Year - ERA Rank
1993 - 3
1994 - 9
1995 - 2
1996 - 1
1997 - 2
Traded to Florida then Mets early in season
Mets
1998 - 4 (Dodgers dropped to 5th)
1999 - 5
2000 - 3
2001 - 5
2002 - 5
2003 - 10 (only played 68 games)
2004 - 7 (only played 50 games as catcher)
So, every year except one that Piazza has played 100+ games as catcher, his team's ERA is among the top 5 in the league. The two seasons he played under 1/2 the teams games in NY the team dropped from 5th to 10th and 7th in ERA.
Conclusion: Over the course of his career, aside from the one obvious weakness, Mike Piazza has been overall solid defensively. Pitchers pitch well when Piazza is calling the game. While the last few years have seen age take its toll and his defense has suffered for it, to say he has always been a poor defensive catcher is a statement unsupported by facts.
Edited By Sir O on 1106697409
His career RFg is 7.23 compared to a league RFg of 6.32. Pretty impressive.
Carlton Fisk: .988 5.58
Johnny Bench: .990 5.80
Yogi Berra: .989 5.61
Roy Campanella: .988 5.98
Elston Howard: .993 6.09
Mike Piazza: .989 7.23
As for how Piazza handles his pitchers, check this:
Team ERA with Piazza catching vs. overall Team ERA
2004: Piazza 3.99, Mets 4.09
2003: Piazza 3.97, Mets 4.48
2002: Piazza 3.84, Mets 3.89
2001: Piazza 4.05, Mets 4.07
2000: Piazza 3.87, Mets 4.16
1999: Piazza 4.40, Mets 4.27
1998: Piazza 3.91, Mets 3.77 (Mets only)
1997: Piazza 3.50, Dodgers 3.63
1996: Piazza 3.31, Dodgers 3.48
1995: Piazza 3.66, Dodgers 3.66
1994: Piazza 3.93, Dodgers 4.23
1993: Piazza 3.42, Dodgers 3.50
So in 12 seasons, pitchers have a lower ERA with Piazza behind the plate in nine, one is dead even, and two are higher. Clearly, pitchers tend to pitch better with Piazza behind the plate.
And where do pitching staffs tend to rank against other teams with Piazza catching?
Dodgers
Year - ERA Rank
1993 - 3
1994 - 9
1995 - 2
1996 - 1
1997 - 2
Traded to Florida then Mets early in season
Mets
1998 - 4 (Dodgers dropped to 5th)
1999 - 5
2000 - 3
2001 - 5
2002 - 5
2003 - 10 (only played 68 games)
2004 - 7 (only played 50 games as catcher)
So, every year except one that Piazza has played 100+ games as catcher, his team's ERA is among the top 5 in the league. The two seasons he played under 1/2 the teams games in NY the team dropped from 5th to 10th and 7th in ERA.
Conclusion: Over the course of his career, aside from the one obvious weakness, Mike Piazza has been overall solid defensively. Pitchers pitch well when Piazza is calling the game. While the last few years have seen age take its toll and his defense has suffered for it, to say he has always been a poor defensive catcher is a statement unsupported by facts.
Edited By Sir O on 1106697409