PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mike Piazza used to crush baseballs. On Thursday, he crushed illegal, electronic sign stealing.
Such behavior has now cost three managers their jobs, including Carlos Beltran before he ever managed a game for the Mets. A.J. Hinch and Alex Cora won World Series for the Astros and Red Sox, respectively. Beltran never won a game.
Piazza will be managing Team Italy in the 2021 World Baseball Classic.
“I’m excited about it and I know there have been a lot of changes in the game,’’ Piazza said after the Mets unveiled 31 Piazza Drive at their spring training home, now known as Clover Park.