Mike ‘n’ Mike on the Phillies?

Yesterday, ex-Inquirer scribe Jayson Stark reported on ESPN.com that the Phillies were in preliminary talks with Mike Piazza, the ex-Mets catcher and Norristown native. Assumedly, he’d spell Mike Lieberthal at catcher a few times a week and play first when Ryan Howard needed a day off. He’d also DH in away interleague games.

The Phillies downplayed the talks yesterday, which probably means they’re going nowhere. Piazza will likely sign for more money in the AL where he could DH fulltime.

But it’d be a good move if the Phils could get him for cheap. Although Piazza’s numbers are declining, heck, lots of guys’ numbers are declining. A Mike Piazza in the twilight of his career is better than a Tomas Perez in the same situation, even if the latter throws pies very well. He’d be a stronger righthanded bat of the bench that anyone else on the squad right now. And, hey, even when he plays catcher, it’s not like the Phillies don’t have experience playing with a bad defensive catcher.

Plus: Think about all the people who’d be censored on WIP for saying, “Piazza and Lieberthal on the same team? Which one’s the pitcher and which one’s the catcher?” Oh, wait. They allow jokes like that on there, probably. Then it’d get old pretty fast.

Sources: Phillies, Piazza have preliminary talks [ESPN.com]
Phils downplay report of talks with Piazza
piazza?!?! [PhilliesPhans.com]