Who would you rather have as starting catcher on your team, Pudge or Piazza (in their primes)?

Answer 1

Pudge is an all around better catcher, but Piazza is the better hitter.

Overall, I would have tog o with my heart and say Mike Piazza.

Answer 2

I think you have to go with the complete player rather than the hitter in Catchers clothing! Pudge was a good hitter with amazing defensive ability and an even better ability to call a game. Piazza was never into learning his pitchers, several on the Dodgers were two pitch pitchers and he would consistently drop a three down for them to throw. Piazza is a great hitter who happened to be wearing some Catcher gear, Pudge was a Catcher that we should feel priviledged for having the chance to watch!

Answer 3

Pudge. Piazza might have been a slightly better hitter, though Pudge is no slouch. The biggest reason for saying Pudge is defense. Piazza was an average at best catcher defensively and even worse at throwing out baserunners. Pudge in his prime was a very good defensive catcher and excellent at throwing out baserunners. Pudge also calls a better game.

Answer 4

It would all depend on what you were needing. If you just wanted offense then Piazza is the choice. He was a great hitter in his prime with plenty of power. While he was an average defensive catcher baserunners could steal on him pretty easily. Pudge would give you a little offense to help the team out that way but would also save you runs by calling a great game for the pitcher, picking off any runners that would dare steal on him. So in the end I would have to go with Pudge. He's going to give you a little something on the offensive end and save you runs on the defensive end. I just think Piazza is too much a liability on defense.

Answer 5

Seeing how everyone here in getting on the Pudge train, I'll throw my (Mets) hat in Piazza's corner. Because while it is true that Pudge is and always was a superior defensive character, there is a certain X-factor that Piazza has. Piazza has a certain charisma and penchant for the dramatic that few players in ANY sport have. Also, it should also be noted that when that Mitchell Report finally goes public, I would say that Pudge's name has a MUCH better chance of being on it than Mike's (although nobody's completely protected are they?)

Answer 6

It has to be Pudge since he is one of the top defensive catchers of all time and Piazza is one of the worst. Edge to Piazza with the bat but not enough benefit to beat out Pudge overall.

Answer 7

I would much rather have Pudge. He was (and still is) a solid bat, he hits for a solid average and has both a little pop to his bat and speed on the base paths. Though, he was not as good as Piazza, he was still very good. The real advantage comes defensively. Pudge is one of the best defensive catchers of all-time, Piazza may have been one of the worst.

Answer 8

Catcher is a defensive position; Piazza was a great hitter who was out of position. He couldn't throw out runners, he didn't go down for balls in the dirt well, he didn't call a good game, he didn't block the plate well...he didn't really do much of anything well as a catcher.
He would have been a better DH.
Pudge, on the other hand, was a fine offensive player and a great defensive one. He would go to the Hall if he were about half the hitter he is.

Answer 9

My heart says Piazza, but my brain goes with Pudge. Piazza is a great hitter, but can't throw out a runner if his life depended on it. Pudge Rodriguez is a good offensive player, and one of the great defensive catchers of all-time. Plus he has the intangibles.

Answer 10

Pudge. He's a much, much better fielder and a very good hitter. Piazza was a servicable fielder, but an incredible hitter. Both will be hall of famer, but Pudge in his prime, was the better all-around catcher.