San Diego is a lovely place... but still!

The Mike Piazza deal looks like it's official now, with the former Dodger, Marlin and Met heading out west again where it all began. Back in the day, Piazza was the next in a long line of Dodger greats (and Dodger rookies who won the Rookie of the Year award in the 90s) with a big bat and star power galore.

Now, he's heading back out west with a dimming star and a hole in his bat. Many (myself included) think a change of scenery is just what he needs. However, while some will argue that leaving New York is the key to the deal, I think he needs a lesser change of perspective. Not from east to west coasts, but more like 90 feet up the first base line. Or maybe to the bench as a DH.

Philly entered the race late because he's a hometown boy there, but there were a few teams that badly need help off the bench. Minnesota, we're looking at you...

I wrote this to another baseball crazy friend of mine last week:

"From the Mike Piazza runaround - he's talking to Philly and ESPN reports that the Phils are looking at him (he isn't physically able to catch anymore, can only DH or maybe (maybe!) play first and why did Thome get shipped to the South Side? Oh, yeah...

So Buster reports that the Yanks are in the running, edging out the Padres. Oh, and his agency? The Beverly Hills Sports Council - no lie, you can look it up.

I thought the whole damned point was to get him a slot in the AL where he can DH and and catch every few days to spell the everyday catcher...There are only a handful of AL teams that don't have a great DH and a deep enough catching bench. In an era where Sammy and Corey are shopped in back-to-back years, Kevin Millar signs for a million plus for one year, Furcal breaks the bank (I could go on and on here) Mike Fucking Piazza isn't enough of a draw (if not so much a bat anymore and I contend that his numbers will get better when he's not squatting on Jake Taylor's knees) to maybe check in with the Beverly Hills Sports Council? Or maybe they can't make a few calls?

Seriously, right now go through the AL and knock off anyone with a solid DH. Then, eliminate Tampa and KC for being Tampa and KC and there isn't a need for a big name, probable HoF'er with some gas in the tank?

We know owners are dumb, so I think this one falls on the jags at the Beverly Hills Sports Council."

I stand by all of the above.

(Nam Y. Huh/AP)