12/13/2003 7:51 PM ET
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
NEW ORLEANS -- Art Howe sat down in the big ballroom during Saturday's second day of the Winter Meetings, fully expecting to hear questions about Kaz Matsui. After all, there was a huge contingent of Japanese media eager to get the skipper's take on the Mets' latest edition.
Though Howe certainly got his share of Matsui questions, one of the hot topics of conversation was once again how he will handle Mike Piazza and the first-base issue when Spring Training begins. Howe said he expected to have a conversation before Christmas just to lay the groundwork for what the former All-Star catcher can do when he reports to camp in February.
"I've been kicking around some ideas about what to do there," Howe said. "First base is certainly part of the regiment. How much, Mike and I will decide. [Keeping] his bat [in the lineup] is so important to us; he's one of the best hitters in baseball.
"The key will be getting him enough work at first base so he'll be comfortable to play there. The sooner we get him started there, the better because we need him to work behind the plate, too. It takes time to get into catching shape."
Howe, who played first base during his career, said he intends to spend time tutoring Piazza next spring. Piazza, however, more than likely won't be attending the club's mini-camp next month in Port St. Lucie.
Still, Howe wasn't worried about whether Piazza would be ready physically once Spring Training begins. He lauded Piazza's offseason workout regimen and said, physically, Piazza is 100 percent, a fact he demonstrated at the end of this past season despite missing three months with a severely torn groin muscle.
Piazza finished last season by going homerless in his final 88 at-bats, a career-worst streak. He enters the 2004 season four homers shy of Carlton Fisk for the all-time mark by a catcher. Piazza had 11 homers and 34 RBIs and hit .286 in 68 games.
As for Matsui, Howe expanded on the praise that he gave his new shortstop earlier in the week when the Mets formally announced his signing. He went into great detail with the Japanese media about how he didn't expect a difficult transition period and that the double-play combination he will form with Jose Reyes will be among the best in baseball.
The one reservation Howe did have was about how quickly Matsui will have to adjust to playing on grass, especially the thick grass at Shea Stadium. Matsui has played most of his career on artificial turf.