Tag: Mike Piazza

Italy’s dugout at the World Baseball Classic has an espresso machine, and it’s so perfectly Italian

Nothing gets your heart pumping quite like competitive international baseball. Except, of course, for a strong shot of espresso.

Nothing gets your heart pumping quite like competitive international baseball. Except, of course, for a strong shot of espresso.

Team Italy, coached by New York Mets legend Mike Piazza, has a unique advantage if and when they get tired while competing at the World Baseball Classic. Their dugout has an espresso machine, with to-go coffee cups and everything, ready for use at any given moment.

While it’s not exactly a performance-enhancing drug, it’s a strategy that was popularized by former NBA forward Boris Diaw. The “Borista” installed a tiny espresso machine in his locker and even brought it with him to the Grand Canyon.

Italy is in the midst of pool play at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, in Taiwan to earn one of two spots for a chance to advance to the quarterfinal round. Their team is competing against Chinese Taipei, Cuba, the Netherlands and Panama.

They won their first game against Cuba in extra innings on Thursday. But even with a potential caffeine advantage coursing through their veins, they fell to Chinese Taipei (who have incredible fans!) on Friday.

Despite the loss, the Italian team also has perhaps the best celebration in the tournament. After big moments, they pinch their fingers to represent the ma che vuoi? gesture. It is favolosa:

Their roster includes MLB players Nicky Lopez and Vinnie Pasquantino from the Royals. Team Italy also has American-born players on the roster including David Fletcher from the Angels and former All-Star Matt Harvey.

If you’re feeling inspired by the espresso machine, you can buy one of Team Italy’s World Baseball Classic hats to show off your support. Meanwhile, if you want to follow Team USA, we have you covered with their roster and full schedule.

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Mike Piazza on Jacob deGrom leaving the Mets and why he got tear-gassed for ‘Special Forces’

“He made his decision. We had to make our decision.”

Mike Piazza made what can only be described as a very strange decision.

Piazza is a Baseball Hall of Famer who made 12 All-Star appearances during his MLB career. Now 54 years old, the former catcher who hit the most home runs among all players at his position in MLB history is long retired from the game he once dominated. He lives in Italy with his wife and children, and he coaches the Italian national baseball team.

There is absolutely no reason for someone like Piazza to put himself through the vigorous challenges of an intense military-style boot camp at the whim of strict sergeants.

But that is exactly what he did when he signed up for Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test on FOX (premieres Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET). It is an endurance test reality competition where there is no prize money, no craft services, and no special accommodations while living during summertime in Jordan — particularly in Wadi Rum.

The only way to leave the show is to quit, and the main goal is literally just to “survive” these extreme challenges assigned by ex-special operations forces. The experience is demanding, both physically and emotionally, and does not seem like any fun whatsoever.

Piazza was joined by former NBA big man Dwight Howard, Olympic gold medalist Carli Lloyd, former NFL receiver Danny Amendola, former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci, actress Jamie Lynn Spears, and several other celebrities of varying fame.

For The Win caught up with the longtime New York Mets star to discuss his experience on the show. He also touched on his former team, Jacob deGrom, the Steve Cohen era, the World Baseball Classic and more.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Buck Showalter may dye his hair if Mets win the World Series. Here are our suggested colors.

We have some ideas.

The New York Mets are one of the betting favorites to win the World Series.

That is particularly exciting as we near the end of MLB’s regular season, especially because the Mets have won the championship just twice since they first became a franchise in 1962.

There are a lot of reasons to root for the Mets this season, but manager Buck Showalter (who is legitimately hilarious) provided yet another over this past weekend.

As noted by MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, the 66-year-old manager hinted that he would “dye his hair” if his team is able to win the championship this season.

Showalter, a veteran who has won American League Manager of the Year in three different decades, clearly knows how to get his team pumped up.

But as a fan, I’m all about this idea as well. In fact, in an effort to help, I’ve decided to provide some suggestions for what color Showalter should choose if the Mets do end up playing in the October Classic and winning it all.