Shawn Estes threw a pitch that went behind Roger Clemens, the umpire warned both teams and that was the end of a much-publicized series of beanball incidents between the Mets and the Yankees.
The saga started two years ago when Clemens beaned Piazza in the head and also threw part of a broken bat at him. The Mets haven't had a chance to exact revenge until Saturday at Shea Stadium when Clemens stepped into the batter's box. After Estes threw behind Clemens it was all over.
In some strange way you have to respect the fact that the feud brewed for two years. Say what you will about New York fans, but you can't doubt their commitment, or their memories for that matter.
Random stat of the week
Bank One Ballpark and the Royals' Kauffman Stadium are this season's two most hitter-friendly parks. Both are averaging a total of 11.1 runs per game.
While the two have historically treated batters better than pitchers, the surprise this year is that Colorado's Coors Field and the Astro's Minute Maid Park are not topping the list of highest-scoring parks. Coors ranks fifth at 10.4 runs per game and the Juice Box ranks tenth at 9.6 runs per game.
Eleven of the teams to occupy the 15 highest-scoring parks have winning records at home. Of that group, only the Royals, Rangers, Blue Jays and Devil Rays have losing records. The combined records of those four teams: 102-164 (.383 win percentage).
On the rise
It wasn't too long ago that the Oakland A's appeared in the "Look out below" section of this column, but after winning nine of their last 10, they are only four games behind the Mariners in the AL West.
The reason for the sudden rebound is simple: pitching. Mark Mulder and Barry Zito have each won their last four outings, and Tim Hudson is coming around after a rough start.
In the last twelve games pitched by Hudson, Mulder and Zito, they are 9-0 with an astounding 1.84 ERA.
It's shaping up to be a great race in the AL West among the A's, Mariners and Angels.
Look out below
The Rockies have had a roller coaster year, but were 33-36 through Sunday after losing 10 out of their last 13 games. They're nine-and-a-half games back of the Diamondbacks in the NL West.
They started the season 6-16, then put together a stretch of 10 wins in 12 games at the end of May to push there record to 30-26, but have fallen off in the last two weeks.
23-year-old right hander Jason Jennings has been nothing short of brilliant all year, compiling an 8-2 record and a 4.20 ERA. But the never-ending struggles of $10 million man Mike Hampton are a good example of the mediocrity of the Rockies.
Hampton is 3-8 this year with a 6.72 ERA. In his last four starts (21.2 innings) he has allowed 39 hits, 20 earned runs, walked 14 and only struck out six. It's hard to put together win streaks with a starter like that.
Reach Adam Kress at jtreered@aol.com.
