DENVER -- Mike Piazza began learning to play a new position Monday night, taking grounders at first base for about 10 minutes before the New York Mets played the Colorado Rockies.

	Piazza

The All-Star catcher came out early before batting practice to work at first base for the first time since Mets manager Art Howe and GM Steve Phillips spoke with him about the idea last week.

"This is the first day. He just took groundballs, so let's not read anything more into it,'' Howe said. "He wanted to go down there and just take a few. We're just going to let this thing go. He's a long way from ever setting foot on the field at first base in a game.''

Piazza was in the starting lineup at catcher, batting fourth. Considered by many to be the greatest-hitting catcher ever, his 340 home runs put him 11 behind Carlton Fisk for the most as a catcher.

The 10-time All-Star had more homers and RBI in his first 10 years than any catcher in major league history.

But Piazza has struggled mightily with his throwing in recent years. He seemed reluctant to move from behind the plate in the past, but perhaps the wear and tear on his body has made him reconsider this season.

Piazza hasn't played more than 141 games the past four years and missed nine of New York's first 33 games this season because of minor injuries and a four-game suspension.

He was hitting just .147 on April 15, but went 23-for-62 with four homers and eight RBI in 17 games to improve his average to .292 through Sunday.

After years of speculation, the Mets approached Piazza about the idea of making the shift after regular first baseman Mo Vaughn went on the disabled list, but Howe said there's no rush.

"Nothing to make out of it,'' Howe said. "It was just the first day. Just to get his feet a little wet down there. I'll let you know when I think he's getting close to getting ready to play.''

Piazza has played only one game at first base in the majors, handling his only two chances cleanly in 1993 for Los Angeles.