Billy Wagner - who wins, who loses?

Over the past few seasons, Billy Wagner has caused some controversy. Leaving the Philadelphia Phillies, with some harsh words, for the New York Mets. Continuing to spew his opinions once with the Mets and then coming back from being out almost a year recovering from Tommy John surgery to, after some wavering, waving his no trade clause and ending up on the Boston Red Sox as a relief pitcher. It was an interesting move by the Mets considering that in two appearances Wagner struck out four with a fast ball that topped 96 miles per hour and all they received for Wagner was two players to be named later.

Wagner was replaced as the Mets closer with the acquisition of Fransisco Rodriguez, arguably one of the best closers in the majors. Wagner has made it known that he wants to be a closer and is looking to break John Franco's record of the most saves thrown by a left handed pitcher. Yet, just before the deadline, he waves his no trade clause to be a set up man for Jonathan Papelbon. It seems as though Wagner has, for the time being, traded his pursuit of breaking Franco's record for a shot at a championship.

I can't say I blame the guy for wanting to win but he's 38 years old and is still recovering from a fairly major surgery. He has a shot at a ring with the Sox but not much of a chance at the record. And what happens next year? Will the Sox keep him? Surer he may get a couple of chances at a save if Papelbon pitches too many days in a row, but certainly not enough to satisfy him. Does he hope a competitive team picks him up so he can work towards the record? He's got a great arm but he comes with baggage, not that many players at this point don't, but realistically, does he have a shot at Franco's record?

I'm saying no. I don't think he can hold on long enough to break it and part of me doesn't want him to. As a life-long Met fan, I don't want a wishy-washy guy like Wagner breaking the record of a guy I cursed regularly as a kid. What do you think? Can he do it? Do you want him to? And can someone explain to me the purpose of receiving players to be names later? Does it even matter at this point? Read more!

Adopting a Surrogate Team for the Post Season

With September now upon us and the Mets’ post-season aspirations all but down the drain, I feel an odd sense of relief in many ways that I will not feel the end of season stress and disappointment that 2007 and 2008 wrought. I have had most of July and all of August to mourn the Mets and now I’m ready to adopt a surrogate team and sit back and watch the Wild Card dogfight in the National and American Leagues.


Traditionally, my top-tier adopted team is always the Red Sox. I can identify with this team because much like the Mets, they historically have been an underdog, and they are usually victimized by the hated Yankees in one way or another. But the truth of the matter is, since winning two World Series the Sox have lost a bit of charm for me. Maybe it is because the Mets haven’t won squat that I am losing my sense of kinship with the formerly beleaguered Sox Nation, but more and more I have been picking true underdog teams – especially those with very low payrolls, to pull out an October miracle. Last year it was the Rays and former Met Scott Kazmir. In 2007 it was the Rockies with their miraculous end of season hot streak, This year I have a lot of good choices but I’m thinking the Texas Rangers just might be the team I’d like to see take the Wildcard. It is doubtful they would get past the Yankees to go to the World Series so let’s just take one thing at a time for now.

My reasoning behind rooting Texas on this year is because with the exception of 2004 when they finished the season 89 – 73, this team has been in or hovering near the basement of the AL West for about 10 years. Their last playoff appearance was 1999 when the won the division. They also won the division in 1996 and 1998. All three times they lost to the Yankees. Through their history they have never played in or obviously won a World Series title. Because of this, I can truly identify with this franchise. I also feel somewhat sad for their fans. It takes a strong person to continuously root for a losing team. As a Mets fan, I know this first hand, but at least the Mets gave us 1969 and 1986 and a smattering of playoff action in between.

You also have to like how the Rangers have improved their farm system over the past couple of years. Just two years ago, Baseball America, ranked the Rangers farm system 28th out of 30 teams. The publication gave the Rangers the largest bump in its history by rating it No. 4 in 2008, and this year it ranked Texas No. 1. Note to Omar Minaya and Jeff Wilpon…maybe take some cues on how this is done and get cracking on a similar plan for the Mets.

Every year one or two teams surprise me by rising out of the ashes to be competitive. While the Rangers have some ground to make up in chasing the Red sox for the Wildcard, I get the impression that the young talent on this team is confident in their abilities like the Rays were last year. The Red Sox, on the other hand, seem to be a little older, a little more beaten up and definitely more mortal than in their championship years. It should be an interesting ride through September to watch these two teams duke it out with Tampa for a playoff slot. And the best part for me is, after a summer of turmoil in Mets land, I can just sit back, relax and take it all in on the sidelines as I wait for spring training 2010.
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Wagner, the Phillies don't want you either

On Friday, former Phillie and current Met and redneck Billy Wagner was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox. Wagner finally made his 2009 debut on Thursday against the Atlanta Braves, when he pitched one inning of scoreless baseball. Wagner’s season has been delayed due to his recovery from the Tommy John surgery he had back in September of 2008.

The former Phillies closer was placed on waivers by the Mets earlier in the week, and when he was posed with the possibility of rejoining his former team, Billy couldn’t wait to say something to show his lack of intelligence. He made mention of hating his two years in Philadelphia and couldn’t bare the thought of spending another two months in the city. It’s making public comments like those that earned Billy the nickname of “rat” by former Phil Pat Burrell.

Then, upon hearing the news that the Red Sox claimed him, Wagner told the AP that he wasn’t aware of anything going on with them, but he relished the idea of joining a contender with the possibility of pitching in the World Series. I’m sorry, Billy, are the Phillies not the defending world champs and leading their division this year? So wouldn’t that make them a contender as well? Just admit that your fragile little psyche and aging arm don’t have what it takes to pitch in meaningful games in October.

When healthy, Wagner can be an effective pitcher; after all, he was regarded as an elite closer for the last seven years or so. If Billy does go to Boston, he obviously won’t be used as their closer. The Red Sox have Jonathan Papelbon for that. Wagner will be used as more of a set-up man or as a left-handed situational pitcher for late in games. This may actual pose some problems if the Phillies were to face the Red Sox in the World Series, since the Phitans lineup is loaded with left-handed batters.

The Mets have until 1pm on Tuesday to either complete a trade with the Sox, pull Wagner’s name off of waivers (which will render Billy unable to traded again this year), or simply award the former closer to Boston. Either way, if Billy lands in Beantown, they will have to pay him about $3.5 million, which in my opinion, is entirely too much to pay for a rat.
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