ESPN video on Billy Wagner making the decision to reject a trade to the Red Sox and his response to Jonathan Papelbon‘s comments about him.
Month: August 2009
Video: Olney on Johan Santana Injury
Buster Olney of ESPN rehashes the whole scenario of how Johan Santana was traded by the Twins to the Mets. He says that the Yankees and Red Sox both had concerns at the time about the health of Santana because he had lost velocity and wasn’t throwing his slider.
Mets News Aug. 25, 2009: Wagner, Sheffield, Minaya, Santana
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
For a team near the bottom of the National League standings, the Mets sure have a lot going on right now. You would think that they would be playing out the string and cruising into 2010. Did you know? There are only five teams in the NL with a worse winning percentage than the Mets; Nationals, Pirates, Reds, D-Backs, and Padres.
Here’s the news:
- Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports writes that Billy Wagner will exercise his no-trade clause to block a move to the Red Sox. The deal must be completed by 1pm today.
- Adam Bernacchio of The Ghost of Moonlight Graham writes about how several Mets players told the media that they expect Johan Santana to have season-ending elbow surgery
- Nick Kapur of Ump Bump writes about how the Mets have mismanaged Johan Santana by allowing him to pitch injured for the last two months
- Danny Knobler of CBS Sports writes about Gary Sheffield’s future. He wants to play next year and beyond in his pursuit of 3,000 hits. Sheffield needs 311 more hits to reach 3,000.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com writes about Fred Wilpon’s vote of confidence for Omar Minaya and the Billy Wagner trade to the Red Sox scenario
- Jon Boise of AOL Fanhouse writes that the Mets injuries this year may be evidence that God hates the Mets
- Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports writes that Omar Minaya will have a difficult time turning things around in 2010
More Mets Injuries: Johan Santana, Jeff Francoeur
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
If you weren’t at work today and were watching the game, you noticed that Jeff Francoeur wasn’t in the lineup or the dugout. He was at the doctor getting his thumb examined after making a diving catch yesterday. The result is that he has a torn ligament in his thumb, the same injury that plagued Alex Cora for much of the season. Francoeur is day-to-day right now.
On a more serious note, Johan Santana will be the next victim patient of the Mets medical team for some pain in his left elbow. Apparently, he’s been feeling some pain since after the All-Star break. He won’t be in Florida for his scheduled start tomorrow. Nelson Figueroa will replace him in the rotation.
I haven’t been a proponent of sitting anyone for the rest of the season if they’re healthy enough to play. I feel that the Mets owe the paying fans something. And that something is putting some decent players on the field. But I have to say that Santana is the one guy they shouldn’t mess around with. He needs to be healthy for next season. So if he needs to call it a season now, they should err on the side of caution with him.
Mets-Red Sox Billy Wagner Trade Hits Snag
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
The major news organizations are reporting that Mets closer Billy Wagner has some demands of the Red Sox before he’ll waive his no-trade clause to accept a deal sending him to Boston. He wants the Sox to guarantee that they won’t pick up his $8 million option for next season and that they won’t offer him contract arbitration.
If the Sox won’t agree to Wagner’s demands, the Mets could still let Wagner go without receiving any compensation except for not having to pay Wagner. The Mets should just let him go if they can’t work through these issues. Omar Minaya shouldn’t even have to think for a second about that.
That punk, Jonathan Papelbon, had some comments for WEEI about Wagner too. From ESPN:
“What has he done? Has he pitched this year?” Jonathan Papelbon told WEEI.com. “Is he ready to pitch or is he not? … I think our bullpen is good where we’re at right now. Don’t get me wrong. But I guess you could always make it better. It’s kind of like the [Eric] Gagne thing, I guess.”
Preview: Phillies at Mets Aug. 23, 2009
Philadelphia Phillies (70-50 Road: 38-21) at New York Mets (57-66 Home: 34-30) 1:10pm
Pedro Martinez (1-0 4.50) vs. Oliver Perez (3-3 6.06)
TV: WPIX
What to watch: Pedro returns! It’s kind of sad to see a formerly-great pitcher hanging onto his career by a thread, but Pedro is back. You can bet that he’ll be highly motivated today against the downtrodden Mets. The Mets are 5-3 in the games that Perez has started since he came off the DL. He wasn’t great in his last start against the Braves giving up 4 earned runs in 5 innings but he hasn’t lost a decision since July 21.
Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!
Video: Rosenthal On Billy Wagner Trade
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has a video posted about the Mets options for trading Billy Wagner. He mentions that they may even hold onto him, pick up his option for next year, then trade him. What he doesn’t mention is that the Mets could shoot themselves in the foot by doing that if Wagner exercises his full no-trade clause. Then the Mets are stuck with him next year at $8 million.
http://images.video.msn.com/flash/customplayer/1_0/customplayer.swf
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