Tag: Billy Wagner

Billy Wagner Calls Out Teammates After Loss

Oliver Pérez 02:45, 19 July 2007 . . Metsfan7 . . 590×700 (374,826 bytes)Image via Wikipedia

Adam Rubin from the Daily News is reporting that Billy Wagner had some tough comments for the Mets and Oliver Perez, in particular, after his poor start today.

“You’ve got to have that willpower and that desire to go back out there and fight,” Wagner said about responding to the Mets’ early deficit. “This guy (Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny), he wasn’t throwing the ball that well to shut down our offense. Perez has honestly got to step up and know that we’ve just used every guy in our bullpen the night before. He can’t come out there and decide that gee, he hasn’t got it today, and so be it.”

Wagner added: “When you have games like this, it’s very easy to say, ‘Hey, yeah, you’re going to have these games.’ And you will have these games. But when there’s not a lot of effort and desire, that’s when you worry. You definitely want to play a little bit better than we did, but I know everybody is out there doing what they can. As a pitching staff, we have to show up. We can’t go out there and get beat 13-1 by Pittsburgh.”

Wagner is easily one of the best closers in the game, if not of all time. But sometimes he’s a little too “old school” for me. Oliver Perez is an easy target for analysts both professional and amateur because he’s erratic. I don’t think Perez wasn’t giving a full effort today. He just is what he is, sometimes wild and completely without control.

I don’t like that Wagner is calling Perez out after a rough loss like that. It smacks of piling on. Likewise, I thought that Wagner was too tough on Lastings Milledge when he was here. Wagner needs to concern himself more with his own game than with anyone else. Let the coaches deal with the other pitchers. No good can come of alienating teammates, much less this early in the season.

Wright’s Big Hit Beats Pirates 5-4 in 11 Innings

David Wright was the hero tonight in the eleventh inning. He hit a bases loaded shot to the wall in right field to win it. Jose Reyes had a big night at the plate going 3 for 3 and a stolen base (6). Although Reyes did have a costly throwing error in the ninth inning that helped the Pirates to tie the game. It’s all good because the Mets ended up winning, but it was a great sign to see Reyes hitting again.

Once again, Johan Santana didn’t look like he had his best stuff but it was better than most pitchers. He didn’t make it through the sixth tonight. He also had the crowd worried when Nate McClouth led off the game with a homer.

Billy Wagner pitched two innings tonight so I doubt that he’ll be available to pitch tomorrow. He actually gave up his first run of the year although it was unearned.

Aaron Heilman struggled again through .1 innings giving up one hit and a walk. Scott Schoenweiss came in to finish the inning and made a huge play tagging Ronny Paulino on a wild pitch play at the plate in the seventh.

Box score

Delgado Hits Two As Mets Beat Braves 6-3

John Smoltz didn’t have it right from the start today. It was good to see the Mets finally get to jump all over a pitcher. He gave up four runs over four innings to take the loss. The Mets win 2 out of 3 in the series which is critical. They have to win these home series within the division if they expect to be playing in October.

Nelson Figueroa was okay again today going 5.1 innings and giving up three runs to get the win. He hasn’t showed me that he’s markedly better than Mike Pelfrey if a decision comes down to which one stays in the rotation when Pedro Martinez gets back.

The Mets again used five pitchers in the win. It’s worrying me that we’re not getting more depth from the starters. The guys from the bullpen are in there every day. Although today wasn’t the day for it, Willie needs to start thinking about stretching out the starters to give the guys in the bullpen a break. Billy Wagner locked the game down again in the ninth. He actually gave up a hit for the first time this year. But he’s looked better this season than at any time since he’s been with the Mets. He looks like a man on a mission and I like to see that. I wish everyone on the team played with the same intensity that he does.

Raul Casanova was 3 for 4 with a home run. He’s done a terrific job backing up Brian Schneider, and playing frequently since Schneider has been hurt. Luis Castillo was 3 for 5 and is inching his average back up. He’s hitting .284 now and doesn’t look “lost” at the plate like he did last week.

The story of the day has to be Carlos Delgado. He was 2 for 2 with two home runs and three runs scored. The fans called on him for a curtain call but he sat down in the dugout spurning the crowd. I don’t blame him at all. I’d probably do the same thing. Rightfully, he’s been scorched in the press and booed at Shea. I’ve let him have it myself.

The question is still valid about who Delgado is at this point in his career. He can’t be in a slump because it’s lasted for more than a season. Can he be a one trick pony hitting occasional home runs in bunches with a .200 average? I don’t know what to make of him. I’m sure the Mets management doesn’t either.

Box score

Video Highlights

Video: Post Game April 24, 2008

The depressing post game video contains comments from Oliver Perez, Aaron Heilman, and Willie Randolph.

Oliver Perez wasn’t terrible. It wasn’t his best night but he should’ve been given the opportunity to get through the sixth inning. That’s Willie’s mistake. The poor performances of Jorge Sosa and Heilman, and the over-work of Joe Smith, and Pedro Feliciano should force Willie to re-think his strategy.

Willie needs to give the starters more leeway to work out of trouble. The best pitchers on the team are the starters (except for Billy Wagner). He needs to keep his best pitchers in the game longer considering the state of the bullpen.

Santana and Wagner Aren’t Clutch

Today’s post by Baseball Analysts examines the concept of pitchers being clutch. Of course, we’ve all talked about which hitters are clutch but I’ve never seen an analysis of which pitchers are clutch.

Surprisingly, Johan Santana and Billy Wagner are both on the list of the least clutch pitchers. I definitely haven’t noticed that about Wagner although he usually starts the ninth inning so there are no runners on for him to inherit. It’s easier to start an inning rather than come in with men on, or in scoring position.

Time will tell about Santana. I didn’t watch him everyday with Minnesota, so this season will be my first to see him pitch frequently

Billy Wagner’s Comedy

Bart Hubbach of the New York Post writes that after last night’s game in Philadelphia Billy Wagner had some comments about the rude reception he received from the Philly crowd:

“They were booing so loud, I thought Schoeneweis was running in with me,” Wagner, an ex-Phillie, said of the reaction he received from the crowd during his ninth-inning appearance.

It’s good that they can joke about Schoenweiss being the target of frequent boo birds. Schoenweiss doesn’t put smiles on Mets fans faces but that comment from Billy made me laugh.