News: Wagner Speaks Out
In an interview with MLB.com, Billy Wagner spoke candidly on the state of the Mets and their off-season plans.
Among other things, Wagner discusses how the loss of LHP Tom Glavine and C Paul Lo Duca, combined with the activity of the Braves and Phillies, could make the Mets a third-place team.
Wagner as quoted by Marty Noble…
“We’ve lost 13 games [Glavine's victory total], and now we are going have to give up something to get those games back. I’m afraid we’re just going to create other holes if we give up a [Lastings] Milledge, a [Mike] Pelfrey or a [Aaron] Heilman…Without Aaron, it’d be like another 10 or 12 [games]. It would be a big chance to take. Without Aaron, [the bullpen] don’t even exist. No way you can trade him.”
…valid concerns by wagner, but if the answer isn’t there in free agency, the Mets have to give to get…glavine is harder to replace than a heilman, milledge or pelfrey, which is precisely why the Mets may be willing to part with those guys to find glavine’s replacement…besides, the better the rotation is, the less important the middle relief is…
Wagner, speaking about the bullpen…
“In Willie Randolph’s bullpen, it’s different. He wants guys to be able to go 2.2 innings or one-third of an inning or in between. That’s how he wants it. But guys just want to know, so they can prepare themselves and be comfortable…
“The idea is to get them into situations where they can be successful. I mean, you wouldn’t ask Carlos Delgado to bunt.”
…the article is definitely worth the read, but people will likely make a bigger deal out of this than necessary…it isn’t anything wagner hasn’t said to Mets management before, and i’m sure his comments are no different than the concerns of other players and fans…so, while i’d rather him not call out his manager, i also know wagner just wants to win and he’s never been one to beat around the bush…you know, it’s ‘billy being billy,’ if you will…
