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Just moments after his comments to reporters following today’s game, which you can check out here, Billy Wagner talked to ESPN 1050 in his regularly-scheduled, weekly interview.
During Wagner’s discussion with Kay, he had the following to say regarding his earlier comments to reporters…
“Well, I mean, I was not a participant in the game, and the guys that had participated were gone. I mean, we’re all upset, we’re unhappy with things that are going on, and how we’re playing, and I just felt like I hadn’t even played. I had no role in the game. David Wright is always there, and the same guys are always there. But there needs to be other guys that are accountable. It gets a little old when the same people keep getting interviewed even when they don’t participate…If you’re not there to answer the questions, the reporters can write whatever they want to. They can write you stunk, you sucked, whatever. But if you’re there to say, ‘Hey man, I wasn’t very good today. I came up and I had a chance and it didn’t work out.’ Well, you’re accountable. When you’re not there, it gets a little ridiculous…
…Paul Lo Duca’s comments from last year, about certain players avoiding the media, and suggesting that other players speak English too…
“I think it’s just certain guys. I don’t think it’s Latin or white or black. I don’t think it’s a color thing. I think it’s just as a whole. There’s guys that need to stand there and take the bad with the good.”
…whether or not he has talked with Willie Randolph or Omar Minaya about this…
“I think they understand. They know what goes on and I’m sure they’ve talked to everybody. That’s just a situation where I’m sure some of this stuff will be brought up tomorrow and see where we’ll go from there. I’m not saying it’s like earth-shattering. I’m just saying that I’m the closer of the baseball team – I’m not the captain. There’s other guys on this team that need to stand there and answer the questions during the tough times too.”
…he brings up an interesting point, in that by not speaking to reporters, it allows those reporters to frame reality however they see fit…and those stories, like it or not, tend to frame the discourse that goes on in the street, on talk radio and on blogs…and, this would not be such a big deal, but given how frustrated the fans are and how blah the team has been, it would make sense for the players to try and grab the wheel as much as they can…
To listen to Wagner’s entire interview, go to ESPN 1050.
“I am not part of this team, I did not even play tonight. I am not the captain, I am just a closer. When I leave I will completely throw the entire team under the bus but in between now and then I must begin the process of all my teammates hating me.”
I see your point, maybe. He did the same act in Philly, but several guys afterwards said he was right.
I think he is trying to help them, but who knows. I don’t speak redneck.
I speak a little redneck (living in the south..), and to me, he doesn’t sound so much like he wants to help, as much as he just sounds pissed at someone. Though he denied it in the Kay interview, his original comments certainly seemed racially tinged (in redneck speak..)
Me too Mookie. He was angry but again, I call attention to his need for drama. Much like he can’t pitch unless there is drama, he can’t seem to shutup until there is drama.
I don’t think most of his teammates would even notice if he threw him under the bus. They would already be in their limo on their way home.
Wagner can be, and has been, an ass (”Know Your Place, Rook”), but he is completely correct here. Wagner only gets quoted because he is the only one around to talk to after the games.
Based on absolutely nothing at all except watching games on TV, it does seem like the majority of white players are trying (Wright, Church, Wagner, Maine, Pelfrey, Smith, Scho) and the the majority of latin players aren’t (Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, Castillo, Perez, Sosa). I am guessing its more that some people show their emotions better than others, and there are definite exceptions (Alou, Santana, Heilman), but there is definitely a perception, wrong or right, that certain Latin players are happy just to pick up a paycheck.
Except for maybe Heilman, who I think is just stiff and as boring as white paint, every player who you could criticize for (rightly or wrongly) for not caring is Latin.
Its really not hard to insulate yourself from booing at Shea. Show that you give a crap and chances are no one will get on your case. For whatever reason, our Latin stars don’t seem to be able to do that (Reyes is a petulant baby who is more concerned with the post game than the game, Beltran is aloof and introspective, Delgado seems to think he is above the rest of the team). The fact that latin non-stars *can* (Endy is hitting .180 and hasn’t been booed because he wears his heart on his sleeve; Sanchez isn’t booed because he shows emotion and worked his ass off the get back to the majors) insulate themselves just shows that certain guys aren’t cut out for NY.
The end result is that Wagner is not the problem. Booing is not the problem. The problem is lack of hitting. If booing bothers the players so much, they should just show that they care. Some players seem incapable of that. You don’t need to hit .360 to be a fan favorite around here.
And Fire Willie.
Exactly, look like you care, look like you’re trying and you won’t get booed or will at least get booed less.
But that’s just it. Where’s Willie in all this? Passive Willie, not taking charge of this situation. I really like Willie. I want him to be successful. I want him to stay here at the helm. But jeez, this is something the manager has to get on top of, and should have been on top of all along. I think Wags speaks out like this because there’s no leadership anywhere else on the team laying down a basline of accountability for the players here. I like Delgado too. But it really seems like he’s just playing out this year and wants to put NYC in his rearview window asap. He’ll play the game but don’t ask him about anything. This isn’t a team anymore like it was in 2006, and then it probably was so simply because they had a great time together kicking some butt. When Pedro’s here he is the lightening rod, but in a lighthearted, lets have some fun, way. Why is Wags stepping up like this? Simply because there’s no leadership! And that falls to Willie. A really bad situation is forming up here.
Wagner always seems to make comments like this after games. Everyone thinks that its so great that he seems like he is the only one who cares. The fact is that Wagner is going to continue to burn bridges here just as he has done in every other city that he has been to. The fact is that the entire team is not happy with their performance thus far and why should they be. Yet Wagner is going to point out his teammates and place blame on them. The thing is Wagner was the guy who no one remembers down the stretch that he couldn’t pitch in one of those games when we needed him the most becuase he was suffering from “back spasims” and the Mets would go on to lose that game and the division. Where was Wagner then? Wagner is just one of those guys who is going to divide this team with comments like the ones that he made today and the ones that he has made for the entire season starting in the off season. I seriously can’t stand this guy and I can’t understand why he has to make a comment. Just walk away or say something political, but you should never make cause for a bigger scene. I just don’t think that this guy is as good as everyone is making him to be the fact is that Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran and other guys who haven’t lived up to thier billing this season are twice the ball player that Wagner is and that they are what you could call classy and Wagner is not. I would rather have 25 Carlos Delgado’s then 25 Billy Wagner’s any day of the week. And for all of those people who are out to fire Randolph I can understand where your coming from pointing out that he has made some very poor decisions thus far especially with the way that he has worked the bullpen and trust me he makes me very angry almost every game, but the fact is that he is a very good manager and no matter who is at the helm your going to always find flaws in their managing. I would be the first one to ask for Bobby Valentine back, however Randolph is a very capable manager and no one should be calling for his job mid season that will do nothing for our team. We aren’t the 2003 Marlins or the 2004 Astros this is a veteran club who is struggling right now, but once our bats start to his we will take off. If that doesn’t happen and we fail to make the playoffs this season then obviously we should make a change at manager, but until that happens Randolph should stay becuase the last thing that we need is more turmoil in this clubhouse. A clubhouse that use to be one of the finest and most fun in the entire league, and I am hoping that somewhere down the line that this team can find some of its old swagger from 2006 and 2007 season and once again be the top team in the National League like they should be.
“top team in the NL like they SHOULD be”?
Simply, right now they’re not. They don’t have the pitching depth, youth, or bench.
You don’t give yourself any credibility when you imply Wagner faked an injury.
I don’t know what a back spasm feels like, but I’d imagine it would be pretty hard to be effective at pitching if I had them.
What has Carlos Delgado done to deserve a pass? He hasn’t been productive in over a year. He’s struggling again, and he was nowhere to be found after yet another game where he went 0-4.
But when he hits his next home run, I’m sure he’ll have something to say.
I’ve had back spasms, and you generally can’t even walk, let alone pitch.
I’ve always liked Billy on the field. He’s a gamer, he’s a good pitcher, and he’s fun to watch throw. I also enjoy listening to him shoot off from the hip with his mouth. I do not however think this type of thing is healthy or productive to the future of this team..
Considering the future of this team is ending the season at or around .500 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year, I’d say it really doesn’t matter what the guy says.
Let his speak his peace. The high priced, platinum spoon fed crybabies aren’t going to be leading this team anywhere except maybe a third place finish in the NL East.
I agree with you on Wagner but totally disagree on keeping Willie. You mentioned about two or three times in your post that Randolph is a good manager, what are you basing your conclusion that he’s a good mananger? The fact that he was the manager in charge of the Biggest (That’s right, the Biggest) collaspe in Major League history? How about the fact that this team has been playing 500 ball since June 1 of last year! That’s what you call good managing? The team with the HIGHEST payroll in the NL playing 500 ball for almost a full season going back to last june. How about the fact that this team is playing well below it capabilities? Before tyou say Willie can’r hit or pitch for his players, stop. He is the Manager, if his players aren’t playing all out for him then he has to go, plain and simple. I know you’re trying to be a voice of reason by saying we should just wait till the end of the season and then make a decision on Willie. Are you kidding me…………….this is not Minnisota or Pittsburgh, this is NY!!! We do not put up with under acheivers or non-producers. You can not realistically expect Met Fans (or the Mets owners for that matter) after what happened last year to patiently and quietly put up with a team with all these high priced palyers and talent to play the way they have been playing. Especially after acquiring Santana in the off season. This malaise must come to an end soon, and By soon I mean in the next 10 days or Willie must go. This team needs a major shake-up, not complacency and “Oh, lets give Poor ole Willie sometime to rright the ship”. NOT.
Spoken like a true Steinbrenner.
as in a guy who does not tolerate losing and owns 6 championship rings??? yeah, pretty much…
Then never ever say a bad thing about Yankee fan entitlement again. Because thats exactly what it sounds like in my opinion. That were entitled to be the best team and no one is that.
When we have the third biggest pay-roll in baseball and just traded our top 4 or 5 prospects for 3 players in or close to their 30s, and I’m not bashing the trades just saying they are definitely win now moves, then what else should the fans expect. The fact that we have such a huge pay-roll and made those moves yet we’re still hovering around .500 means someone in the front office obviously messed up in their evaluation of the team.
“I would rather have 25 Carlos Delgado’s then 25 Billy Wagner’s any day of the week”
You want to relieve 2002?
You’d seriously take Delgado over Wagner? Even if he is a whiner I’ll still take the guy who is productive and accountable over the guy who has looked washed up for a year and a half and hides from the media.
I would take a team of 1335 Wagners over 1411 Delgados. Couldn’t you have just said you like Delgado better than Wags w/o having to field an entire team of each? Although I must admit that the idea of a team made of 25 Delgados is pretty effing hilarious when you think about it. Team BA would be around .200, We’d lead the league by far in both errors and hitting baserunners in the back, We’d have the highest payroll, play w/o a catcher entirely, and sny would go off the air because post game interviews no longer exist. And the best part is you’d have 25 playerswho never wanted to be a met in the first place, burned your gm at the negotiating table and again ripped Omar on a personal level in the national media after accepting less money to play for the Florida Marlins, and then rips the entire organization again by saying he signed with the Marlins because he thought they had a better to chance win a championship by the end of his deal. Thats quite a team you’d have there. The part thats not so funny is its looking right now like Delgado was actually right about who the better team would be by the end of his deal. Go figure.
Now that I think about it, Delgado probably hates Omar even more now that Florida, the team he was kidnapped from, is in first place. If the Marlins win the worldseries I think Omar better go hide somewhere.
Hide from Delgado, not angry Mets fans lol
The thing bout wagner is….if you want to get down on him bout last year not being able to perform because of back spasms….also notice that which player out of this entire team has been the best this season. I dont think you can make a case for many others besides Wagner. So say what you want, at least he came back from last years debacle with fire in his eyes. He acts like he wants to erase last year. Some other guys seem all to comfortable with things right now. So Billy has every right to say something, cuz lord knows willie never will and thats why he is going to get fired within two weeks if he does not turn this thing around.
As much as Wagner grates at times, in this instance he’s absolutely right.
He may have a big mouth and pop off too much (he did it in Philly too), but if the rest of the players are going to run like cowards from the locker room because they don’t want to answer tough questions from the beat reporters, then they should be called out.
I’d be willing to bet that he has said the same to his teammates privately, and his disgust with their MO is pretty apparent.
I agree I like seeing somebody with some fire on this team, just like I like when LoDuca would get P-OFF. This team needs more players that show some fire and stop taking on the same damener as the Manager. Willie does not show any emotion so the team thinks that they should do the same. Obviously, it is not working something needs to change. I am not saying Willie should be fired yet unless there is someone out there that could do better but, this team need some type of boost from somewhere. And, if it comes from what Wagner said so be it, he is doing his job. If the everyday players don’t like him so what Pitchers stay together anyway.
I like how the only other name he could come up with was David Wright, it’s pretty much dead on. I think he’s right.
Heilman’s always around to answer when he’s crappy. That doesn’t mean I want him playing on my team. Being a good interview is an overrated skill imo..
I don’t buy that Heilman doesn’t try or anything. I think he’s a good pitcher skill-set wise, it’s just seem the worse he does the more pressure gets put on himself by everyone including himself, and then he does even worse.
He will do better in a smaller market. I like him, though.
I know I’m getting dangerously close to denial here, but I still think Heilman will work it out. I still think he’s tipping. His ball has the same movement but he’s not getting anyone to chase a pitch even an inch out of the strike zone. And you never see guys way out in front of the change or frozen by the fastball. Both of which we saw on a regular basis for the past 3 years.
It’s gotten to the point that if the Jacket can’t figure it out, I would trade for the 25th guy on a team like the Nats, which have owned Heilman all year, just to find out what their book is on him.
If willie knew what he was doing, we might be able to rebuild Heilman a bit… Honestly what intelligent manager brings in a struggling pitcher with one one and one out in the seventh inning of a one one game? And then when the wheels start to fall off, does not immediately go to the kid who is feeling no pressure cuz he has been lights out(smith). And then finally decides after 4 runs have scored that he has seen enough and brings in the person he should have had up first to finish the inning that all started cuz willie took out Vargas cuz he walked one guy and was at a pitch count of 97! Great managing Willie, excellent work.
Maybe they always come to talk to you because they know you won’t give a second’s thought to throwing a teammate under the bus.
I don’t believe that the players have an obligation to talk to the media. They have an obligation to play well. They’re not doing that right now.
I’d rather the players’ reaction to playing like crap be talking to each other. We don’t know that they’re doing that, but I hope they are.
The team has no leaders. Its not a youth/vet thing or a race thing. There seems not to be one guy willing to stand up and say “Eff the media, eff Willie Randolph, we have the best pitcher in the game, we have all stars at nearly every position, what the eff are we doing?”
I’m not in the locker room, but the guys seem to me like 25 scared saps nervously listening to their ipods and each hoping he’s not the one that effs it up today.
the guy who wrote the book “on the black” about glavine and mussina last year told wfan the other day that when the team had a meeting down the stretch, it was called by Marlon Anderson. That speaks for itself I think..
exactly. the team leader cannot be the over the hill vet.
if wright or beltran or church is not going to step up, there is little hope for this team regardless of who the manager is.
Wagner is a me first guy plain and simple. He will burn every bridge before he goes, wait and see. Those of you supporting him now will hate him before he leaves, if not then he will come to your house and steal your babies.
LOL – one of your top 5 posts TRS86
It’s late, I post best when I am tired. Thanks. By the way I live in VA so I would be first after he reads this post.
As long as he’s not trying to catch flyballs while holding your baby.
Saw that, LOL
You live in VA, thus explaining why you posts are horrendous….
haha agreed Maine.
Baseball actually needs more guys like Wagner. He’s old school and comes from a different era. An era of accountability. People knock him for the sign placed on Milledge’s locker. Please, what has Milledge ever done to show that wasn’t warranted?
Wagner’s frustrations root deeper than just this teams recent struggles. He hates the attitude of players today. He comes from the Biggio, Bagwell era. The one thing he just needs to recognize is that part of the reason the media keeps coming to him is b/c they think they’ll get a colorful honest quote, just like they did from Loduca, even if someone like Beltran does talk, it will be nothing but cliches and nothing too exciting to quote for the writers.
steal your babies???
Mamas dont let your babies grow up to be closers.
Dont let’em throw fastballs and nasty curveballs
Let’em be shortstops and catchers, and such
Mamas dont let your babies grow up to be closers
Cos they always make waves, even when theres no saves
All for the team that you love
bravo
Last comment on here I’m not implying Wagner faked an Injury at all I just think regardless of that Injury I would have wanted him out there trying to throw whatever he had to get outs. Especially when we needed him down the stretch effective or not we would have had the same outcome or maybe a different one. I don’t think that gives me any credibility and I wouldn’t say I have anymore creditablity then any other person that posts on here we’re all the same just fans.
Have you ever had a back spasm? You can barely walk, let alone try and pitch.
Well … this team seems to be shaping up nicely. At least this year it only took six weeks of baseball before they all turned on each other.
I agree that Wagner can be a drama queen sometimes, but in this case he is absolutely right. You can say a lot of things about Wagner, but at least when he has a bad game he stands up to the media and takes his punches. He doesn’t make excuses (like Beltran) or not even show up (like Delgado). I have more respect for him with all his faults then a lot of the prima donna trash on the team that continue to go through the motions as this team slowly rots. I’m pretty certain he takes these loses to heart, I can’t say the same for a lot of his teammates
No actually he reminds me of the classic high school basketball player who after a made basket says hey it’s not my man. Those are the guys I cut.
Really? I’ve heard him criticize his pitching to the media plenty of times.
Only when it’s his problem, but don’t look for him to ever try and pick up or take one for the team. That was my point. Instead of stepping up and taking someone else’s man he just said it was not his fault.
Besides Perez, which was warranted, when has he ever singled out a player for his performance? Whenever he criticizes the Mets he usually says “we.” The guy is a refreshing dose of reality from a team full of mediocre playing zombies.
Come on stop drinking the Wagner koolaid, LOL. He always throws his teammates under the bus, just look back through all of his quotes since he first started closing. Go ask his previous teammates how they feel about him. Go back and look at his comments on how it was Willie’s fault that he failed in a nonsave situation. Just pitch and keep your mouth shut.
I’m not drinking any koolaid, I don’t even particularly like Wagner, I just think that on a team with Beltrans, Castillos and Delgados it’s nice to have a guy who stands up and points out what everyone else realizes, that the team has their heads up their a$$es. If it hurts some players feelings, then good, because frankly, negative emotion is better than no emotion at this point. And if players don’t like getting fingers pointed at them, then show up at the end of games and don’t let the media gravitate toward the few people left in the clubhouse.
Agree as usual TRS…
Other than Perez, Wagner has a tendency to call out “some guys” or “other guys” or “certain guys.” He is exceptionally tiring. Of course he speaks out about his failings, because they’re about him, and Billy Wagner is all Billy Wagner’s about.
He sets himself up and the NY media eats it up. Wagner is right, he wasn’t involved in this game. Why is he standing around waiting for reporters then, so he can bitch that he’s being asked the questions?
How on earth, considering what is going on right now with the fanbase and the media is drawing more negative attention to things going to help?
I was joking about the koolaid part, I just have it used against me so much I thought I would try it out.
I believe that the Mets desperately need change, and if the only way that’s going to occur is from negative emotions, then let’s have the chips fall where they may and see what happens. All I know is that if the Mets continue on their current course they’re going nowhere.
No doubt but Wagner will remain even if there is change. You don’t think that Reyes is noticing how Wagner is calling out his teammates in the press. Or even FMart at the AA level? I can never understand how calling out your teammates in the media is a good thing unless… you no longer plan on being a teammate or you are just wanting attention.
wagner is the problem here? really?
also, i read you’re in virginia. i’m noticing a pattern that the out of town mets fans have much more mild reactions to what’s going on with the team.
not a criticism, just an observation.
Hey real, none of Wagner’s old teammates like Wagner? Really? Do you have any idea how much his teammates missed him in Houston? Nope, you wouldn’t. You never watch any other teams play baseball and rarely even watch the Mets.
Can you imagine this guy picking a basketball team, let alone coaching it?
Oh going with the personal attack, Yeah that always helps to prove a point.
So which one of you two wears the pants in the relationship? You or Real? Oh wait, they’re both you w/ different handles.
Oooooo another point proven. Your on a roll. You know your posts further down, the ones not knocking any of the other posters, have merit. You would think that you wouldnt have to resort to attacking someone personally. That you can prove your points with facts and intelligent dialogue, like those posts I mentioned, instead of junior high taunts. I guess its all how you want to be percieved, the true baseball poster or the guy that just comes on here just looking to cause havoc. A lot of us hope its for the baseball.
It’s interesting — Wagner reminds me of Wally Backman calling out Strawberry back in the day, yet there are people on this board who dog Wagner but think Backman should be the manager.
Wagner would have been a good fit on the ‘86 team. The others, not so much.
Well said.
Seriously.
This team is dysfunctional. There’s way too much talent on this team for them to be 1 game over .500. I don’t care that we’re close to first cause thats only a function of our league. We’d be what 5 – 6 games back if this were the west. Lets The team hasn’t been the same since June ‘07. Its ridiculous.
this is going to be a very very ugly year for the mets
If it means wholesale changes it’ll be worth it.
I would not change much more than what will be changed either way. No Willie, Manuel or Hojo. No Alou, Delgado, Pedro, Elduque or Heilman. That’s good enough for me.
Alou is one of the few guys who looks like he cares and also produces. Yeah he gets hurt alot but hes a gamer, as long as hes productive I want him on my team.
Didn’t Wagner say he probably would retire after this season? That’s a lot to replace.
Wagner said he was retiring at the end of NEXT season.
Reyes and Beltran played like little leaguers today. Delgado cant hit or field. And they are never around for interviews when the Mets lose.
Wagner is right.
Omar never saw a Latin player he didnt like. He built this team, and its not working.
We need change, and we need it now.
That’s crazy that simply by being DFA’ed Sosa and Figueroa lost their ethnicities! Whoa!
The race thing is really, really tiring.
Don’t even respond to that race crap.
Reyes did answer questions today. They had a clip of him on the post game live segment.
Billy is clearly talking about Delgado,, screw delgado.. he’s gone next season anyways.. Lets not get on Billy for this..
IMO Delgado is the cancer of this team. So who gives a flying #$ck if he talks about him. Delgado is a problem and Willie is going to end up paying for it
Wagner is just as much the problem by calling out teammates in public. Boy, that sure builds chemistry. If anything, lie and say Hey you guys really need to lay off Carlos, he is giving his best and deserves your respect based on his previous performance. He will turn things around and if he does not he will be right here and be accountable for those things because that is who he is a true proffesional.
See a comment like that speaks to Delgado without throwing him under the bus and killing team unity. Maybe I should be the PR director.
I gotta say, I don’t agree with most of your takes, but you are dead on about this one.
They didn’t ask him about Delgado directly. He never once used Delgado’s name.
Dude, I cannot agree with you anymore on Delgado. My dislike for the guy is getting up to Benitez-like proportions. He represents everything I hate about this team. Underachieving, overpaid, not accountable, can’t execute, and to top it off his agent is a real jackoff.
But meanwhile if that shot goes under Boone’s glove into rightfield, no one would be calling him out right now.
if the queen had b*lls she’d be king
Another brilliant post by dykstraw. Metsblog’s true hater of everything
i’m here all week
But I guess it was appropriate, though I thought it was a little low brow even for you.
i’ve seen the play a couple of times and i am sorry that was not a “shot” by delgado to first
looked like a ball any average first baseman would get
i mean it was right too him
tied him up a bit but that was no smoker
and beltran while running on contact has to keep his eye on the path of the ball too not assume it is going through
WALLY BACKMAN…….clap clap clap
Shouldn’t that be slap, slap, slap?
maybe
if this incident doesn’t scream loss of managerial control over the clubhouse, I don’t know what will. Things might not get better with a new manager, but they certainly can’t get much worse, at least as long as they keep hair clippers, playing cards, and Rickey Henderson out of the clubhouse.
100% on point
I was waiting to see that brought up. Good point 6091.
I thought Carlos Delgado had this tremendous rep for being a team leader?
Guess you can’t do much leading when you’re hitting .190.
And you can dismiss Wagner as a hick, malcontent, or big mouth all you want- but when two players within six months of each other say essentially the same thing then there’s obviously something wrong.
Usually where there’s smoke there’s fire.
He is a great leader…when he’s hitting. When things go down the tube he’s the first guy to jump ship. Instead of the countdown in the outfield for the remaining days at Shea (which fittingly don’t include playoff games) they should have it for remaining days on Delgado’s contract.
Wagner is a great leader when he is pitching. When things go down the tube he’s the first guy to……call out his own teammates.
At least he calls himself out when he pitches bad. When does Delgado ever talk to the press after a 0-4 game?
That’s not fair, Delgado is there for most games. You have no proof that he is not. He just does not give “juicy” quotes the way Wagner does. Don’t forget it was Delgado that stepped up and took one for the team on the bored comment. You know that he was directing that towards Reyes and not himself. He, however, was trying to get a point across without calling out his teammates.
I do? Delgado was playing just as crappy fundamental baseball as Reyes at the end of last season. And the “bored” comment wasn’t stepping up, it was just being stupid. At least Wagner brought up a valid point, whatever his motivations, the Delgado comment from last season still haunts the team.
Not true at all, check out Delgado’s September numbers before you post that. He was hitting over .300 for the month.
Well where did that .300 batting average get us?
The thing with Delgado is that I would just like him to stay and answer a couple of questions whether they win or lose.
Ok Real, we get it, you disprove of Wagner’s actions today. Geez, why don’t you post it 30 more times.
Delgado is NOT the cancer of this team….He is just washed up….Castillo seems much more cancerous….Either way Billy is ONCE AGAIN totally on point…..If it weren’t for “Professor Reyes” and a few SNY commercials, I wouldnt know what Beltran, Delgado, and Reyes sound like, let alone have any clue what castillo sounds like…..
Why do you think players owe you interviews after the game? I’m not trying to be snarky, but I genuinely feel that I pay to watch them play. Whether they want to talk to the press afterwards, I could care less.
I kinda agree, they don’t owe anything to the fans or the media. However, as a person in the public eye it is to your beneifit to have a positive relationship with the media.
Actually, media availability is usually in players’ constracts.
And, there is something to be said for beimg accountable.
I dont care if they interview or not, but to me, their dissappearing act to avoid the tough questions goes to the root of their problem: unwillingness to acknowledge that they are NOT playing well, NOT leading, NOT manning up, NOT stepping up, and basically walking out on us as fans to go play in their million dollar mansions WE pay for…..
You don’t pay for anything they buy. The Wipons do. You pay for a product that the Wipons provide.
MaineIsKing is correct. This all boils down to a bunch of guys unwilling to be accountable.
TheReal is just being contrarian. I think he’s been in Dixie too long. How long ago were you exiled from NYC, TRS86?
Agreed – the only issue to me is accountability.
I have no problem with Santana, who basically just doesn’t do interviews even on fluffy feel-good topics . I do with someone who’s there to talk after a win but not after a loss.
On point is not the issue. You can not improve team unity by calling out players in the press. If he wants to “help” the team, lie and try and motivate the player instead of bring them down. I think those other players should step up but calling them out in the media is just gutless and selfish.
Get real — there is no “unity” on this team, that is why he spoke out.
He should “try and motivate the player?” I think the ship has sailed on that one.
Again what point does calling out a player in the press make? What will that do? How will that help the team.
Now you’re just a broken record at this point.
Let me get this straight, TRS86…
Being a stand-up guy always there after good games or bad to answer for it to the press vs. guys who sneak out to avoid any accountability and you think the FIRST guy is the gutless and selfish one?!?
ooookaaayyyyy
Reyes was quoted throughout every writeup of this game. He stood there and answered the questions. Beltran answers questions after most every game.
I can accept criticism of Delgado, he has shrunk away from the media ever since he started declining.
The Tao of Carlos Beltran:
After a win: “Well it always feels good to win a game. Hopefully our lineup will keep hitting and we’ll do even better tomorrow.”
After a loss: “Well it’s always tough to lose. But we have a good lineup and hopefully we’ll start hitting and do better tomorrow.”
After a loss in which he’s the goat: “Well it’s always tough to lose, especially when you feel like you let the team down. But we have a good lineup and hopefully we’ll start hitting and do better tomorrow.”
That said – at least he’s out there win or lose.
i have never really been this depress about the mets before.. and i have been a fan since the early 90s’… live through some pretty crappy years. This time is very different, they never had this much talent on the same team at the same time back them, expectations were low back then.
With this payroll, trades and free agency acquisitions, and this is our 2008 New York Mets? Come on!
I don’t even care if the sweep the Yanks, it means nothing, not even the same division or league. you just can’t lose 3 out 4 to the last team of your division
and this concludes my longest post ever. I’m done venting, back to sleep
Sweeping the Yanks this weekend would be the worst thing that could happen for the Mets. It would just delay the inevitable.
hey willie.
if it wereYOU or DELGADO hanging off the end of a cliff
who would you choose?
sorry, but race is an issue. How come the Mets have only 2 African Americans on the team (Anderson and Easley), and they are both subs?
And how come over half the roster (even aftet Figgy and Sosa being dropped) are Latin?
These are the most extreme pcts of any team in baseball.
And why dont any of the latin players appear for interviews?????
You’d be naive to think that there isn’t an element of this team that isn’t protected by Omar and Tony Bernazard, but it’s more a character issue than a racial issue. This team doesn’t have the personalities of a winning ballclub.
How come in baseball there are not many AA in general? How come on the HS level there are even fewer. That has nothing to do with OMar. However, all over baseball the Latin percentages continue to go up. Why because their youth still values baseball. Our youth is currently rapped up in basketball and football.
Omar put an incredible team together, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO WIN IN ‘06 and possibly ‘07……Then came the Taxi Cab Curse……..
I’m almost 100% positive the Mets don’t have the least African Americans in the majors. Last year the Braves and Astros both had 0, although I’m not sure if that’s still the case. Plus, the Mets manager is black, so unless you are insinuating that he dislikes his own race, that is clearly not the reason they aren’t starting any black players.
And honestly, who the heck cares what race the players are? I’m white, I’d have no problem if there wasn’t a single white player on the Mets as long as they were winning a lot of games.
And Figgy might be of Hispanic descent, but he was born and raised in Brooklyn, so I don’t think he should be lumped in with the other Latino players Omar has signed.
If you guys want to look at the bright side, the Yankees are in last place. Of course, considering how the Mets play against last place teams, that means we can expect to get our asses kicked this weekend.
The only bright side is that the Giants won the Superbowl. I consider this and last season the humble bread around the joy sandwich.
not for the jets fans
I coach basketball and I am usually the white rep for my entire team. I guess I am racist.
Non-sequitor of the year!
Does Easley even count as a black guy?
if Obama does, Easley does
well played.
To suggest that there is nothing wrong with this team and to “just wait until the bats heat up” is just naiive. Guys, look at the team. Look at the record since last June. We are barely over .500 since then. I am sick of hearing everyone say “We’re overreacting because this is New York blah blah blah”. This is ridiculous. Everyone stop thinking thats its going to be okay, that everything will be fine, and that we just have to wait till Pedro comes back. This is same attitude us fans have had since last september. It is time for a change. This is not the way a team with world series aspirations should be playing. Everyone needs to stop thinking that this is the same team as 2006, and that one day were going to wake up and everything will be fine and we’ll be back in the nlcs. THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. Why are we forced to keep waiting for this team to “click”, for there “big boys” to have “big years”, and to take hold of this division? Willie says this everyday! This is ridiculous people! Everyone has to stop being so naiive and open there eyes! Its May! These are the Nationals! Jason Bergmann, Odalis Perez, and Tim Redding should not be pitchers that dominate a team thats supposed to be World Series bound! I have had enough of this mediocre team, and this .500 over the last year bs. We’re better than this! Something needs to be done. Everyone has to stop denying that. Noting is going to change with Willie and Omar. NOTHING.
Find one person on here tonight who is deyning that something needs to change?
I generally think Billy should just shut up, but I agree with his statements here. I don’t think its a race thing or about appeasing the media. Its more a teammate thing. Its not cool to bail on your teammates and leave the same guys to answer all the questions when things aren’t going well. It happened last yr when LoDuca made his comments, it was clearly happening during the collapse, and its happening again this yr. Guys need to stand up and be somewhat accountable.
And clearly its not just about Delgado either. Lo Duca and Delgado were buddies, so I don’t think he’d just be pointing the finger and him, and its clear from both Wagner and Lo Duca’s comments that they are talking about more than one player. If it was just about one position player not talking to the media, it wouldn’t be an issue. But if half the team is ducking the media after every loss, its going to be the remaining couple of guys getting all the questions every night.
Though I will say, if Billy didn’t constantly say stupid things, the media wouldn’t talk to him and go digging for quotes from him nearly as much as they do.
Why was he hanging around after the game anyway, he did not play. If he did not want to answer questions he should not have been there.
As for those other guys yes they should be there. So if you have the respect of your teammates you call a team meeting and let them know how it is. You still don’t do it to the media.
“Why was he hanging around after the game anyway, he did not play. If he did not want to answer questions he should not have been there.”
He did exactly what he wanted to do. He wanted to be questioned so that he could ask them why he was being questioned. I think it was a pretty calculating move on his part. I’m honestly conflicted on how I feel about it, but it’s always been the Wagner Way.
The manager should control the clubhouse. If he wanted those guys to be accountable, all he has to do is say stay and talk to the press. And if those guys respected their manager, they would.
I just can’t resist weighing in. I am a glutton for punishment!
IMO, the whole “chemistry” thing is overrated. honestly, if the team went out tonight and had a bonding, soul searching, come to jesus conclave, and came back as best friends, what exactly would change?
Would the bonehed and/or lazy base running plays stop? Would heilman get his groove back on? Would Delgado stop being washed up? WOuld Willie suddenly be a better tactition?
The reason I don’t have a problem with Wagner is, he is doing his job very well. The comments are just out of frustration. Honestly, most of the players probably do want to win.
Sometimes, players need to be motivated, and one of the best ways is often insulting their manhood (talents?) Maybe if they get made, they will try harder?
But, how the heck can we tell which players are trying hard, but not able to perform, trying too hard and maybe need to relax, or are just dogging it and need to turn up the wick?
If they are spending to omuch time worrying about the periphery stuff (including the boos, the media questions, teammates comments) they aren’t focusing on the job at hand. And that, in a nutshell, is why they need to make a change at manager.
Once Willie goes, all the focus is on the new guy, and a lot of the players can just start with a clean slate. Of course, that assumes they will make tough calls on certain players, or at least give the new manager viable back ups, if he wants to bench a veteran.
I know I lost my point somewhere along the way, sorry!
I think I agree with most of your post but I too got a little lost.
I think with a new manager, if the team is still not winning, all eyes will focus even more on the players, because it will show it wasnt Willie but them.
And on Omar, and Omar has known that since the last day of the season last year.
Agreed, at that point, it’s all on Omar.
Its true guys don’t have to like each other to play hard and win. None of us know if the Mets like each other or not but we can all see that they are playing lazy, stupid baseball.
STOP BLAMING OMAR please….Willie is NOT a good manager, and road on the coattails of Omar’s team…………Once things got even slightly difficult, he allowed the veterans to run their own ships, and castillo and delgado specifically bringing jose reyes on this individuality trip….Willie lost control of the team…..unfortunately for Omar, Delgado Pedro Duque Loduca and Floyd all had their last years of productivity in ‘06…..The year they were supposed to win.
Blaming Castillo has to be the craziest thing I have ever seen. Did you stop to think why a player like Johan would like Castillo so much. He is a competitor that plays hard every play, if that is a bad example for Reyes…. Or maybe the .300 average with a .360 OBP is a bad example. Want to blame Delgado for getting old then go ahead.
You are one of the biggest apologists……Castillo is probably a cool dude, and OBVIOUSLY likeable, given how crony he and his teammates are….but he is old, doesnt have anything to prove, DOESNT HIT 300 anymore, doesnt hustle, and goes out with Reyes partying and clearly hasnt helped the team AT ALL since he’s arrived.
castillo is so likeable that reyes went out partying him all last august and september
rumor? maybe. but still more credible than the ridiculous johan connection.
and he was really running hard on the kearns error.
I kind of wish he had kept running cause even you could have thrown him out at the plate from where Kearns picked up the ball and Kearns has a very good arm for a rightfielder.
that’s not what ed kranepool said, but sure, i’ll take random metsblog commenter’s word instead
But thats what Keith said and I dont expect you to believe anything I or anyone else says. You never do. But I still believe you could throw the gimpy Castillo out from where Kearns was no matter how hard he was running. 110 feet away, ball bouncing out of the glove and right back up to you. Yeah you could do it.
Hey, I’m only saying what I saw and heard. Castillo pulled up about 15′ from third base just as the ball hit Kearns glove. The ball pretty much came right back up to him and it was Keith who said Kearns has a great arm. What can I say, if he was running full gimpy Castillo speed I still think he gets thrown out by a mile and a half but thats my own judgement and opinion, and as you pretty much said, you dont care.
wright pussed out in his post game and took no blame for failing with men on base.
wags should speak his mind.
this team will not win a title this year.
The man speaks the truth. He wears his heart on his sleeve, he does not have an edit button, and he’s gonna tell it like it is. The problem is that nobody wants to hear the truth. Especially the people who his comments are aimed at.
We even have fans who don’t wanna hear it. Instead of ripping the players who refuse to face the media after yet another dreadful performance against a last place team, the fans tear Wagner a new hole because he’s tired of being one of only 2-3 guys that speak to the media on a regular basis.
Same old story with this team. Too many older players who break down and can’t manage to play their way through even one-third of the season, a shortstop who after a breakout season on ‘06 has somehow managed to regress to the point where he isn’t even the 3rd best shortstop in the NL, and a team in general that has absolutely no ability what-so-ever to come back when trailing in a ballgame.
I gotta tell ya folks, the old saying about missing something when it’s gone… that is so totally true. I thought those Bobby V teams were tough to watch just because they could never seem to clinch an easy victory. But when I look back on those teams that (with the exception of Piazza and Fonzie in his prime) didn’t have half the talent that this team has, there is simply no comparison. Because when push came to shove, that group flat out REFUSED to lose!
How many times did we see those teams from ‘98 through 2000 win 1-run games, or make dramatic late-inning comebacks? Now how many fans here believed that down 1-0 with two innings remaining in today’s game, that the Mets would rally and not waste what was arguably Pelfrey’s second best performance as a Major League pitcher?
Anybody?
No?
Yeah… that’s what I thought.
No heart.
No playoffs.
No championship.
Great post.
At least Billy showed some emotion. I’m tired of feeling like this was just another game lost in a long season. Play like it’s your last game everyday. Someone needed to jolt the team and say things are unacceptable. Willie’s all about tough love and being even keeled and I do think the team has followed suit. About time someone rocked the boat. It’s been overdue since last season. Maybe Billy does have a history of throwing guys under the bus and maybe he’ll always do it. But you know what? Right now I’m fed up as a fan just like he is.
I agree…….say what you will about him having a history of “throwing people under the bus” , but it’s nice to at least see the same frustration in a player as I see on these boards every night. The other day when Wright grounded out (maybe flied out) with two on and two outs I saw him lip the Fbomb and slam his helmet on the ground. It was the happiest I was the entire game. I dont know, but the “just another game in a long season” attitude is really getting old to me.
Go Mets.
Well it could be a worse clubhouse environment. On “Best Damn Sportshow” tonite they were showing the Top 50 Player Meltdowns of All-Time. One of them was the infamous 1992 incident with Rob Dibble getting into a fist-fight with his manager Lou Piniella in the locker room.
Ya know, as the Mets struggle, as they seem to even be turning on their own fellow teammates – the Phillies must just be LOVING it. Now there’s a team where the teammates really seem to like each other. Why can’t the Mets be like that?
Must be likeable ‘ol Cholly
(please read this as Jim Mora)
Playoffs….Playoffs?
The only playoffs we could win(maybe) is the Mayors Trophy Game and that is because the Yankees stink as bad or more than us!!
If willie goes so should Omar.
he is the one that brought this group together.
he is the one who didn’t bring in a suitable back up as insurance for Delgado.
He is the one who signed a bum legged Luis Castillo to a FOUR year contract.
He is also the one who put ultimate trust in Alou, Pedro and El Duque-all fragile players who cannot even play 75% of a season never mind 100%.
He also didn’t improve the bullpen he put his trust in Sanchez coming back after a 1 1/2 year layoff.
also he did nothing to improve the bench-no back up ss, no righty power hitter(unless you coulnt Tatis) and 2 guys who are just pinch hitters for the most part(anderson and easily).
All these minuses far outweigh getting Santana(handed to him) and acquiring Church and Schnider.
So if Willie goes Omar should be shown the door too.
I agree. Omar has shown the balls to get things done, but I think, has also failed as a strategist. As in, his strategy for building a world series team.
I wouldn’t fire either of them, but I don’t blame Willie anymore than I blame Omar…
He also didn’t bring in guys like Livan or Silva when we had the chance, even though everyone knew El Duque and Pedro were going to be spending significant time on the dl.
I just want to say that this is not fun anymore…I’m a die-hard fan who missed the ’80’s teams, loved the Piazza teams and was more excited than you can imagine about this team in 2006 and even in 2005 because we could see it coming…this thing fell apart so quickly and horribly and I just don’t know how to react anymore…watching them is not fun anymore…even the bad teams were watchable…this has become like watching a train wreck happen in slow motion
dear David Sargent:
Your statement in the above written form is the most accurate on this blog and I agree with every single word %100
News flash, this team is 20-19 after 39 games…that means this team SUCKS!
Wagner did throw Delgado under the bus. Which I personally think is awesome and long overdue. But he did say good things about Pelfrey’s performance. I think there should be someone else discussing how the team is ACTUALLY performing instead of his usual personal catch phrases. His name starts with a W.
I have a feeling that Billy Wagner is a bit of a snake. I think he tell the media what the fans want to hear like calling out Oliver Perez and apparently Delgado but not going up to them like a man. I have nothing to back that up but its just a feeling.
Please… Its hard to take anything Billy “The Rat” Wagner says seriously. Have we all forgotten…..2006 Playoffs…Big Game – what does he do…Give up a homerun……2007…Critical 4 games in Philadelphia…what does he do…can’t hold the lead ….Billy can’t get outs in big games and he was just as much to blame for the debacle of 2007…obviously fans can’t get over 2007 and reading all the comments on this blog is like beating a dead horse…or Rat…whatever….I’ll be glad when he retires. Pat the Bat was right…Billy is a Rat.
Maybe LoDuca was right.
Maybe Wagner is right.
Guys are hiding behind the language barrier
It doesn’t help the club house if it becomes divided along ethnic lines. Maybe Willie should call him out.
Racial statements by George Foster in 1986 got him a one way to Chicago. How much more valuable is Wagner than Foster? At 20-19, not much. I would think we could move him if we had to.
I didn’t read all the comments, so forgive me if its been brought up already, but I think its quite possible that the fact that these players don’t step up and talk to the media plays a large part in the view a lot of people have of this team that there is no fire, no passion,and that nobody cares. If they are there taking responsibilty, at lest the fan base would think they give a ****.
Wagner definitely took a shot a Delgado…. He is right; Delgado needs to face the media when he plays bad… not only when he has a good game.
BTW, what was up with the Patriots hat?!?! I take a bit of offense with our closer wearing that hat.
oh yeah, i noticed the Patriots hat too…. I bet nobody felt brave enough to bring this up at that interview…. haaaa
“and those stories, like it or not, tend to frame the discourse that goes on in the street, on talk radio and on blogs”
What frames the discourse is an overtly mediocre team that plays well below its level. It has little to do with what is written and who sticks around to talk. (That being said, players should be accountable win or lose.)
wagner is not a good person. and hey billy, before you get critical of your teammates, they arent the ones that gave up a home run to so tagucchi in the NLCS. they arent the ones who coughed up a 3 run lead against philadelphia in august. THEY ARENT THE ONE WHO HAS AN 8.71 ERA IN THE POSTSEASON! this man has done nothing clutch in his entire career, and hes acting like hes god’s gift to the new york mets. baseball is a team sport: stop calling guys out (ollie, delgado), antagonizing teammates (milledge), and get some important saves. billy is the least likable player on his team. hes one of those people that are hard to root for.
by the way, hes retiring to work on his alpaca farm. yes, his alpaca farm. is he better than looper or benitez? of course. but i cant wait to see this white trash scumbag off the team
Now that Wagner has made these comments, the media will RUN to his locker, just hoping to hear this juicy stuff. Even if Beltran was available to comment after games,his cookie cutter comments wont sell newspapers or give good soundbites for tv. Controvercial comments like his sell newspapers and such, so whether we like him or not,the press is now always gonna hunt down Wagner–just to seee what he will say next.Hopefully he will THINK before he speaks only time will tell.