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Billy Wagner tried to pitch a simulated game yesterday afternoon, but could only make it through one batter before being shut down after feeling pain in his elbow when throwing his slider.
According to ESPN’s Jon Miller, during last night’s broadcast, Wagner was in tears following his failed effort.
Though Mets GM Omar Minaya would not categorize it as a ‘setback,’ he told reporters that Wagner will visit a doctor today to determine how best to proceed.
In Newsday, David Lennon provides more detail, and writes, “It appears that Wagner’s comeback attempt is likely over.”
However, Wagner later told the New York Post that he hasn’t ‘written off this season.’
Nevertheless, since being acquired from the Nationals, Luis Ayala is 5 for 6 in save opportunities with a 2.70 ERA in 10 appearances for the Mets.
Ayala, as quoted by Bart Hubbuch in the Post, said:
“I feel bad for Billy, but I’m here for whatever the team needs and I know I can do the job.”
By the way, as a whole, the Mets bullpen has not allowed a run during their last seven appearances – spanning 26.2 innings.
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I dont know about the rest of you guys, but I feel confident when I see Ayala getting up for the 9th. True he is no Mariano, but he is aggressive, throws strikes, has good movement, and is not afraid to come inside on hitters.
id rather have a guy come straight at someone rather than “nibble” around the corners and Ayala seems to do a great job of that. it helps that he typically has good D behind him as well. but as long as he can keep throwing strikes, im all for ayala.
Yes, I agree. Throughout his career, he has very low walk totals. So far with the Mets, in 10 innings pitched, he only has 1. Walks will kill you every time, especially in save situations.
Stokes is the go-to set-up man, Ayala is the closer. And if he needs rest, maybe Joe Smith
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Ayala give up a run on a sac fly in the 9th inning last night?
Maybe you mean the pen hasn’t given up an earned run over that span?
The run was unearned because of the error on Schneider.
Right, but it was a run, so the 26.2 consecutive scoreless streak is over.
By the way, as a whole, the Mets bullpen has not “allowed a run” during their last seven appearances – spanning 26.2 innings
The run was unearned. Therefore technically the run is still going
This is a pretty insignificant point, but if you give up a run, earned or unearned, a scoreless innings streak is over.
The run is most definitely NOT still going, after surrendering an unearned run. Think about it: how can a ’scoreless innings’ streak be going if in the 9th last night the bullpen surrendered a run?
IT WAS UNEARNED, THE PITCHER DID NOT GIVE UP THE RUN, IS IT ON HIS ERA? NO
’scoreless’ means without a score. If a run is scored, earned or not, then the innning is not scoreless. I mean, really.
i second jamie’s explanation
wow this is very simply fixed.. Matt, put “earned run” and BOOM its done…
I third it.
“By the way, as a whole, the Mets bullpen has not allowed a run during their last seven appearances – spanning 26.2 innings.”
I mean come on, it says they haven’t allowed a friggin’ run in 7 appearances, and they gave up a run in the 9th! The statement is wrong, a common and forgiveable error, but let’s not try to say a consecutive inning scoreless streak is still alive!
who cares.
the elias sports bureau
We won. The end.
not to pile on but really,..who in god’s name cares?
No matter who is closing…I will be a nervous-wreck every time.
Who cares.
That would be funny if it made sense.
Ayala should be anointed with the closer role period. We have played closer by commitee for too long now and i would rather manuel just try to set some sort of roles in the bullpen. Great pickup by omar as im sure the omar bashers will find fault.
“i would rather manuel just try to set some sort of roles in the bullpen”
I thought he did that when he took over? Oh right..all talk and nothing to back it up.
It’d be nice to give some of these guys some chances, so we could know who is capable of coming through in a big Inning, not just a big spot.
Its hard to establish roles when all of your guys are set-up men
Manuel gave both Heilman and Sanchez a chance to define there roles. Each of them failed. Ayala and Stokes have stepped up. It’s crystal clear to me that both Heilman and Schoenweis are on the mop up team. The roles look to me pretty defined now…. 7th inning Feliciano/Smith/Sanchez….8th inning Stokes….9th inning Ayala. If anyone ever told me at the beginning of the season that we would have someone closing who was taken off the Washington Nationals scrap heap, AND successful at it, I would have thought they were nuts. Sometimes you just never know.
And what if someone told you that spring training invitee Brian Stokes would be the 8th inning set up man over Heilman and Sanchez?
That too! :-)
We have been experimenting with the main relief corpse and ayala seems to be the one who performed the best in save situations. The race is too tight imo to experiment with closer by committee again. Imo, let ayala close and match up relief based on the hitter to get to ayala.
Look, I know Manuel’s mostly managed as if he has nothing to lose, but he has to think about the Playoffs too. and he won’t have 97 people to mix and match for 2-4 innings during the postseason.
hopefully nest year it will be f-rod.
surely it will be ayala for the near future though heilman has the stuff to be closer. i really hope he can be the one as i’d prefer him in his best form. usually he’s much better in the second half
Heilman can be the closer on my little league team but only because our season is already over.
ha nice, who were the 18 tools that voted for him?
Up to 44, now. Maybe Philly Phans are voting.
Wagner will be back. I think I would prefer to see that 15MM per year that would be given to Francisco go to starting pitching, either Ollie or Sheets.
I think you mean K-Rod… there is no F-Rod.
what about a-rod’s wife?
I have not missed Wagner … and I won’t.
I’m not really sure why this is a poll. It’s pretty obvious that Manuel has already made Ayala the closer.
Hear hear. I feel bad for the guy that he’s hurt, but the numbers speak for themselves. 22-11 w/o him. Say it with me everyone: “Big money closers not named Mariano are overrated.”
You’re drunk if you think Wagner back wouldn’t be a huge plus.
Unless you’re saying Wagner was the problem not Willie.
No, it’s just that he’s a loser at heart. Mets will never win the big game with Billy on the mound in a crucial spot.
I hated Willie. Obviously it’s not Willie’s fault Wagner decided to have the worst run of his career in his last week as manager of this team, but that’s history.
Wagner has blown about 20 saves in a little over two and a half years as a Met. For someone who is supposed to be an elite closer, that frigging sucks, there’s no way around it. He had what, 7 this year alone in 4 months? Not to mention the couple of games this season he came within inches of blowing.
HAHAHAHAH…he’s a loser at heart.
That’s funny. It means nothing. Might as well give us the title now, because I’d say Rollins and Howard are both losers at hearts too. In fact, the whole 10k thing pretty much says the entire Phillies franchise are losers.
Wagner over whoever would get the bump (which would actually be a problem now..I don’t think you bump Aaron, Feliciano, Smith, Schoeneweis..and you can’t do Stokes or Ayala the way they’ve been pitching..)
Wagner’s freakin elbow is about to FALL OFF!!! He’s not that good when he’s HEALTHY!!!!
WAKE UP!!!!
he’s not good? how is he not good? because you only remember the saves that he’s blown? pathetic.
He’s not THAT good. The word “THAT” is an important word in the sentence.
It implies, he’s not great yet he’s not bad. He’s not THAT good.
THAT is the truth.