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According to Adam Rubin in the Daily News, Billy Wagner told Dan Warthen that he could be pitching two innings in the major leagues in 30 days.
However, Warthen told Rubin 30 days is way to early for Wagner to return, though he is expected to be back with Mets by mid-August.
Last week, on WFAN’s Boomer and Carton, John Franco said Billy Wagner is pitching from a mound and throwing over 90 mph.
…i know, i know… i’m imagining it too… one step at a time, though…
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oh, lordy, please let this be true (and let it matter when he does)
It will matter. We are only 3 behind the Phillies and we can hang with the wildcard teams.
from your keyboard to god’s…uh, monitor.
I believe so too. Unless the Phillies get another frontline starter, they’re every bit as flawed as we are, and are as likely to stumble. It’s a minor miracle to me that we’re in this position.
Look at it this way: our lineup hurting right now with the lack of Reyes and Delgado, and we also had to do without Beltran, Church, Schneider, and Cora for a while too.
Yet, the Phillies’ lineup remains healthy from top to bottom, and the only big injuries they have had this season are Brett Myers and Brad Lidge (who was struggling anyway).
If the Phillies cannot pull away with this division like they should have, maybe they aren’t as good as everyone likes to think they are? In my opinion, Philly should be at least six or seven games in front right now–at least.
But they aren’t, and the depleted Mets are only three games back. No heart and fight my you-know-what…
If we are still in this position when everyone gets healthy (or at least Reyes and Delgado), we will be poised to win the East.
It would be a 6 inning game and we would be pretty tough to beat most games.
Who do you have in the 7th that’s a lock now that Putz is out?
I think we’re all kind of getting ahead of ourselves here. From my recollection, Wagner has NEVER pitched well in the 8th (does anyone have any real numbers to back this?). Just because he can hit 90 and throw off a mound, doesn’t mean that he’ll be able to come in to the game and get 3 big outs. Plus, if we all know Wags, he’ll be complaining pretty loudly about not being a closer.
I’m not saying I don’t want him or not looking forward to his comeback, I’m just saying we should have a very cautious approach to this situation.
No one which is why I said it will be. He would also be pitching for his next contract which should be motivation.
I don’t think he’ll moan about not closing at all. He’s a realist, he knows he’s out the door no matter what, and I bet he wouldn’t mind another million or two to throw on the pile next year. Everybody wants to stay in the majors as long as they can.
Wagner is well aware that K-Rod is the Mets closer. I’m sure if he is able to come back, he will be more than happy to make a contribution to the team in any way possible because: a) he will be pitching for a contract next year and b) the Mets may offer him his best shot at a ring before he retires.
That said, I’d doubt he’d want to remain a reliever for the Mets come 2010. But for 2009 I’m sure he wouldn’t complain.
This is why Omar is going to earn his money this trading deadline. Because, the mets are there in the wild card and the division, although i think the phillies are much better team. But reyes, delgado, putz, perez, and wagner are all (hopefully) going to be back by august.
So what does he do before then? Are the Mets going to stay in it till then?
What do you guys think?
I think Holliday and a #2.
What exactly do you propose the Mets trade to land both Holliday and a #2?
Are they trading Parnell, F-Mart, Wilmer or Holt in those packages? If not, then it will look more like Aubrey Huff, Jermaine Dye or Nick Johnson.
exactly
all i’m saying is that IF the mets were to get somebody i’d rather it be someone like holliday. i know about beane and boras, etc. but i think its a risk this team should take. now on what to give up i really don’t know
I really think you’re realistically looking at something like for the Mets:
1) Thole, Niese and Kunz for Jermaine Dye.
2) Gee and Moviel for Nick Johnson.
IF all those guys come back healthy
IF all those guys come back happy
IF we’re 5 games or less behind by the trading deadline
I say keep what you have and roll with it. Now that’s 3 BIG if’s – those can backfire and all, but I’d be very hesitant to trade my top prospects for guys that, in this market, may fall to me in the offseason anyway…
I would agree. Even if it isn’t all of them and only a couple are back I would say roll with what you have because for the most part the guys who would be available and who we can get are not that huge of an upgrade.
Also to me pitching is the least of our concerns. The pitching is why we are as close as we are.
I would also agree
Who want to deal with Billy Beane?
Boy, DeRosa is looking might nice, right now, eh?
13 HRs, 48 RBIs ???? Wow. He might just price himself out of alot of trade proposals… On the other hand, how about trying to get DeRosa and Cliff Lee in a blockbuster? We’d need to give up alot for that… perhaps even FMart, but there’s your #2.
You know, I’m not the biggest DeRosa or Lee fan. I think Cliff Lee is inconsistent and DeRosa, while playing his head off recently, has always been a complimentary player. I’m not sure I’d give up F-Mart for that.
You also have to remember that the Mets will need F-Mart next year. Sheffield won’t be patrolling left field. Ryan Church is not loved and may get traded. And Daniel Murphy proved that he cannot play left field.
If Lee is inconsistent than so is every starting pitcher in MLB. He’s pitching lights out again this season and would instantly give us a top 3 rotation.
My worry about this (because every Met fan looks at positive developments as a cause for concern!) is that it will play into Jerry’s tendency to overuse relievers. He needs to let his starters throw 100-110 pitches during the middle of the season, in order to build them up. Having Wags and Feliciano and Parnell and Green (even if Putz doesn’t come back til September) means that the starters are less likely to go into the 7th — which means that he’s also burning PHers early in the game, leaving less flexibility for extra innings.
trade bait
wags in the 8th i’m assuming with parnell and pedro in the 7th? parnell is beginning to worry me a little. but his heater is sexy since it’s so fast. i’m not counting on putz coming back this year btw.
Parnell is young and still adjusting. I’m sure scouting reports are out on him now and teams are beginning to figure him out. But if he’s able to make adjustments, he should be able to adapt – especially with the heat he throws.
Everybody was ready to throw Sean Green under a bus a 4-6 weeks ago and now look at him.
i don’t see why we’re being so careful with wags…he is old, his contract is up, and most importantly he wants to pitch. get him up here ASAP!
this is an excellent point. Why do we need to be careful with him. I know it’s a horrible thing to say or do, but if we rush him back and he gets hurt again do we really care
As long as he can remain effective (he can’t be worse than Takashi) throw him out there. I don’t think we are planning on this guy being an integral part of the team and anything we get out of him is a plus.
Him being 65% now for 2 or 3 months could be more productive than waiting for him to be 100% for 6 weeks. Plus as Patrick says he may not adjust to a non closer role and his 100% in August when he is healthy may not be that good anyway because of the lack of adrenaline.
If he can be somewhat effective and get some outs I would throw him out there to hold the fort down until Putz comes back
i was going to make this point. Some beat writer needs to ask WHY Countrytime needs kid gloves: 10 mil salary and he’s not their problem next year. This seems like more Met muddling. Get him up there ASAP to see if he’s worth anything–clubhouse chemistry be damned!
Wagner was oh so good in non-save situations when he could not “get the adrenaline flowing” ala Putz, I do not see why people are excited about this at all.
If it was a computer game, sure give me three closers on by EA Sports team, but in real life this is a guy who has had some epic meltdowns on the mound for the Mets, just last year by the way.
just last year when he was pitching hurt?
If Tampa Bay is still in it, they will be itching for a closer.
Omar, start thinking who you want from that roster. I think the Mets could do well sending Wags there.
Agreed….Wags best value is to get him rehab pitching next month to show off the heater…teams will come a calling…Wags will want to go…and we get something we need down the stretch and in the future.
Even we wanted to trade him (which I wouldn’t) When he gets back in the MIddle of July at the earliest DO you really think another team is going to see enough of WAGNER TO WANT TO TRADE for him in 2 weeks before the deadline? I think not. Besides it’s likely we will need him, after all we are paying him 10 million this season.
split the difference. 7/31.
Ive said a few times, this year the Mets can actually get those big trade deadline acquisitions they missed out on the last few years.
Reyes, Delgado, Wagner, Ollie P could all return by 8/1.
Then Putz as a september 1 call up.
That my friends is not a bad haul of talent to add for the stretch run.