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The Good Old Days

With the Braves series wrapping up I feel what left a lasting impression on me was how quick and easy the Braves won the first two games after taking a lead into the ninth inning. Seeing Billy Wagner come out and throw heat, overpowering the Mets hitters to a 1-2-3 inning the first night was just magical.

Ever since Wagner’s injury, the Mets have had problems with the ninth inning. In 2008 when he sustained the injury, the Mets were not the same and again struggled down the stretch resulting in a collapse…though only 3.5 games that time.

I distinctly remember going to the first game we found out Wagner was injured. Santana had pitched magnificently to help the Mets to a 4-1 lead over the Phillies, just to have the bullpen combine to blow the save without Wagner and ultimately lose the game.

With word that Wagner would not make it back for the 2009 season, the Mets went out to sign the best closer on the market, K-Rod, and trade for a second closer in J.J. Putz. The result: an early injury to Putz and a miserable second half for K-Rod.

While K-Rod has been better this season, he has still come out to throw some stinkers. Even when he does get the save he makes sure to make it close.

Putz has left the Mets to have a respectable season with the White Sox, and in more disappointing news, Wagner has left to the rival Braves to give them a top-notch closer.

I never understood why the Mets were so determined to ship him out last season. Aside from saving money on his salary there was no reason to. Its not like they brought in great prospects. Chris Carter was the best pick-up and after refusing to call him up earlier this season, it seems likely he will be demoted once Beltran returns.

Keeping him would have gotten two draft picks from the Braves as he was a type-a free agent. I understand there was a fear that no one would want to sign him, but it was a risk worth taking.

by Evan Slavit at the Sports Fan Blog Network

July 12, 2010 Posted by slavite | Billy Wagner, Bloggers, Evan Slavit, Francisco Rodriguez, MLB, NY Mets Stuff, New York Mets, Original Content | , , , , | No Comments Yet

My Best All-Time New York Mets By Position

Here are my all-time best New York Mets By Position…

When I picked my team, I only considered their contributions while a member of the Mets. If they played longer for the Mets, I gave them a slight bump in rankings since their impact on the Mets should be greater than someone playing only a couple seasons. As a general note, I started watching the Mets around 1985-86 so my choices will be biased towards Mets who have played in the 80s or later.

My squad contains one player at each position, five starters and a relief pitcher/closer. I listed other people I considered in the running for each position. I also added a link to some of our sports memorabilia by each of my choices..

OK.. Here is my all-time Mets squad.

Catcher – Mike Piazza
Also in the running: Gary Carter, Todd Hundley

1B – Keith Hernandez
Also in the running: Carlos Delgado, John Olerud

2B – Edgardo Alfonso
Also in the running: Jeff Kent, Wally Backman

SS – Jose Reyes (No Mets shortstop was even close)

3B – David Wright (He has only scratched the surface of his potential)
Also in the running: Howard Johnson, Robin Ventura

LF – Kevin McReynolds (This was a tough one.. There was not a clear favorite in my mind)
Also in the running: Cleon Jones, Cliff Floyd

CF – Carlos Beltran
Also in the running: Lenny Dykstra, Tommie Agee, Mookie Wilson, Lee Mazzilli

RF – Darryl Strawberry
Also in the running: Rusty Staub

Starting Pitchers –
1. Tom Seaver (Top 2 were obvious but I am somewhat biased towards players who played after 1986 and probably would have chosen a few older pitchers had I actually seen them pitch a little more)
2. Doc Gooden
3. Johan Santana
4. David Cone
5. Al Leiter
Also in the running: Jerry Koosman, Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, Jon Matlack

RELIEF PITCHER – John Franco (Captain and long time Met.. got the benefit of the doubt even though I remember a few rough spots for him in his last year or two. The other ones I listed are dominating pitchers but had less actual time with the Mets than John Franco. I like KROD so far, and can see him moving up here if he does well for the Mets for the next couple seasons)
2. Francisco Rodriguez
3. Billy Wagner
Also in the running: Armando Benitez, Jesse Orosco, Roger McDowell, Jeff Reardon, Randy Myers, Tug McGraw

– Now that I went out on a limb.. anyone else want to try..?

Written by Evan Kanter of the Sports Fan Blog Network

November 3, 2009 Posted by sportsfan1 | Al Leiter, Billy Wagner, Bloggers, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Cleon Jones, Darryl Strawberry, David Cone, David Wright, Edgardo Alfonso, Evan Kanter, Johan Santana, John Franco, Jose Reyes, Keith Hernandez, Kevin McReynolds, MLB, NY Mets History, NY Mets Stuff, New York Mets, Original Content, Tom Seaver | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Red Sox send two to seal Wagner deal

The Mets have acquired minor leaguers Chris Carter and Eddie Lora from Boston, completing an earlier trade that sent reliever Billy Wagner to the Red Sox.


New York traded Wagner to Boston on Aug. 25 for two players to be named.

Carter batted .294 with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs in 116 games with Triple-A Pawtucket this season. The 26-year-old outfielder was added to the Mets’ 40-man roster Wednesday.

Carter was hitless in five at-bats for the Red Sox in April. He is a .306 career hitter with 126 homers in 726 minor league games.


Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of espn.com


New York Mets Sports Memorabilia
and other New York Mets Gifts and Collectibles

October 8, 2009 Posted by GameSetMatch | Billy Wagner, MLB, NY Mets News, New York Mets | , , , , , , , | No Comments Yet

Wagner eager to show Mets what he can do

Billy Wagner has been in the Mets’ clubhouse since Sunday, and the closer, who underwent Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery last September, is getting a little eager.


Wagner is back and healthy, 11 months after he last pitched in a game for the Mets. He is scheduled to be activated from the disabled list either Thursday or Friday.

That activation will start Wagner’s audition, both for the end of this season and all of the next, though the Mets reportedly placed him on waivers on Wednesday. If he clears those waivers by Friday afternoon, as expected, he can be traded to any Major League club. Any team that claims him would have until Tuesday to work out a deal with the Mets.


Click here to read the full article – By Tim Britton of MLB.com


New York Mets Sports Memorabilia
and other New York Mets Autographs
Below are links to memorabilia available for Billy Wagner.

Billy Wagner Signed Mets 8X10 Photo

Billy Wagner Signed New York Mets White Pinstripe Majestic Jersey
Billy Wagner Autographed Memorabilia

August 20, 2009 Posted by GameSetMatch | Billy Wagner, MLB, NY Mets Memorabilia, NY Mets News, New York Mets | , , , , , , , , | No Comments Yet

   

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