You and What Flexor Pronator
There's only so much you can expect from a guy who decides he wants to put his and his family's finanical security in the hands of an agent named Bean Stringfellow. So today we had this news, when Billy Wagner, former Mets closer who is two appearances post-Tommy John surgery and now a Red Sock (no, not redneck, wise guy), finally figured he'd ok the trade:
Wagner is now showing some desire to pitch in a pennant race rather than remain with the Mets because it could help his position on the free agent market.
One assumes that Wagner, at age 38, and after major surgery, thinks he's good enough to shine on the post-season stage and rake in beaucoup bucks while turning down any shot at an $8 million club buy-out for next season. That's right, a man who will at best throw 25 innings the rest of this year thinks that will be enough for someone to pay him more than $8 million next. (Yes, I am bitter and want his $8 million.)
But let's check Wagner's post-season history, to see if he's got a chance to put his left arm's muscle where his wallet is. And yes, that's phrased more awkwardly than a lefty-hitter's swing at his pitches in his heyday--I'm not saying he wasn't a great pitcher. Once. Mets fans (yes, both of you--I know many of you are on the DL) probably don't even have to go to Retrosheet to recall how much he was a one-man wrecking crew in the 2006 League Championship Series against the Cards, but here are the reminders:
October 13, 2/3 inning, 4 hits, 3 runs, a homer to So (So) Taguchi, big loss
October 18, 1 ip, 2 er, in a win that seemed secure but he made mighty scary
If you're not a Mets fan, although I'm not sure how that's possible, Wags still has left you freaked during some post-season: his LCS ERA is 16.88, his LDS ERA is 7.04. It's as if you'd think he believed a higher ERA was a better one.
This is a man banking on his post-season performance to make him one last big ca-ching. Perhaps instead of taking a muscle out of his right arm to put it in his left in the usual Tommy John procedure, they instead took out his brain and used that. If that's true, Boston's not going to be particularly happy. (Think of it as a parallel to the 2007 Gagne Experience, complete with 6.75 ERA!)
(4 of 31 in the drive to 2500)
Wagner is now showing some desire to pitch in a pennant race rather than remain with the Mets because it could help his position on the free agent market.
One assumes that Wagner, at age 38, and after major surgery, thinks he's good enough to shine on the post-season stage and rake in beaucoup bucks while turning down any shot at an $8 million club buy-out for next season. That's right, a man who will at best throw 25 innings the rest of this year thinks that will be enough for someone to pay him more than $8 million next. (Yes, I am bitter and want his $8 million.)
But let's check Wagner's post-season history, to see if he's got a chance to put his left arm's muscle where his wallet is. And yes, that's phrased more awkwardly than a lefty-hitter's swing at his pitches in his heyday--I'm not saying he wasn't a great pitcher. Once. Mets fans (yes, both of you--I know many of you are on the DL) probably don't even have to go to Retrosheet to recall how much he was a one-man wrecking crew in the 2006 League Championship Series against the Cards, but here are the reminders:
October 13, 2/3 inning, 4 hits, 3 runs, a homer to So (So) Taguchi, big loss
October 18, 1 ip, 2 er, in a win that seemed secure but he made mighty scary
If you're not a Mets fan, although I'm not sure how that's possible, Wags still has left you freaked during some post-season: his LCS ERA is 16.88, his LDS ERA is 7.04. It's as if you'd think he believed a higher ERA was a better one.
This is a man banking on his post-season performance to make him one last big ca-ching. Perhaps instead of taking a muscle out of his right arm to put it in his left in the usual Tommy John procedure, they instead took out his brain and used that. If that's true, Boston's not going to be particularly happy. (Think of it as a parallel to the 2007 Gagne Experience, complete with 6.75 ERA!)
(4 of 31 in the drive to 2500)
Labels: baseball
posted by George at 12:26 AM
5 Comments:
Agree. Too bad the Mets won't make the postseason. With Wags on another team, they'd have a chance to win the whole thing. Alas.
Good point, Mike.
The Mormons have their own ERA? Sounds like this guy doesn't have a prayer in any event.
That's League Division Series, wise guy.
Sorry. Utah reflex.
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