 |
|
Sure, Billy Wagner has seven blown saves. He can be shaky at times, but can also look down right dominant at times. Many fans want to crucify Wagner when he blows a save, and that’s understandable. But sometimes, we take Wagner for granted. We are pretty lucky to have a closer like Wagner, who even though he has his faults, he gets the job done most of the time. As we saw this year with KRod, even the best can be defeated.
Let’s take a look at some of our other relievers work as closers this year.
July 22nd- Wagner isn’t available due to injury, so Jerry Manuel calls upon Duaner Sanchez to get the save. Sanchez is handed a comfy 5-2 lead, which he promptly blows, and the Mets end up losing the game 8-6.
August 5th- Aaron Heilman enters the game with a 6-2 lead. He allows a leadoff walk, a bloop, and a blast. Many fans (including myself) were calling for his head, but he has shown he can get the job done the last two nights against the Fish, so I’ll give him a pass for now. For the record, I’m still not comfortable with him in a game trying to close it out.
August 7th- Wagner on the DL, Scott Schoeneweis gets the call. Up a run, he allows Jody Gerut to hit a moonshot to tie the game. And once again, I’m wishing we had Mr. Wagner to call upon to get those last few outs. Luckily, Mets win game in the 9th 5-3.
As we see here, closing is a whole other monster, compared to the middle innings. For the most part, the game is on the line, and your under pressure to get the job done for your team. If you don’t your slaughtered by media/fans.
So, when Wags gets back, let’s appreciate him a little more knowing we have one of the best closers in the game.
Sphere: Related Content |
 |
5 Responses for "The Under Appreciation of Billy Wagner"
Still, when push comes to shove Wagner has blown seven games this season.
That is seven times he was handed a lead and asked to pitch one inning without surrendering that lead and he failed. Seven games we were winning when he came in, and losing when he came out.
It’s nice that when he gets a save nobody on the other team can touch him. It’s cool when he’s looking dominant and unbeatable. But right when he puts that first runner on base - he mentally blows up and the wheels come off.
It’s tough to under-appreciate the guy who has blown the most saves in the majors this year.
Yeah, as I said in my post like a week ago, I feel like it’s actually the opposite, at least this year. I think 2008 Wagner gets a pass from the fans because he’s been so dominant in games where he has gotten the job done. His stats are still sparkling because of this.
But like Andrew said, seven blown saves is too many. The bottom line is — whereas all the Mets middle relievers have no experience as a closer (or virtually none), Wagner has tons of it. He should be held to a higher standard. Plus, the Mets are paying him a lot of money to do this job. The only other guy in the bullpen getting any real money is Schoeneweis.
so, u guys would rather have Kevin gregg saving games, how about Mike Gonzalez? Maybe Kerry Wood? Or how about Salomon freaking Torres
Out of most of the competitors in the NL i’d say we have the best closer. Everyone blows games, and yeah i know Wagner has 7 blown saves, but i believe a few of them have been via the unearned run.
All im saying is that we have seen closing is not easy, Scho and Dirty struggled mightily when given their shot.
Well, Lidge hasn’t blown any, so maybe this year he’s the best closer. But now he’s hurt as well.
Leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.