After the game, closer Billy Wagner spoke with the press. Wagner literally laughed off the possibility of Shane Victorino “running him over” on the grounder that Carlos Delgado fielded and then flipped to Billy who was covering first in the ninth inning. The two crossed paths but did not collide. Wagner seemed to be in good spirits but said, “Of course you feel it,” when asked about his left shoulder that caused him to miss Tuesday’s game. When asked if it feels better or worse than yesterday, he said tomorrow will be the real test, because right now the adrenaline is flowing, so its tough to tell. Also, Wagner was asked, “Is it discomfort that you feel in the shoulder or pain?” Wagner deadpanned, “age”.

Billy’s answers seemed a bit abrupt and short and he may still be smarting over a column written by NYT writer William C. Rhoden. Before last night’s game, David Lennon of Newsday reported that Billy was asked which part of the column irritated him and…

Wagner reached into his locker and pulled out of copy of the Times’ sports section, then read the passage. As soon as he did that, Wagner said he wanted Rhoden to stand at his locker and apologize to him — and all of his teammates.

Steve Popper of The Record explained that Wagner felt the NY Times columnist took his post game comments, “I’d much rather be the guy taking the blame than sitting here having my teammates have to suck on this one.” and twisted them into Wagner saying that he “Opted to sit this one out.” Popper had the following quotes from Wagner:

“I can’t even get hurt without being thrown under the bus,” Wagner said. “I tell you – [the columnist] comes in here, you might see something. Tell me I’m dogging it? I know right now I didn’t say I changed my mind and wished I’d have pitched yesterday after seeing the bullpen get slapped around. I know I didn’t say that quote. He’s going to stand right in front of you guys and this team and apologize. … You can tell me I suck, that’s fine, but you ain’t going to do this.”

 

With the scare of losing Wagner we’ve already read Hot Foot’s own Anthony De Rosa report on names like Brian Fuentes and Huston Street and where they may end up. Well, The Star Ledger’s Dan Graziano is adding more names to the list of possible relievers the Mets may have some interest in. Graziano is reporting that the Mets asked Seattle about lefty RP Arthur Rhodes, but he thinks Rhodes will end up with the Marlins. There is also interest on the Mets end in Pittsburgh’s lefty RP Damaso Marte. The Mets also had someone scouting Monday’s Rangers-White Sox game to keep an eye on lefty RP Eddie Guardado.

If you feel confused about what the Mets are going to do with their corner outfield situations, you are not alone. According to Graziano, there is “industry wide confusion about what the Mets plan to do.”

Some say they’re in on Xavier Nady, Raul Ibanez, Casey Blake and others. Some say they believe Ryan Church will come back and plan to call up Fernando Martinez if he doesn’t.

For more on Roy Halladay, Mark Teixeria, Chad Bradford, Jamie Walker, Jay Payton and Brian Fuentes make sure you check out Graziano’s blog over at The Star Ledger.

Also, if you want to listen to Billy Wagner, Jerry Manuel, Jose Reyes and John Maine’s post game remarks, head over to WFAN.com.

Billy Wagner took a precautionary MRI on his pitching shoulder today and results showed no structural damage. It is unclear whether he will be available for tonight’s Phillies game.

Spasm? Don’t spaz out on us Billy.

Thanks to John Delcos’s blog for the Journal News for the update…

Our own Peter Wade previously reported that Billy Wagner was set to get an MRI today after feeling “cramping” in his shoulder for close to two weeks. It turns out Wagner felt a lot better after getting up this morning and will not receive the MRI.

Exhale…dodged a bullet there…

added by Peter Wade

Update: 7:50PM EST - The AP is reporting via SI.com that Billy Wagner saw a doctor today and will be re-examined and may have a MRI at the Hospital for Special Surgery tomorrow.

According to MLB.com’s Marty Noble, the Mets are concerned about Billy Wagner’s left shoulder. During the 10th inning of today’s game Manager Jerry Manuel went out to visit Wagner who described the discomfort in his shoulder “like a cramp” and “as a little tight”. So, tomorrow Wagner will have a MRI in NY to find out what is giving him discomfort in his left trapezius muscle.

Jerry Manuel said:

“We want to know what was keeping him tight. It was 120 degrees. … I was loose.”

Billy Wagner said:

“My shoulder’s a little tight…I hope I don’t have to spend that much time in the city…I’m old — I’m supposed to hurt…I should hurt more often…It seems fine now…It wasn’t that bad. When Jerry came out, I thought it was for someone else…It doesn’t seem bad. If it is, I’ll miss the first game [of the Phillies series], and if we’re winning by more than three, that won’t matter.”

NY Post’s Bart Hubbuch provides us with some video of David Wright and Billy Wagner talking with the press at today’s All-Star Game media session.

The All Stars were announced earlier this afternoon, and the good news for the Mets is they can enjoy some rest. Reyes and Wright will not be participating this year, with Billy Wagner the sole Met representative. The NL starters will include Philly’s Chase Utley , Braves’ Larry Jones , and the Marlin’s Hanley Ramirez amongst others. As always, Jeter and A-Rod will represent the Yankees as AL starters. A complete list of those selected can be found at CBS Sporstline , and pretty much every other sports website on the internet.

Its hard to complain, the Mets are currently third in the East and struggling. Personally, I’d rather see Wright and Reyes get the rest. Regardless of what Commissioner Bud says, its still a meaningless game with a flawed selection process, so let the boys stay at home a few days and recharge. If they’re going to attempt to comeback in the second half they’ll need it.

Billy Wagner spoke yesterday from Anaheim to Michael Kay of ESPN Radio in his weekly spot.

What is your reaction to Willie losing his job?

“I hated seeing it happen because I can’t help feeling that I was responsible, not doing my job as consistently as I could of done. It just stinks that your manager is critiqued on how his players are playing, when guys are going through a tough time and stuff and the manager is kind of look down on and when we are doing well he looks like a genius. I know it’s part of the game but you hate when that happens.”

Is it Willie’s fault that the team is a .500 team right now?

“Well, I don’t think so. If I get three more saves and were above .500. I can’t really put anything on Willie I think he’s done some of his best coaching when we’ve struggled. He’s put guys in situations and we just haven’t performed. I really feel bad that it came down to him.”

How did you find out about it? Did you go to sleep thinking Willie was the manager?

“I didn’t find out until this (yesterday) morning, when I came out of the elevator, the reporters where there and they were like did you hear about Willie? I said no I hadn’t but with all these cameras here its pretty obvious. I’ve never been in that type of situation, with that much media exposure, I was a little shocked at that but I guess you could see it coming. Speculation was out there, the team really didn’t know what was going on.”

Do you think Willie and this team has ever recovered from last year?

“I don’t think the team feels that effect. I don’t think we’ve ever said we blew a seven game lead so we’re not gonna play well. We know we have the talent and we know we are a good baseball team. I think its, we got off to a slow start and when some guys get going then another part of the team goes down. When the starting pitching was struggling the bullpen was strong. When the bullpen was struggling the starting pitching was strong, just things haven’t worked together. I really don’t think it has anything to do with last year or Willie.”

Reports say that guys who got in late had a ho-hum reaction to the news, Was there something about Willie that some on the team didn’t like?

“Not that I know of. When you’re the manager you don’t have to be liked. You just have to be respected. That’s why we play the game, its to be respected. Your manager is not there to hold your hand and make you like him. Willie was a very personable person, he and I, we had our ups and downs but we always got along. I knew where he stood and he knew where I stood. We communicated better and better the longer we were together. The more he got to know me the more he knew what was best for me. He was easy to talk and it was easier to know what he expected from me…He’s the manager, you’re the All-Star, you’re the player, its up to you to play the game. Sometimes you get put in a situation that isn’t favorable or difficult but if you consider yourself one of the best, you have to go out there and get it done.”

“Willie’s got that competitive fire, like old school. He wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s very passionate about his job, about the game. His expectations for his players is high and I think players of this day and age may not have that same passion, like the guys may have had when Willie played…I am old enough to have watched Willie play and you look at the back of his bubble gum card and you know he was a great player. When you talk about that kind of player, guys in our clubhouse are hard nose and they go after it, but it was definitely a different era.”

Do you feel sorry for him today?

“Sorry,..no I don’t feel sorry. I hate that he was put under the microscope because of our teams shortcomings. But the greatest managers ever have been fired and so going through this, the type of person he is, this will only make him a better manager and make him a better person. He’ll look back and see what he could of done better or he’ll just look back and reflect and when he gets his next job there will be things he will improve on.”

What do you think of Jerry Manuel?

“I think when you go from bench coach to manager a lot of things change. As a bench coach your kind of the buffer, the in-between to say everything is alright, keep working hard. Now he’s the head honcho, it’s not about hey it’s ok, its about go get the job done.”

Last night the players finally weighed in on the changing of the guard in the Mets clubhouse, hoping they can finally move on from discussing the fate of their manager day in and day out.

Billy Wagner

“As a team, we hadn’t lived up to expectations. The bad thing is, the manager gets the blame. That’s the way the game is.”

Wagner spoke regarding the way Willie was fired.

“I don’t know if there’s ever a good time to do something like that. I don’t think any general manager likes to fire a coach.”

Jose Reyes

“I just feel sorry for the guy because we weren’t able to play good baseball for the guy. He’s going through a tough time right now, but when I get a chance, I’m going to call him and thank him for everything he’s done for me.”

David Wright

“(Randolph) took this team to a different level while he was here, but that being said, I’m excited about what Jerry can bring to the table.”

Carlos Beltran

“Jerry knew the players as the bench coach and communicated with us. I think he’ll do a great job. He’s communicates a lot and is always positive.”

As Andrew Beaton earlier linked, Ken Rosenthal contributed an article to FOXSports.com about the status of Willie Randolph. Rosenthal said a criticism of Randolph was putting in Billy Wagner in the middle of an inning, when statistics showed that’s not a good situation for him. Rosenthal related this with the following evidence:

Since the start of 2007, Wagner has entered games 84 times at the start of an inning, but only seven times in the middle.

He is 44-for-50 in save opportunities when starting an inning, according to STATS, Inc. His ERA in those situations is 2.05 ERA, and he has allowed six homers in 88 innings.

When entering in the middle of an inning, Wagner is 3-for-6 in save chances. His ERA is 7.11, and he has allowed three homers in 6 1/3 innings.

Now these stats are taken before Wagner’s blown save on Wednesday against the D-backs, so it is actually now eight times, 3-for-7 in save chances, and four home runs given up.

But analyzing these eight relief outings in which Wagner entered in the middle of an inning, there’s too many variables to call this a valid indictment of his success in this situation. First, eight games is a tremendously small sample size. Secondly, Wagner entering in the middle of the inning would usually mean there are inherited runners on, which would add to the probability that he would blow a save.

And perhaps the biggest argument against these stats can be found in the three of the eight games, all against the Phillies. Yes, not only is it a small sample size, but three of these games are against the same team. And not only that, but the same man inflicted major damage in two games! Pat Burrell hit a home run in two of the three games, making two of the four home runs Wagner had given up in such situations. Perhaps, just perhaps, match-ups have some weight in these scenarios as well!

Since the Phillies are a divisional rival, some of the team’s stars have accumulated at-bats against Wagner. Burrell, a known Mets killer, is batting .250 in his career with 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 double and 1 triple in 16 at-bats against Wagner. Ryan Howard is batting .300 against Wagner. Chase Utley is batting .333 against Wagner, and Utley contributed an RBI single in one of these games against Wagner and a game-winning single in another.

Going further, in all these Mets vs. Phillies games in which Wagner came in during the middle of an inning, he didn’t actually struggle with the inning he came in. He got out of the 8th twice without blowing the save. In another, Wagner only let one inherited run score.

In the eight games, Wagner has blown four saves, but in the other four games, he converted three saves and finished up another win in a non-save opportunity. This includes a key 4-out save against the Yankees on May 17 and a particularly dominant outing on June 3 against the Giants in which Wagner got two outs on just two pitches.

It should be mentioned that in 2006, I could only find two such instances of Wagner entering a game in the middle of an inning, both successful save attempts against the Braves and Phillies.

Like Andrew said earlier today, these “closer rules” are ridiculous and sometimes the results don’t even match up, such as the case seems to be with Wagner in the last three years.

Rosenthal presented the statistics at the same time distancing himself from a real opinion on the matter, but just by presenting only one view of the situation, he’s taking a side. What really bothers me about his article is the fact that he quotes unnamed scouts with the most empty and baseless comments. It’s like if I sat as a fan at a Mets game and saw David Wright yawning and then commented that the Mets are bored with baseball. These kind of quotes are absolutely infuriating and can hardly be included with “news.”