Wagner telling it like it is
I'm sure there are a number of Mets fans out there who would like Billy Wagner to just shut the f#*k up. But that's not Billy's style, and frankly, I'm glad someone on this team isn't afraid to speak up and speak his mind.
First off, the Mets' situation is far from dire. Despite injuries to key personnel, they're solidly in the mix and the Phillies and Braves are actually behind them in the standings, and Florida will fall eventually. And it's only April, for crying out loud!
That said, there is a perception among fans and media that there's something not quite right here, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't sense it myself. The team hasn't found its groove, true, but when you look back to last June, you see a .500 team and there's way more talent here than that.
Enter Wagner, who clearly doesn't want to see this team fall into a swoon again, particularly considering the Mets will be playing the red-hot D-Backs in Arizona this week. It's a bad time to be flat, so maybe Wagner was issuing the wake-up call. It's one thing to say "we've got to play better," but it's another to basically call out the team for lacking effort and desire as bluntly as Wagner did.
Then there's Ollie Perez. As frustrating as it is to be a fan watching him pitch, it must be equally frustrating to be his teammate, especially Wednesday. Wagner was right on to point out that Perez has to do better for a team that exhausted its bullpen the night before, and to Perez's credit, he owned up after the game.
It's becoming pretty clear that the Mets won't re-sign Perez after this season and will allow Scott Boras to get top dollar elsewhere. Too much Bad Ollie to counter the Good Ollie we get from time to time. Hopefully, he'll realize it's a walk year and pick it up.
As far as the Willie job watch goes, it's pretty ludicrous to think he's on the hot seat already. But is the perception of the Mets the reality? They haven't been terrible but they have underperformed for almost a year straight and the collapse is Willie's albatross. Maybe the team isn't responding to him, or doesn't want to play for him -- although that runs counter to everything the players have said all along.
We'll get a clearer idea of what this team can do once Alou and Schneider are back in the fold and when (if) Pedro starts pitching again. Until then, enjoy the late-night baseball.
First off, the Mets' situation is far from dire. Despite injuries to key personnel, they're solidly in the mix and the Phillies and Braves are actually behind them in the standings, and Florida will fall eventually. And it's only April, for crying out loud!
That said, there is a perception among fans and media that there's something not quite right here, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't sense it myself. The team hasn't found its groove, true, but when you look back to last June, you see a .500 team and there's way more talent here than that.
Enter Wagner, who clearly doesn't want to see this team fall into a swoon again, particularly considering the Mets will be playing the red-hot D-Backs in Arizona this week. It's a bad time to be flat, so maybe Wagner was issuing the wake-up call. It's one thing to say "we've got to play better," but it's another to basically call out the team for lacking effort and desire as bluntly as Wagner did.
Then there's Ollie Perez. As frustrating as it is to be a fan watching him pitch, it must be equally frustrating to be his teammate, especially Wednesday. Wagner was right on to point out that Perez has to do better for a team that exhausted its bullpen the night before, and to Perez's credit, he owned up after the game.
It's becoming pretty clear that the Mets won't re-sign Perez after this season and will allow Scott Boras to get top dollar elsewhere. Too much Bad Ollie to counter the Good Ollie we get from time to time. Hopefully, he'll realize it's a walk year and pick it up.
As far as the Willie job watch goes, it's pretty ludicrous to think he's on the hot seat already. But is the perception of the Mets the reality? They haven't been terrible but they have underperformed for almost a year straight and the collapse is Willie's albatross. Maybe the team isn't responding to him, or doesn't want to play for him -- although that runs counter to everything the players have said all along.
We'll get a clearer idea of what this team can do once Alou and Schneider are back in the fold and when (if) Pedro starts pitching again. Until then, enjoy the late-night baseball.
posted by Gaspo @ 11:33 AM
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