Saturday, May 20, 2006
Wank-ner, Pt. 2
Met nation is not happy. Ahead 4-0 going into the 9th inning against cross-town rival Yankees, MGR Willie Randolph handed the ball to his high-paid closer, Billy Wagner. Instead of nailing the door shut, the hinges came off as Wagner allowed 4 runs, blowing his 4th save of the season.
Wagner was atrocious. Singles by Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano, sandwiched around a walk to Alex Rodriguez, produced the first run. After Miguel Cairo flied out, Wagner walked Melky Cabrera and Kelly Stinnett, forcing in the second run. At this point, FOX announcer Tim McCarver said it was time to pull Wagner. Randolph let him face PH Bernie Williams, who he hit with his first pitch, forcing in the third run. One pitch too late, Randolph called for Pedro Feliciano to face Johnny Damon, who grounded slowly to Jose Reyes, scoring Cabrera with the game-tying run.
Some will question Randolph's decision to bring Wagner in to close out the game. I don't. Wagner has to shut the Yankees down, no matter if it's 4-0 or 4-3. That's his job. But now that Wagner's clearly proven incapable, Randolph will have to think twice before using him in sensitive situations.
Why can't the Mets find a quality closer? Last year it was Braden Looper blowing a big game to prevent the Mets from sweeping the Yankees at Shea. In the 2000 World Series, Armando Benitez blew the save in Game 1. Woe as Mets!
Poor Pedro Martinez, who pitched a masterful 7 innings (4 hits, 8 Ks). He's stalled at 5-0, and would at least be 7-0 if it wasn't for 2 of Wagner's blown saves.
Doubles by Carlos Beltran and David Wright in the 1st gave Martinez a 2-0 advantage, and HRs by Carlos Delgado (his 14th) and Cliff Floyd (his 4th) extended the lead to 4-0. But after Wagner's meltdown, the Mets had nothing left offensively. Giambi's replacement at 1B, Andy Phillips knocked in the winning run - Cairo, who'd walked and stolen 2nd and 3rd - with a single off Jorge Julio in the 11th.
Next game: Sunday night, Tom Glavine (6-2, 2.43) vs. Aaron Small (0-1,8.71), 8:10 pm start on ESPN and WFAN & WCBS. Radio.
AROUND THE HORN
* Barry Bonds tied Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time HR list, hitting his 714th against the A's Brad Halsey in the 1st inning of today's game. Halsey is the 420th pitcher to allow a homer to Bonds. Read my brother Barry Bloom's MLB.com coverage.
* Ex-Met Kris Benson upped his record to 6-3 last night against the Nationals with a complete-game 5-hitter. Ouch!
Wagner was atrocious. Singles by Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano, sandwiched around a walk to Alex Rodriguez, produced the first run. After Miguel Cairo flied out, Wagner walked Melky Cabrera and Kelly Stinnett, forcing in the second run. At this point, FOX announcer Tim McCarver said it was time to pull Wagner. Randolph let him face PH Bernie Williams, who he hit with his first pitch, forcing in the third run. One pitch too late, Randolph called for Pedro Feliciano to face Johnny Damon, who grounded slowly to Jose Reyes, scoring Cabrera with the game-tying run.
Some will question Randolph's decision to bring Wagner in to close out the game. I don't. Wagner has to shut the Yankees down, no matter if it's 4-0 or 4-3. That's his job. But now that Wagner's clearly proven incapable, Randolph will have to think twice before using him in sensitive situations.
Why can't the Mets find a quality closer? Last year it was Braden Looper blowing a big game to prevent the Mets from sweeping the Yankees at Shea. In the 2000 World Series, Armando Benitez blew the save in Game 1. Woe as Mets!
Poor Pedro Martinez, who pitched a masterful 7 innings (4 hits, 8 Ks). He's stalled at 5-0, and would at least be 7-0 if it wasn't for 2 of Wagner's blown saves.
Doubles by Carlos Beltran and David Wright in the 1st gave Martinez a 2-0 advantage, and HRs by Carlos Delgado (his 14th) and Cliff Floyd (his 4th) extended the lead to 4-0. But after Wagner's meltdown, the Mets had nothing left offensively. Giambi's replacement at 1B, Andy Phillips knocked in the winning run - Cairo, who'd walked and stolen 2nd and 3rd - with a single off Jorge Julio in the 11th.
Next game: Sunday night, Tom Glavine (6-2, 2.43) vs. Aaron Small (0-1,8.71), 8:10 pm start on ESPN and WFAN & WCBS. Radio.
AROUND THE HORN
* Barry Bonds tied Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time HR list, hitting his 714th against the A's Brad Halsey in the 1st inning of today's game. Halsey is the 420th pitcher to allow a homer to Bonds. Read my brother Barry Bloom's MLB.com coverage.
* Ex-Met Kris Benson upped his record to 6-3 last night against the Nationals with a complete-game 5-hitter. Ouch!
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That was just terrible-I can barely stand to think about it long enough to comment. Was a day game after a night game too much for him, or does he just suck as the seemingly all-knowing B. Bloom says. I think I agree with the latter. I know that Wanks gets the very big bucks to pitch the last inning, but with a four run lead why not start with another member of the mostly solid bullpen and if it gets necessary then bring in Wagner. It just seemed kind of backwards. The Kris Benson deal is just insult to injury.
How about instead of trading a prospect for a starter we dump a closer, get a starter and just let the damn bullpen finish the games. Could it really be any worse than the closers of the last few years? I know its not an option but I'm pissed and venting..thanks for listening Blooming Ideas!
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How about instead of trading a prospect for a starter we dump a closer, get a starter and just let the damn bullpen finish the games. Could it really be any worse than the closers of the last few years? I know its not an option but I'm pissed and venting..thanks for listening Blooming Ideas!
# posted by 
: 10:20 AM
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