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He’s A Little Nutty But We Love Our Wagner
In case you missed it Billy Wagner was close to starting a bean-ball war with the Michigan Wolverines.
It was 1 out, a runner on second, bottom of the 4th when junior CF Kevin Cislo pushed a bunt foul. Apparently Wagner took exception to that move and walked around the mound emphatically shaking his head in disapproval. The message was delivered because Cislo swung away after that.
Later Wagner told Newsday’s, David Lennon, “If he got that bunt down, I would have drilled the next guy… Play to win against Villanova.”
Geez Wags it’s a freakin’ exhibition game vs a bunch of college kids for cryin’ out loud!
BMF loves the Alpaca farmer’s aggressiveness but I’m here to say he would’ve been way out of line to stick one in some innocent kid’s back as punishment for busting their asses to win. If the roles were reversed I’d guess Wagner would be firing them in as hard as he could.
As far as those college kids are concerned they’re playing in the freakin’ World Series. It’s beyond me how you can be mad at them for that.
What is Wagner too good to run off the mound and pick up a bunt? I just don’t get it but it’s all good since there are no more college games on the schedule.
I don’t mean to muzzle Wagner cuz we need his swagger. If we’re gonna win the World Series we want that attitude but let’s just reserve that fire for the professional teams standing in our way.
***
The Big Pelf Off to Good Start
It was only game 1 of the Grapefruit League but Mike Pelfrey is already stating his case for the #5 slot by holding a Tiger regular season lineup to a mere infield single in 2IP. Orlando El Duque is still in line for the rotation but BMF stands by my earlier prediction that Big Mike will emerge as our primary 5th starter.
Duque is really becoming an interesting situation. He’s said he has zero interest in the bullpen – which I think is a bad move anyway - and it recently came to light the Mets unsuccessfully shopped him this off-season.
What does Willie do if Pelfrey has a big spring and Duque won’t accept a minor league assignment or being relegated to the pen?
***
Michel Abreu picked up another hit and may be making an early push for consideration to back up Delgado at first.
The Cuban defector hit a combined .332 with 17 homers between High-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton in ’06 but missed all of last year with work visa issues.
Abreu, 6-foot-3 230lbs, plays primarily first but has also seen time in LF and 3B, and was Cuba’s leading home run hitter for four straight years before defecting. Abreu initially signed with the BoSox but the contract was voided once Boston learned he was older than originally reported. A Cuban lying about his age? Nahhh, couldn’t be.
Depending on what you read he’s now 32 or 33 and just might provide some juice for the Mets this year.
Quick Hits:
• Ex fan favorite Carlos Gomez is reportedly working with Rod Carew to learn how to become a leadoff hitter. Gomez, who generally batted lower in the order in the Met minor leagues, is in good hands with Carew.
• Want a laugh? Check out this SuperBowl ad the FCC vetoed last minute
![[Buy the Go Big Pelf T-shirt]](images/BigPelf/BigPelf Tile.jpg "Buy the Go Big Pelf T-shirt")
Mojo Kitty rocks the batting helmet for luck!
February 28th, 2008 at 5:50 am
I think Abreu may be auditioning for a job elsewhere as it looks like there’s no room on our bench for him. Which is a shame because we just might need to start thinking about resting Delgado very often if he declines further from last year, and Abreu is a better option to play first than what we’ve got. I’m hoping for a rebound from Delgado, but consider him to be the biggest risk in our lineup.
February 28th, 2008 at 8:38 am
maybe … just maybe .. it might be good practice for Wagner to be fielding bunts? that maybe thats what spring training is for ? bizarre ..
February 28th, 2008 at 8:57 am
.. and I love that the Cards cut Spiezio and his stooopid goatee for being wanted for a DUI .. and what is La Russa’s quote?
“I think it’s a consistent message about what the team represents.”
what a hypocrite .. no, if it was consistent you would have been fired .. since Spiezio will be paid close to $3 million for sitting on his ass and pay for his lawyers the Union will say nothing ..
February 28th, 2008 at 9:05 am
you have to be a little bit of a psychopath to be a relief pitcher. Look at history. It doesnt matter who he pitches against he is still going to be a nut.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Good call Matt especially after the way he almost gave away Game 2 of the Yankees series at Shea last year. Ninth inning and he couldn’t figure out what to do with the ball when it was hit to him.
Screw the FCC…Free speech and Bud ad’s must be allowed to flourish…
February 28th, 2008 at 9:34 am
That as is AWESOME. For a company that does not need to advertise, A. Busch has been treating audiences with their ads for decades. I’ll never drink their product (Lippy’s micro brewed ale and stout all the way), yet I laugh my arse off. Funny, funny stuff.
Wags gets rattled when there are runners on and the ball is in play where HE has to field. He does not do well with the force. I think he’s gotten so accustomed to the K that he never really polished up on his mentla skills to stop an advance of the runners - he loses his concentration a bit. This was evidenced where he didn;t throw to home last year, held the ball, went to first instead and everybody was safe. We won the game; but gee whiz. Nailing a collge kid is definitley not cool. It’s samll ball, Wags. With PHI and ATL gunning for the top along with us, get used to it, apl. Lippy loves Wags; but he can’t be a 1 trick pony at this point in his career. Many years left on the mound for you Wags; but play smarter - not harder.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:43 am
One more month!!!
For me, the baseball feeling actually begins tonight.
I play in a fastpitch softball league and my very mediocre team has our first (and possibly only) practice before our first game.
Too bad that ad didn’t run. That’s gotta be one of the funniest cmmercials I’ve ever seen!
February 28th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Why did Wags call them Villanova, I thought they played Wilpon’s alma mater U. of Mich. I guess he is a little nuts.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Billy was saying that they should play aggressively in a real NCAA game that counts (vs. Villanova)
February 28th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Been way too busy lately…
to catch up…
I think Wags beef is one of these unspoken rule things in baseball…like don’t bunt for a hit with two outs in the 8th inning of a no hitter…in the first exhibition game of the year, you shouldn’t be bunting because someone can get hurt…I seem to remember Wags was more concerned about his teammates…
Lip, from the other day, I never read Metsblog until the Santana deal was heating up…It’s a nice site for hourly updates and good information, but BMF will always be the best, because unlike every other blog, we can have conversations and talk baseball (and sometimes food or politics too…) Mets Blog is like that overcrowded bar with everyone trying to talk over each other, music is too load,nobody knows each other and wouldn’t recognize then the next day…BMF is the cool, chilled out place with cool music in the back ground, but we can sit back and get to know each other…
I feel that I’ve been able to make some friends here over the past 2+ years here…
I don’t care one way or the other about the Citi Field logo, it’s not great, but who really cares??? I did like BMF’s logo…at little work and it’ll be perfect, but it does have to much going on to be plastered on every wall, program, Hot dog wrapper or urinal…but it would be great as a 10ft welcome sign in the rotunda…
I like that Reyes (my Fav Met and man crush) is getting away from the dancing and high five stuff..yeah, it was kinda fun, but what makes Jose great is what he does when he’s running the bases or diving deep in the hole and throwing a guy out at 1st while sitting on his ass…anyone who thinks Reyes won’t be as much fun to watch now just isn’t a true baseball fan…
Great start fro Pelf, but he was nasty all spring last year too…I don’t like that only 1 of his 6 outs were ground ball outs and 4 were off fly balls…looking at stats can be misleading, but Pelf needs to be getting a lot more GB outs…
I think the Mets will be best served to get as many starts from DL’uque as they can call Pelf up when needed…
Lastly, Stings is running his mouth off about how NY was hell and the Vets (Wagner) didn’t respect the way he played the game…Now DC is great because everyone respects him yada yada yada…I liked Stings, but he just doesn’t get it…hopefully some day he’ll grow up..but with that attitude, he’ll just be another Milton Bradly or Jose Guillen…good talent, but will never stick with one team and probably finish with good career stats while playing on 8 different teams…
February 28th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Don’t you people realize by now that Wagner is the ORACLE, the authority on all things baseball. He went up the mountain and got the ten baseball commandments straight from Nelson, er, Abner Doubleday himself. “Thou Shall Not Bunt!”
“Thou manager shall only place thee into situations where thee can be successful”
“Know Your Place, Rook!”
“I am the Wags, your closer, you shall have no other closers before me” And on and on.
I mean, it gets a little old (like Wagner)–how about we add this rule: “More pitching, less bitching!”
February 28th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Hey guys
I’m on my way to Lucie with some of the Met divas this weekend. I’ll try to provide updates via Zoe’s laptop but I doubt I’ll be able to do much. I’ll be back Monday.
Bill L - you rock man! more pitching less bitching. That’s almost as good as my Big P*ssy’s Posse!
February 28th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Philadies.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Coop, just send us lots of pics we all love to see…
…and some pics of the Mets too…;)
February 28th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
If the season ended today the Phils would be NLEast Champs again. Recognize.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Phan, if the season ended today, Pelf would win the Cy Young and you’d still be my Bee-atch.
February 28th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
USMF, screw Barbara Hershey, you are the wind beneath my wings.
February 28th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
toot toot
February 28th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Hey Macarena.
February 28th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
For everyone else…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Hershey
I don’t know what it means…
February 28th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
USMF: the reference is to the film “Beaches” which co-starred Barbara Hershey– that song was sung about her character. Phanatic is our very own Dennis Miller–funny as hell, but one doesn’t always catch all the references.
Thank goodness for Google.
February 28th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I’m not wearing pants. Film at 11:00.
February 28th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Thanks TdfkaBill…
I guess when you spend all your time living in your moms basement, with out a girl friend eating Cheetos and watching E! and the LifeTime Network…you pick up tons of useless knowledge…
February 28th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
How’d you know I lived in my Mom’s basement?
February 28th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Wow, Dude Formerly, i live in your mom’s basement too. Dibs on the upper bunk.
February 29th, 2008 at 12:08 am
In re: ‘Stings, that DN article is a joke. His words aren’t exactly harsh, and there’s no doubt he had some issues but Wags and Co seemed to have been a bit “holier than thou” themselves.
I’m willing to bet ‘Stings will go 20+ HR, 80+ RBIs, 20+ SBs and play a solid center with some hilite reel catches.
STILL HAVE THE ‘STINGS MANCRUSH!
WISH WAGS WOULD MUTE HIMSELF AT TIMES!
ENJOY LUCIE LADIES!
February 29th, 2008 at 1:11 am
SNK still owes me a beer.