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Mets Sign Wagner

What do you think of the Wagner signing?

I love the Wagner signing!	9 votes
I like the Wagner signing.	18 votes
I have no opinion.	2 votes
I dislike the Wagner signing.	3 votes
I hate the Wagner signing!	0 votes

Iubitul Nov 28 2005 02:21 PM

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5117698 Mets land closer Wagner Ken Rosenthal / FOXSports.com Posted: 2 minutes ago The Mets have landed coveted closer Billy Wagner in a four-year deal worth $43 million. The deal includes a fifth-year option for the Mets worth $10 million, but if they decline, Wagner gets a $3 million buyout which is considered part of the original $43 million deal. MORE TO COME

Centerfield Nov 28 2005 02:21 PM

Wow.

Valadius Nov 28 2005 02:23 PM

SWEET!!!

Benjamin Grimm Nov 28 2005 02:24 PM

I guess that means that Omar and Bernazard didn't speak Spanish to Wagner when they went to visit him in Virginia. Probably a wise decision. This is a busy November for the Mets.

seawolf17 Nov 28 2005 02:28 PM

That'll buy a lot of llama food.

Elster88 Nov 28 2005 02:29 PM

I like it. I'm down with Wagner. He's a midget that throws gas. I was told he was the best we could hope for out of Kazmir.

sharpie Nov 28 2005 02:29 PM

Tike Redman and Billy Wagner all on the same day!

Valadius Nov 28 2005 02:29 PM

Now we need to actually figure out the rest of the bullpen.

ScarletKnight41 Nov 28 2005 02:32 PM

Cool - I wanted Wagner. Switch Hitter and her kids will also be happy :)

Frayed Knot Nov 28 2005 02:33 PM

FAN (Eddie Coleman) reporting that Billy W. is coming to NYC to "finalize details". Stresses that he's not signed yet but expects that he will be so by this time tomorrow. Says it's for 4 years but no specifics beyond that. "He said Wagner Max. Wagner!"

metirish Nov 28 2005 02:33 PM

I love Omar, I love being a Mets fan, I love you all....I guess signing Redman showed Wags that the Mets are serious.

soupcan Nov 28 2005 02:34 PM

Amazin' Two years in a row of off-season, superstar mega-deals This team is more fun to watch in the winter than the summer.

HahnSolo Nov 28 2005 02:34 PM

Good. Ed Coleman was just on the FAN saying the deal is agreed upon in principle, expects Wagner in NYC tomorrow to finalize. Now let's shore up the rest of the pen.

Elster88 Nov 28 2005 02:35 PM

]a four-year deal worth $43 million. The deal includes a fifth-year option for the Mets worth $10 million, but if they decline, Wagner gets a $3 million buyout which is considered part of the original $43 million deal. This translates in my brain to 4 years for 40 million, with a fifth year option for 10 million that must be bought out for 3 million if declined. That right?

seawolf17 Nov 28 2005 02:36 PM

I think so.

metirish Nov 28 2005 02:36 PM

]This team is more fun to watch in the winter than the summer. classic

Elster88 Nov 28 2005 02:37 PM

That's a very hot stove.

Edgy DC Nov 28 2005 02:37 PM

Copulate the rest of the bullpen. Let's go to war.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 28 2005 02:38 PM

Another bonus is that by getting Delgado and Wagner, the Mets weaken two divison rivals. (Is Rafael Furcal next?) I guess the late offer from Boston didn't do much to turn Wagner's head.

Zvon Nov 28 2005 02:42 PM

YES!!!!!!!!!!!! Im glad I heard it here 1st. WAGS!..we got a bonifide closer!

Elster88 Nov 28 2005 02:44 PM

="Edgy DC"]Copulate the rest of the bullpen. Let's go to war. Ditto.

G-Fafif Nov 28 2005 02:51 PM

If it had been projected a year ago, it would've qualified as science fiction: ]NOVEMBER 28, 2005 -- The New York Mets have reportedly signed relief ace Billy Wagner. He will close games for the likes of Pedro Martinez. The news came hours after the Mets introduced Carlos Delgado as their new first baseman. Delgado mentioned he was happy to join his friend Carlos Beltran on the team. Truth is stranger than fiction. Happier, too, I hope.

Elster88 Nov 28 2005 02:55 PM

After the Vladimir dealings, I would've classified it as "new ownership". Perhaps a better explanation is "new tv network."

Johnny Dickshot Nov 28 2005 02:58 PM

Golly. Wow. Geez.

Rotblatt Nov 28 2005 03:06 PM

Well, that's a lotta money, but he definitely improves our pen. I'm less thrilled about us losing a draft pick, however. Couldn't we have waited two weeks to sign him?

metsmarathon Nov 28 2005 03:11 PM

phooey. quite the bargain compared to BJ ryan, too!

Edgy DC Nov 28 2005 03:22 PM

]I'm less thrilled about us losing a draft pick, however. Couldn't we have waited two weeks to sign him? Probably not.

Zvon Nov 28 2005 03:34 PM

a 5th year option.....WOW! Omar really wanted to close this deal. I aint complaining. Ill take 1 year at a time, and this upcoming season should be fun to watch.

SwitchHitter Nov 28 2005 03:49 PM

It's a function of the life I lead that I read about this in an Astros forum first. Whow! My kids are happy and are Mets fans again. When he was an Astro, I wrote a parody for him. It's [url=http://www.brokersys.com/~j-mag/music/wagner.html]here[/url].

MFS62 Nov 28 2005 05:12 PM

Nice one, SH. And here's a new Carol for the Holiday Season. enjoy, Later ***************************************************************************** (with a glance at Andy Williams. Or is that Garth Brooks?) "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" It's the most wonderful time of the year Mom and me are just kvelling And Omar is telling us "Come out and cheer" It's the most wonderful time of the year It'll be a hap-happiest season for all With those press conference greetings Before the big meetings Agents return Omar’s calls It's the hap-happiest season for all There'll be playoff games hosting Other teams they’ll be roasting When Wags starts to throw There'll be scoring run stories And more Mets team glories Like in seasons of too long ago It's the most wonderful time of the year There'll be bats hot, they’re glowing Like the heat Wags is throwing Someone the other teams fear It's the most wonderful time of the year

Centerfield Nov 28 2005 07:46 PM

Fantastic 62.

cooby Nov 28 2005 07:59 PM

Nice! :)

Frayed Knot Nov 28 2005 09:24 PM

]Couldn't we have waited two weeks to sign him? Once you decide you want someone you don't go stalling for 2 weeks with nothing but hope that he'll still be available. Also, since Philly was apparently willing to go for 3 years at major money in a FA deal, shirley they would have offered BW arbitration. There'd be no downside to not doing so. So Philly gets our (#18?) draft pick. Maybe we offer arb to Looper and get one back if he signs elsewhere.

Rockin' Doc Nov 29 2005 10:08 AM

It's a good time to be a Mets fan. Hell, it's always a good time to be a Mets fan, but these are really good times at present. I wonder what Bret thinks of the dillusional, cheap ass Mets right now. The Red Sox let Pedro and Lowe leave last year and now they are looking to dump Manny's bat (and salary). Seems the roles may have reversed since Bret's change in allegiance.

Elster88 Nov 29 2005 10:10 AM

The Mets could've picked Manny up two years ago off unconditional waivers and not given up players! And gotten two more of his peak years!! But they were too cheap to do it at the time and too stupid to realize they should get him as young as possible!!! Manny's going to pull a Sammy Sosa. Wagner? Another aging veteran past his prime with a well known name. Wilpon's old trick to keep the stands full. All they had to do was roll up their sleeves and offer a little more money and they could've gotten a younger guy who is just as good and will only improve. Another example of both stupidity and tight pursestrings. How does it feel to get beaten out by a franchise that is a punching bag for my beloved Red Sox? Haha, nice job getting Delgado for the same money as they could've gotten him for last year without giving up a rookie who had one of the best first two months in history. How'd that Beltran deal work out? [curiously neglects commenting on Pedro]

Elster88 Nov 29 2005 10:16 AM

Actually those are all halfway decent arguments.

Rotblatt Nov 29 2005 10:40 AM

Yeah, we're going to need some results before we can claim the high ground. There's no question that we've made mistakes the last few years (Guerrero, Manny, Zambrano, etc.) but it's looking more and more like the Mets are Omar's team and the early results from him are pretty decent. No one could have predicted Beltran's decline last season, and if he'd been his usual self, we would've had a decent shot at making the playoffs. His only real black eye is not overwhelming Delgado last season, then turning around and trading our 2nd best prospect for him and his bloated contract. Frankly, I think we could've had Delgado for less, but even at that cost, it's a decent trade. And now he's built what's likely to be one of the best offenses in the NL and added the missing piece to our bullpen. Combine that with one of the deepest rotations in baseball, and we're already favored to reach the playoffs in 2006. Now the question becomes, how will our team execute? And if we do well, will we be able to sustain it?

HappyRecap Nov 29 2005 11:07 AM Wagner

I hate these multi-year deals given to older players (like Delgado) but I think Wagner has something left in his tank. My guess is that he'll be solid for two years and then the wheels will come off. What they do then is anyone's guess. Wagner seems to give up as many HRs as Looper does but with a few less walks. So maybe we don't have to sit through these painful-like-pulling-a-bandaid-off-slowly ninth innings that Looper subjected us to. HAPPY RECAP

abogdan Nov 29 2005 11:12 AM

I don't like the Wagner deal at all. Too much money over too many years for a 35 year old player who will only pitch one inning every other day. I don't like paying big money to closers, especially through their age 38 season, especially when you have someone like Aaron Heilman on your roster who was hugely succesful in a relief role last year and makes nothing. This move marginally improves the team's chances of winning in 2006 but That $24 million owed from 2008-9 looks like it could be a big obstacle in the way of the Mets being competitive if Wagner's production drops off even slightly. My preference would have been to give Heilman a shot at closing or to sign Trevor Hoffman to a 1-2 year deal if the team really doesn't want to give Heilman that role.

Elster88 Nov 29 2005 11:15 AM

I disagree. The difference may be marginal in the regular season for an average team. A good bullpen with a solid anchor is what you need to get over the hump, and beat out the better teams in pennant races and playoff series. Delgado and the deep staff put the Mets on the hump, Wagner plus Heilman in the pen put the Mets over it. Remove Rivera and how many WS do the Yanks win? Not that Wagner is Rivera, but you see what I mean.

HappyRecap Nov 29 2005 11:22 AM Looper could always get re-signed

He's proven that he can't close but he had success as a set-up man in FLA. It also seemed that he could handle the pressure thoughout his lack of success. I would have no problems giving him a shot as a set-up man since he'll come cheap off of his recent shoulder surgery. And if we find that it wasn't the shoulder that kept him from pitching well, then dump him. Has Heilman been written off as a starter? It's what the guy was for his whole career in the minors and in college. And his last few starts for the Mets were solid. He doesn't have over-powering stuff so let's get him on the hill in the first inning and see what he can do.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 11:28 AM

Who has proven that he can't close? Looper? If that's your conclusion, I think that it's a little broad and hasty. There's a lot of gray in this game.

Elster88 Nov 29 2005 12:42 PM

Press conference at 3.

ScarletKnight41 Nov 29 2005 12:42 PM

Press conference at 3:00. My husband is going to get jealous if Omar continues sending me so much e-mail ;) OE - Damn - I would have beaten Elster if I hadn't tried to be funny.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 12:48 PM

See if you can (a) get me a shot of Sarah, and (b) find out what Virginia community his alpaca farm is located in.

Willets Point Nov 29 2005 12:57 PM

Now that you mention it, there's someone who raises alpacas near my Mom's house, although I doubt Wagner lives there.

Zvon Nov 29 2005 01:12 PM

Elster88 wrote: Not that Wagner is Rivera, but you see what I mean. Not that this ia an accurate measureing stick, but Wagners makin more $$$ than Rivera. Look what BJ Ryan ended up getting......$47 million over 5 yrs. As far as Im concerned, this off seasons gonna end with the NY METS the best and most exciting baseball team in NYC. Are they payin Wags too much? For too long? Of course they are! Alls I know is he's now a Met. We have addressed 2 of our biggest questionmarks (1b & closr), and in style.If theres a down side Ill complain when we get there. And the Philllies were set to contact Wagner yesterday at 4pm to increase the money, but at 3:15 they received a call from Wags agent with his decision to go with the Mets. I LOVE IT!

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 01:30 PM

I've been listening to two radio blowhards for half an hour. Get Wagner's makeup on and go to it.

ScarletKnight41 Nov 29 2005 01:33 PM

Sarah is NOT at the press conference.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 01:33 PM

Here we go! A Bean Stringfellow reference! Sarah's not in the house.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 01:35 PM

Marion, VA. Wagner is wearing 13.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 01:36 PM

Ron Hodges was in on this!?

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 01:40 PM

Valerie Wilpon, Jeff's wife, also gets her propers.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 29 2005 01:41 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Ron Hodges was in on this!? Huh? What? Really? Explain!

ScarletKnight41 Nov 29 2005 01:41 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Valerie Wilpon, Jeff's wife, also gets her propers. As does Chrissie Glavine

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 01:42 PM

Asked about BJ Ryan: "I don't watch much TV, and, you know, if I do, it usually has something to do with my other business." There's TV programming about alpaca farming?

ScarletKnight41 Nov 29 2005 01:44 PM

That was quick.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 01:45 PM

]Huh? What? Really? Explain! I don't quite get it, but I think Ronnie lives in Virginia and gave Wags a positive picture of New York. I'm afriad I may be conflating that account with another somebody that Omar was discussing. I'm trying to look like I'm working here. Wouldn't it be nice to be Ron Hodges?

SI Metman Nov 29 2005 01:47 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Asked about BJ Ryan: "I don't watch much TV, and, you know, if I do, it usually has something to do with my other business." There's TV programming about alpaca farming? lol, it's funny because the person who asked that was Joe Mac (owner of MOFO)

ScarletKnight41 Nov 29 2005 02:50 PM

Here he is -

metirish Nov 29 2005 03:20 PM

] don't quite get it, but I think Ronnie lives in Virginia and gave Wags a positive picture of New York. I'm afriad I may be conflating that account with another somebody that Omar was discussing. I'm trying to look like I'm working here. I think you are talking about the Mets employee that Omar gave props too, Jimmy Plummer is from the same town as Wags and Omar had him talk to Billy, they know a lot of the same people.

seawolf17 Nov 29 2005 03:23 PM

Yeah... it wasn't clear what role Ron Hodges had in this, but he definitely was mentioned near the beginning of the press conference.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 03:36 PM

Thanks, I was beginnng to think I had misheard. If I'm writing for one of the dailies, I'm covering the Ron Hodges angle. That alone makes the Mets cooler than the Yankees, though I won't have an answer for you if you ask me why. Joe McDonald? You don't say.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 04:06 PM

Turns out that Wags not only is from the same region as Ron Hodges, but knew of him.

Johnny Dickshot Nov 29 2005 06:35 PM

Ferrum College sounds like Kirk Van Houten's alma mater: "Sorry, Kirk. We didn't all go to Gudger College"

OlerudOwned Nov 29 2005 06:45 PM

Apparently, the two things that landed Wagner (y'know, aside from the $43 million) were a [url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2241004]no-trade clause and longtime Mets employee Jim Plummer.[/url] ]Maybe one reason was James Plummer, director of corporate services for the Mets and a longtime team employee. A Mets bat boy in 1965, he still counts Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan among his good friends. The 54-year-old Plummer grew up near Wagner's hometown in Virginia, so he popped in to chat when the four-time All-Star was in general manager Omar Minaya's office during a two-day visit last week. Of course, Wagner and Plummer knew many of the same roads, mountains and country folks, including the pitcher's uncle. "It was going to be two minutes, it turned into 30 minutes," Plummer said. "I don't know about recruit, I just try to help out." But Minaya thought that conversation helped do the trick, making Wagner feel more comfortable about New York. "Our secret weapon this year was Jimmy Plummer," the GM said. I guess Plummer was smart enough not to use Street Virginian with him.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 07:00 PM

Yeah, it was the Plummer story that I was afraid I conflated with the Hodges mention, but apparently Ron came up too: A short press conference but mentions of Ron Hodges and Alpaca Llama TV, and that's some good viewing.

OlerudOwned Nov 29 2005 07:18 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Yeah, it was the Plummer story that I was afraid I conflated with the Hodges mention, but apparently Ron came up too My bad, I couldnt catch the press conference and somehow missed irish's post at the top of the page.

metirish Nov 29 2005 07:58 PM

Plummer as the bit says was a Mets bat boy in 1965, he's worked his way up the ladder, the Mets seem to have a lot of long time employees, Pete Flynn, Plummer and some of the ladies that help kids in the bathroom(what are they called), I suppose the Mets are pretty good to work for.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2005 07:59 PM

Somebody needs to make a Pete Flynn webpage.

metirish Nov 29 2005 08:13 PM

Yeah you're right Edgy, I met Pete Flynn once at Gealic Park in the Bronx, a very friendly person.

Nymr83 Nov 29 2005 11:08 PM

the length of this contract worries me some, but i'm glad to have him.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 30 2005 06:49 AM

Here's how the Mets signing of Wagner is being covered in Philadelphia. From the Philadelphia Inquirer: ]Wagner: Phils not committed fully to winning By Jim Salisbury Inquirer Staff Writer NEW YORK - On his first day as New York Mets closer, Billy Wagner came out throwing heat at his old team. He trashed the Phillies' commitment to winning, wondered about their plan for this season, and said he'd likely still be with the club if it had been willing to give him a three-year, $24 million contract in July. Instead, he officially became a Met yesterday, signing a four-year, $43 million contract that, according to agent Bean Stringfellow, easily topped the Phillies' best offer. "The Mets are trying to win a World Series," Wagner said at Shea Stadium. "I felt like this was the right place to be." And about the team 100 miles down the road? "There's a difference between winning and being competitive," Wagner said. "In the end, I thought [the Phillies] were more interested in being competitive than winning. "My goal is to get to the Hall of Fame and win a World Series. There's no doubt [Mets] ownership has resources and a competitive edge. They'll do whatever it takes to win. That's a huge plus." Wagner, 34, leaned heavily toward the Mets after receiving a three-year, $30.25 million offer during a red-carpet visit to New York last week. He became convinced that the Mets were his team when they guaranteed a fourth year, added an option for a fifth, and gave him a full no-trade clause Monday morning. "We heard the Phillies had scheduled a conference call with Billy for [Monday] afternoon and that ownership was ready to review its offer," said Jeff Wilpon, the Mets' chief operating officer. "That's when we added a fourth year." Wagner was so impressed with the Mets' offer that he had Stringfellow cancel the conference call with the Phillies, who, sources say, were ready to raise their offer and add a fourth-year option. "I knew they wouldn't match all the Mets had done," Wagner said of his decision not to speak one last time with the Phillies. "They were still worried about age and all that stuff organizations worry about." According to Stringfellow, the Phillies' best offer was three years and $25.5 million. Stringfellow said the value of the contract could have risen to just over $30 million with incentives based on games finished. Wagner was not surprised that the Phillies weren't more aggressive. "Not considering I gave them three for 24 [three years and $24 million] at the trade deadline and they laughed at me," he said. Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro took umbrage with that comment. "That's untrue," he said by telephone from Philadelphia. "No one laughed. The reason we were taken aback was that his original asking price was two years and $16 million. When we offered that, the asking price changed to three years at $24 million." The Phillies were unwilling to offer three years in July because Wagner turned 34 that month and the team had concerns about the long-term health of his left shoulder. Wagner had spent time on the disabled list with a strained shoulder in 2004. Like his predecessor, Ed Wade, new general manager Pat Gillick made keeping Wagner a top priority. Gillick improved the Phillies' offer to three years and was willing to add a fourth-year option, but it wasn't enough. "If Pat had gotten there earlier, I think he could have gotten something done," Wagner said. "He didn't have much time." Gillick and Wagner had one face-to-face meeting and the pitcher, at the time, said he was impressed with the new GM's plan. Yesterday, Wagner made an about-face. "For me, the question I had all along was I wanted to know their plan for getting relief and starting pitching and they really didn't have answers because Pat just got there," Wagner said. "While the Phillies were getting rid of one guy, the Mets were buying up talent, and that's hard to overlook." The "talent" Wagner referred to is slugger Carlos Delgado, whom the Mets picked up the same day the Phillies traded Jim Thome to the White Sox last week. Wagner has 284 career saves, 59 of which came with the Phillies in the last two years. His legacy in Philadelphia may end up being the left-field wall at Citizens Bank Park. He frequently complained about it being too close. This week, construction crews will begin moving the wall back. Wagner, at times, also complained about how close fans were allowed to get to the bullpens in Philadelphia, and how they would deride relievers during the game. As a Met, he will play three series a year in Philadelphia. "I'm sure I'll be treated the same way everyone else is," Wagner said. "I'll be heckled. The fans there are passionate. They're going to think I ran to the money - which I guess they would have passed up - but I get heckled in every park. It's part of the game."

Benjamin Grimm Nov 30 2005 06:51 AM

]"My goal is to get to the Hall of Fame and win a World Series. There's no doubt [Mets] ownership has resources and a competitive edge. They'll do whatever it takes to win. That's a huge plus." It's not often that you see active players state so plainly that they're thinking Cooperstown. I don't think his chances are all that good, but if that helps motivate him, it's fine with me.

Johnny Dickshot Nov 30 2005 07:05 AM

The interesting thing here, I think, is that it stokes a "natural rivalry" between the Mets and Phillies that in 43 years, has never really developed. The Mets have played more games against the Phillies than any other team (I'm pretty certain), but they have never really been good at the same time. That's because they've mostly been bad together, but in 80 and 93 the Mets sucked; and in 69, 86 and the late 90s the Phils weren't a big factor. I suppose 73 would count for something but the Pirates were the scarier team probably and the Cubs rivalry still had equity. Really, other than the frequent Carlton-Seaver battles we grew up with, there just hasn't been juice in Met-Philly games. But next year, I'd consider the Phils & Mets (on paper) to be the 2 strongest contenders in the NLE.

Elster88 Nov 30 2005 07:25 AM

A player that signs as a free agent and then bashes his former team is a tired story.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 30 2005 07:27 AM

Take it from someone living in the Philadelphia area, there's a real rivalry between the Phillies and the Mets, but only one side knows about it. (I think, from what I've heard from a former Texan that I know, there's a similar one-sided rivalry between the Eagles and the Cowboys.) I remember a few years ago hearing a Phillies announcer mention all of the times that the Mets and Phillies battled for a pennant, but of course, that's never happened. Even in 1973, the Phillies were the one team that wasn't in that race. The Phils finished second to the Mets in 1986, but by such a wide margin that there was never any kind of race. The two teams were never really contenders in the same season until 2005, and by early September the Mets were in more of a spoiler role. It really could make for a great rivalry. In Philadelphia, I guess it already does. Phillies fans hate the Mets, but Mets fans are mostly indifferent towards the Phillies.

Elster88 Nov 30 2005 07:30 AM

This New York fan from Connecticut agrees with that indifference. I have general contempt for fans from Philadelphia, which doesn't stem only from their baseball fans. But they are not worth feeling hatred or getting worked up over. _____________________________ This post had the designation 113) Carlos Baerga

Frayed Knot Nov 30 2005 07:46 AM

]The Mets have played more games against the Phillies than any other team (I'm pretty certain) I never thought about it before but I guess this is true. NL East teams would obviously have the numerical edge over NL West & Central teams and only Philly has been both in the East the entire time plus dates back to 1962. - Atlanta was West until '94 - Wash/Montreal had no games before '69 - Florida, no history prior to '93 - Cards, Pirates & Cubs left the East and are now down to 6 games/year Giants v Eagles and Rangers v Flyers have always been hotter rivalries than Mets/Phils (or Knicks/Sixers). Part of the problem is that baseball often takes a back seat in Philly to football and even hockey. I was listening to FAN one Saturday morning this past September right after the Phils had pulled out 2 consecutive last minute wins to pull even with Houston for the WC lead, and all morning the station was getting flooded with calls from Philadelphia & South Jersey Phils phans who complained that they were forced to call the NYC station to talk baseball because their own sports talk radio refused to take anything other than Eagle calls (during that all-important NFL Week 2). And if you're not going to take baseball calls while your team's in the middle of a pennant race ...

Johnny Dickshot Nov 30 2005 07:56 AM

I lived among Philly fans for about 10 years. Yes they do hate the Mets & New York but that's just a part of being a Brotherly Lover. There's no real reason for it. What I was referring to was a team rivalry: Have the Mets & Phils ever played a "meaningful game"?

Benjamin Grimm Nov 30 2005 08:09 AM

That was "meaningful" to both teams? Maybe the three-game series that started on August 31, 2005. That's probably it. The Mets have played 747 games against the Phillies, which is more than against any other team. Next are the Cardinals at 657, then the Cubs and Pirates at 656.

Edgy DC Nov 30 2005 08:09 AM

If you mean meaningful from both dugouts, they sorta kinda did this year as both teams were fading but clinging to outside wildcard hopes. Wagner not only didn't really trash (other than to say he liked the Mets chances and offer better), he seemed consitutionally incapable of trashing. He's a self-restrained guy.

Elster88 Nov 30 2005 08:17 AM

You better define "meaningful games" before you start bashing Arman---. Oops, wrong thread.

Edgy DC Nov 30 2005 08:18 AM

That's it. I've just decided that I'm heading out to the Billy Wagner country of Marion, VA, for my next vacation. They have a Sherwood Anderson festival going on! And you know I'm taking Route 11. The interstate is for city folk, always in such a hurry to get somwhere that they never get get anywhere.

Elster88 Nov 30 2005 08:20 AM

Edgy DC wrote: If you mean meaningful from both dugouts, they sorta kinda did this year as both teams were fading but clinging to outside wildcard hopes. There was a very meaningful series this year, wasn't there? Late August, a three game series at Shea, the one when Castro won the first game with a late three run homer? IIRC, Philly was tied for first in the wildcard entering that series and we were two games back.

OlerudOwned Nov 30 2005 08:22 AM

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=marion,+virginia&ll=36.843774,-81.509628&spn=0.060947,.160143&t=h&hl=en Very green. With a nice chance to look at "Hungry Mother"

Johnny Dickshot Nov 30 2005 08:24 AM

I was at that Castro game: And that pretty much was the first. The Phils wins in the next 2 games pretty much robbed meaning from the rest of the season for the Mets.

metirish Nov 30 2005 08:26 AM

Wags has 19 of these on his farm...

Edgy DC Nov 30 2005 08:38 AM

DECK OFFICER: Your Tauntaun'll freeze before you reach the first marker. HAN: Then I'll see you in Hell!

Willets Point Nov 30 2005 08:43 AM

Are those two Alpaca getting it on?

Elster88 Nov 30 2005 08:48 AM

This may smell bad, kid.

Edgy DC Nov 30 2005 01:18 PM

Another interesting thing about Ron Hodges and Billy Wagner --- both were teammates of Dwight Gooden.

metirish Nov 30 2005 01:19 PM

When did Wags and Doc play together?

sharpie Nov 30 2005 01:21 PM

Doc started one game for the 'Stros in 2000.

Willets Point Nov 30 2005 01:27 PM

They both played with Sid Fernandez as well.

Frayed Knot Nov 30 2005 01:57 PM

According to one report I read (forget where) former Met player, coach & manager (and Charlottesville, VA native) Mike Cubbage knows Wagner from the area and was involved in the conversation also. Good to have those ex-Mets scattered about the country shooting down those stories about big bad NYC.

Zvon Nov 30 2005 02:46 PM

metirish wrote: Wags has 19 of these on his farm... So I guess that means ones not gettin it. Got a picture of that poor creature?

seawolf17 Nov 30 2005 02:49 PM

He'll also now have been a teammate of both Pedro Martinezes.

Edgy DC Nov 30 2005 05:20 PM

]So I guess that means ones not gettin it. Got a picture of that poor creature? You realize that you're just setting yourself up here, right?

Edgy DC Dec 01 2005 08:15 AM

The Virginia Connection. If this whole Billy Wagner thing works out, the Mets might want to consider putting Ron Hodges and Mike Cubbage on the payroll for life. Good thing I didn't book my trip yet. According to the article, the alpaca farm isn't in Marion, but in Crozet, near Charlottesville. Tehy have an annual Arts & Crafts Festival, in Claudius Crozet Park.

seawolf17 Dec 01 2005 08:16 AM

Edgy, will you please stop stalking Billy Wagner? edit: Ah, hell. I'm Braden Looper. I'm going to have to start messing up the ends of my posts -- throwing in extra letters, forgetting words, spelling things wrong.

Johnny Dickshot Dec 01 2005 08:24 AM

My late grandparents retired to a farm in Albemarle County (same place as Crozet). Their place was sold and turned into a vegan B&B (my ham-devouring grandfather would be spinning his grave were his cadaver not donated to science). Anyway, it was a wonderful place to vacation growing up and today guests can stay in the same room where a young Frayed Knot beat an even younger Johnny Dickshot with a pillow, driving his head into a bedframe in an incident causing young JD five stitches. I was also attacked by a million bees there once. Seriously, go visit! [url]http://www.thewhitepig.com/[/url]

Edgy DC Dec 01 2005 08:42 AM

Only 20 minutes from Yogaville! Walton's Mountain Museum! I'm on the phone with my travel agent right now! Seriously, thanks.

Johnny Dickshot Dec 01 2005 08:48 AM

I can't tell from the photos for sure, but I believe the savage beating took place in the Olive Room.

Willets Point Dec 01 2005 09:19 AM

Johnny Dickshot wrote: . Anyway, it was a wonderful place to vacation growing up and today guests can stay in the same room where a young Frayed Knot beat an even younger Johnny Dickshot with a pillow, driving his head into a bedframe in an incident causing young JD five stitches. Wait a minute! Are you and Frayed Knot related? I know you two have the same surname, but I though that was just coincidence. As to Wagner, it would most appropriate if he entered the game to "Ride of the Valkyries."

seawolf17 Dec 01 2005 09:28 AM

Their shared last name, of course, is "Ot."

Rockin' Doc Dec 01 2005 11:52 AM

That's right in the area where my mother lives. I've driven through Crozet a few times while visiting her at her home in Waynesboro over the years. Beautiful country along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I also have an aunt and uncle that live in Madison, Va.

seawolf17 Dec 02 2005 12:04 PM

Hey! I pulled a Billy Wagner jersey card out of a pack of Topps cards today! Considering I almost never ever ever pull anything cool, this is a neat surprise.

holychicken Jul 08 2008 03:59 PM

OMG I am SOOO against this signing. He is going to throw his teammates under the bus and blow BIG GAMES!!!! just like he did in Phillie. We should have signed. . . umm. . .what other closer is available in this offseason?