It is evident that Billy Wagner likes to hear the sound of his own voice. What a bonehead. His team didn't give him enough support in the 8-6 loss to Houston last year They scored 6 runs and gave him a lead. It seems to me he couldn't support them.
When multiple situations arise over and over, it is most wise to seek out the common denominator. I have often resolved conflicts by honestly looking for the common denominator and finding out it was myself--then swallowing my crow. Billy "MeMe" Wagner--judging by *his* playoff record, I didn't miss him in '04, didn't miss him in '05, and I don't miss him now. He has a great story and he's overcome a lot, but that doesn't excuse being a horse's ass and making enemies everywhere he goes. I wish he and his mouth well--except when he plays the Astros. And except while he's playing for the freaking Mets, for that matter. I still hate the freaking Mets.
the importance of closers is so ambiguous. the save stat is so overrated as proven by lidge this year, but you see with good teams in the playoffs, a good closer can separate good teams from each other.
Too funny, same ol' Billy. So glad he's not here anymore. Now that they've had a chance to see Buchholz, wonder what all the peeps who were relentlessly b!tching about the Wagner trade think...
Did he ever have any of these tirades during his tenure with the 'stros. I honestly can't remember. If I remember correctly, I always thought he was well-liked in the Astros locker room.
I don't remember him going off on his teammates in Houston, but he definately went off on Drayton a couple of times.
i know castor mentioned it, but still ****ing funny. how is scoring 8 runs and giving you a 2 run lead wanting you to fail as a closer? maybe you shouldn't give up 3 run homers ?
I rememebr when I was young and Dave Smith was the closer. My uncle would take me to the games and we always new the game was over when DAve Smith came out to pitch. The Houston Astros have not had a closer like Dave Smith in a long time. Brad Lidge is going to be better, though. Billy Wagner needs to be quiet and aprecaite how good it is to play for millions of dollars! I think Billy Wagner was just a fastball picther, and did not have a slider like Brad Lidge.
I loved Smitty back in the day, but he wasn't half the dominating presence that Wagner or Lidge are, nor did he have a lot of longevity (of course Lidge doesn't have any yet, either). That's not to say he didn't get it done, he just didn't strike fear like Billy's heat or Lidge's wicked slider.
When? Mitch Williams part deux, IMO. Garner's fault. Confidence shattered, his brain's in tatters, splattered all over ... Manhatten. Go 'head, bite the big apple, don't mind the maggots!
Pshaw. For every Mitch Williams, there is a Mariano Rivera. And for every one of those guys, there are 8 or 10 Isringhausens.
Man, I remember being at the game where I think he made his first appearance as a closer. (Wasn't he originally supposed to be a starter?) If I remember right, we had a 1 run lead in the bottom of the ninth against SF. He struck out Will Clark, Matt Williams, and Barry Bonds to end the game. I remember thinking to myself "who the hell is this kid?" I thought when he slammed Drayton, he was just bitter about being traded. I guess I was wrong.