Wagner rips media-ducking Mets
Posted: Friday May 16, 2008 05:12AM ET
On Thursday, Billy Wagner's targets were a bank of empty Mets lockers across from his, lockers whose occupants had already departed for the day after the team's dispiriting 1-0 loss to the Nationals. "Can somebody tell me why the closer's being interviewed and I didn't even play" Wagner said. "Why they're over there not getting interviewed? I get it. They're gone. Shocker." Wagner's anger, and gestures, seemed to be particularly directed at the locker of Carlos Delgado, who lined into a double play to end the game. Delgado, who has not been much of a Mets voice in his three seasons in New York despite his veteran status and who has been booed often in 2008, left Shea Stadium on Thursday before reporters ever had a chance to interview him. For the angry Wagner, the issue was accountability, and in raising it he was echoing a complaint made last year by Paul Lo Duca, when he was the Mets' catcher. At that time, Lo Duca suggested that reporters seek out some of the Mets' Hispanic players for comments instead of continually coming to him. "Some of these guys have to start talking," he said. "They speak English, believe me."
Billy Wagner, AP
Comments (90)
Dude thinks he something great. They are a bunch of underachieving players. Wagner....****? Who is this bone-head and what has he done for the Mets....anyway. Check yo-self....homies.
Bond 007 | 05/16/08, 06:10 AM
Report Offensive CommentDon't really have an opinion on Wagner or the Mets for that matter. But he does have a point. Baseball is a "team" sport. And the "team" should all be available for eveything. BP, meetings, games, talking to the press. It's all about the team so the team should all be there.
Tribe13 | 05/16/08, 06:57 AM
Report Offensive Commenthey Billy, Shhhhhh! Don't complain, be boring and he media wont talk to you. Now they will be on you after every loss.
Whalers | 05/16/08, 07:02 AM
Report Offensive CommentWhat a mess... Wagner's big mouth and lack of common sense does nothing but hurt the team and managers future.
drj0514 | 05/16/08, 08:04 AM
Report Offensive CommentFor once I agree with this moron. The players need to stick around and be accountable. If they were winning they would stick around, so do it when you are losing too.
Hi, I'm Troy McClure | 05/16/08, 08:17 AM
Report Offensive CommentLike him or not.... Wagner is right.
He didn't even play, and he was left there to answer questions about his teammates, who scattered home before the media reached them.
In pro sports, athletes have a responsibility to the media. Show up, play and then answer questions. Simple.
joec | 05/16/08, 08:22 AM
Report Offensive CommentI don't care one way or the other. He makes $10.5M and doesn't even play every day. It's not gonna hurt him to answer a few questions.
bigdog1002 | 05/16/08, 08:24 AM
Report Offensive CommentHe should talk to the media, in a positive way. This does smack of poor management. Willie needs to get this under control. You don't see the Yankees going off half-cocked to the media. Didn't Willie learn anything while he was with Torree?
buford | 05/16/08, 08:32 AM
Report Offensive CommentYou don't see the Yankees going off half-cocked to the media. Didn't Willie learn anything while he was with Torree?
buford | 05/16/08, 08:32 AM
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Wow, you got cocked by the censors.
Hi, I'm Troy McClure | 05/16/08, 08:34 AM
Report Offensive CommentQue? Me no speak-a-de-English.
PimpyLooka | 05/16/08, 08:49 AM
Report Offensive CommentGood for Billy! I'm a die-hard Mets fan and it's about time that someone called these guys out. It was nonsense the LoDuca ran into trouble for saying "it is the Latino guys" when it WAS and IS. Look, it doesn't make it racist to say a group of people who all happen to be of the same racial background do something when it's a fact; it's racist when you speculate it. When was the last time you saw quotes from Reyes or Beltran after a bad game? Delgado --- when do you hear from him ever? I am tired of these guys and I'm tired of Randolph taking the blame. Good for Wagner! Omar Minaya needs to look at himself, not Willie, for "Club Apathy" that he has put together.
NJ POW MAN | 05/16/08, 09:02 AM
Report Offensive CommentWhile I feel Wagner is right with his thoughts, he is absolutely wrong to call out his teammates. This is a team sport. You lose 1-0 games, and other times you win 1-0 games. Other times, Wagner comes in and blows a game and they lose 2-1. This is something that must be taken care of behind closed doors. Wagner is a veteran and knows that. He is just showing a lack of class with this move. Grow up, rook!
Lazo | 05/16/08, 09:04 AM
Report Offensive Commentdon't care one way or the other. He makes $10.5M and doesn't even play every day. It's not gonna hurt him to answer a few questions.
bigdog1002 | 05/16/08, 08:24
I think that was his point bigdog1002...he's always the one answering questions. His point was there are a lot of other guys on the team, why was he the only one answering questions and he didn't even play. Or didn't you read the article? He doesn't mind answering questions, he is just tired of being the ONLY one answering them.
Tribe13 | 05/16/08, 09:04 AM
Report Offensive CommentP.S. I know he's not a rookie, but he sure opened his mouth up like one!
Lazo | 05/16/08, 09:05 AM
Report Offensive Commentif Wagner's talking to the media, then who's driving the bus that he just threw his teammates under?
Ari Gold Super Agent | 05/16/08, 09:07 AM
Report Offensive CommentHe used to go into the clubhouse and play solitare during the phills game when he wasn't pitching, Guys a tool-bag, not even a great pitcher.
PhlyFan36 | 05/16/08, 07:53 AM
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what exactly is wrong with this? do you expect a reliever to sit around the bullpen all game long? I would assume that a lot of closers don't spend the entire game sitting in the pen waiting for their turn. And it certainly doesn't make sense in the summer heat. I don't think that this means a guy isn't a good teammate or a tool, as you put it.
Mariano goes into the clubhouse around mid game to get a massage. Does that make him a tool also?
If Wagner was smart he'd just keep his mouth shut but it appears that he is one of the few guys left in the clubhouse. The more I think about it, guys like Delgado are "tools" b/c they come to the park, play poorly and then make a quick exit to avoid the media...probably to get home to make sure his paycheck is deposited on time.
Me DUM DUM | 05/16/08, 09:08 AM
Report Offensive Commentdo you expect a reliever to sit around the bullpen all game long?
Um, YES! I do.
buford | 05/16/08, 09:15 AM
Report Offensive CommentEither make the players talk to the media or tell the media nobody will talk. Are the Mets from NY or Moscow? geez.
madhatter | 05/16/08, 09:18 AM
Report Offensive CommentI don't see why Billy Wagner is taking all of this heat. If you watched the entire interview, he was answering questions for awhile. Then - when the conversation turned toward repeating questions about turning the offense around - he went off. And he's right. Where was Delgado to answer questions? Delgado will talk after he hits 2 home runs...but he won't after he strikes out all day?
Wagner may have a big mouth, but what he said was needed now. 100%. If Willie won't demand accountability, then I suppose one of the 3 guys that talks regularly to the media will have to.
Moondizzle | 05/16/08, 09:29 AM
Report Offensive CommentI don't like the way Wagner has called out his teammates in the media. He needs to address this in-house. I blame Randolph also for not taking a harder stance with all the players, maybe alittle glare from the media will shape them up
TitanFanNYC | 05/16/08, 09:49 AM
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