Rays and Marlins interested in Wagner

Based on an extremely small sample size (one inning of work), Billy Wagner looked awesome.

Since the pitcher is already on waivers, the rumors about what teams are interested are squeaking out.  Jayson Stark of ESPN.com notes that the Tampa Bay Rays and the Florida Marlins are two teams that scouts believe have expressed interest in Wagner.

The one hitch is the money left on Wagner’s contract.

There is $2.5 million left on the deal, with another $1 million buyout of his option for 2010.  Stark writes, “other clubs believe that the Mets will have to eat a major chuck of that money if they expect to land a decent prospect in return for Wagner.”

As a fan, I love Wagner.  I love his attitude on and off the mound.  But at this time, it’s time for the Mets to deal him.  Even though Francisco Rodriguez has shown signs of cracking and having a back-up closer (much like the plan was for J.J. Putz this year) wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

(Don’t forget, Putz has an option for 2010 as well, but it’s a little hefty to be paying that much for a set-up man.)

If the Mets can take most of Wagner’s contract on and dea l him away, they may be able to get a good, young player from a desperate team trying to make it in 2009.

I say the Mets pull the trigger on a deal if the right one comes along.

Manuel’s Musing

“From a manager's point of view, I probably always want to see youth at this point, but it has to be the right timing. The player development people have to say a young player will come into this situation and not be hurt by it.”

-Jerry Manuel on a youth movement

Billy’s back

Billy Wagner’s appearance in Thursday night’s game was the unlikely highlight, as Johan Santana was on the mound for the Mets.  The Mets lost 3-2, dropping the final two games of the series to the Braves

Santana allowed three earned runs on nine hits over seven innings.  He struck out two and walk none, needing only 77 pitches (66 landing for strikes).

But when Wagner entered the game for the 8th inning, the crowd got to it’s feet and cheered.  He paid them back by turning in a 1-2-3 inning, striking out two batters in a span of 14 pitches.

The offense sputtered again, plating one in the 4th on a Cory Sullivan single and later in the 8th inning on a pinch-hit single from Omir Santos.  Other than that, the bats were relatively quiet.

Francisco Rodriguez turned in a shutout inning, but walked two batters in his time on the bump.

But hey, Billy’s back.  (For now.)

Sheffield released? No, but he asked for an extension [Updated]

Update 4 – 7:19 p.m.: Steve Popper is on top of this.  He just reported that Sheffield first asked for an extension three weeks ago.  Tonight, he “revisited” it.

Update 3 – 7:10 p.m.: Sheffield is in uniform and sitting on the Mets bench as the game gets underway.

Update 2 – 6:58 p.m.: This gets better and better.  Patrick, in the comments, alerted me to the fact that Sheffield asked the Mets for an extension.

David Lennon provides us with an update…

A person familiar with the situation just said that Sheffield asked the Mets for an extension today and they refused. Now at standoff.

I was siding with Sheffield until I heard this.  As Patrick said, it’s a very Brett Favre thing to do.

Update – 6:55 p.m.: Joel Sherman tweets…

A Mets official tells me that "Sheffield has not been released."

Original Post: According to Steve Popper, one player told him that he was told Gary Sheffield had been released.  Brian Costa reports the same story.

Joel Sherman notes that Tim Redding was the anonymous player, if it matters.

At this point, since the Mets already screwed up by pulling him off waivers, this would be the classy thing to do by the Mets.  The team should grant Sheffield his release and let him possibly play elsewhere.

It’s not like the Mets are going anywhere or doing anything.

Lineup for Game 121

The Mets scored eight runs in one inning in the first game of this series.  The Braves responded and did the same thing.  Who know what will happen tonight?

Gary Sheffield was originally in the lineup, but was a late scratch.  According to David Lennon, Sheffield says he’s completely healthy.  Adam Rubin reports that Jerry Manuel said that Sheffield requested a day off.

Here’s the lineup…

1. Angel Pagan – CF
2. Luis Castillo – 2B
3. Daniel Murphy – 1B
4. Jeff Francoeur – RF
5. Cory Sullivan – LF
6. Fernando Tatis – 3B
7. Brian Schneider – C
8. Anderson Hernandez – SS
9. Johan Santana - LHP

Mets release Livan Hernandez to make room for Billy Wagner

The Mets have released Livan Hernandez and activated Billy Wagner, according to Kevin Burkhardt.

Hernandez went 4-1 in his first nine starts with the Mets, going 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA in May.  Since then, he’s gone 3-7 14 starts, now sporting an ERA of 5.47 and a WHIP of 1.59.

ERA and WHIP, by month:

Month	ERA	WHIP
April	6.75	1.453
May	2.70	1.380
June	3.69	1.359
July	7.33	1.889
August	11.30	2.372

Safe to say the magic ran out.

Livan signed a minor-league deal with the Mets in February.  He made $1 million when added to the 40-man roster and could have made another $1 million in performance bonuses.

Another hole in the Mets rotation.  Who’s filling it this time?

Nelson Figueroa?  Tim Redding?  Pat Misch?  Tag-team all three?

Updated – 5:02 p.m.: Bart Hubbuch just tweeted that Tim Redding will take Livan’s spot in the rotation on Saturday.

As if there was any better way to pay homage to the 1969 team, Tim Redding is pitching.

Twitter Poll: Will you still go to Citi Field in 2009?

In an column in the New York Post, Mike Vaccaro writes, in reference to fans still going out to Citi Field, “The remarkable part, in just about every way, is that you may be sabotaging yourselves, and your baseball team, and that part of you that so fiercely  believes that but for the dark cloud permanently hovering above Flushing Bay this could all have been different this year. And will be different next year.”

So I asked my Twitter followers if they will still go out to Citi Field this year.  Here are some responses…

ToneRome1 said: I will go if the tickets are free and beer is at least half price

DonCheech said: Yes.. because I enjoy going to games and i still have tickets for a few more

gmo418 said: Sure, September 6th Krod Bobble head day. Other than that, nope

Gscott1847 said: No because all I have is a Triple A team that reminds me more of the Durham Bulls than a professional baseball team!

benbarbato said: Probably not, unless someone buys for me. Not worth shelling out the $ in hopes they'll have a rare good day.

daICJs said: I'd go cuz I love baseball; but can I get in for free?

harrycalat said: Yep, cuz lots $5-$25 tix in the 400/500s avail on StubHub, plus I still support Johan/Pelf/Murph/Krod & I guess Ollie too.

Mets411Blog said: For the stadium, yes. For the games, no.

maggie162 said: Of course I'm going. Baseball is baseball and the Mets are my team. Plus, with all the whiners gone, the lines will be short

metschick28 said: yes i will. i have tickets i like Citi Field and the wins are still fun. i was there tuesday night and it was alot of fun

dtmfr said: i'll still be going! Have about 7 games left, and until hockey season starts, what other entertainment is there?

dtmfr continued: one other thing - you go for love of the game!

tfc3rid said: I have to, I have Full Season Tickets

TheRealSoxy said: Yes. Because that is where the Mets play and I am a Mets fan.

cutiepie0319k said: yea because i already paid too much money for season tickets not to use them and i'm still a fan regardless.

kdoster said: if I could go to Citi I would still go... This whole Cincinnati thing kinda gets in the way...

rhythmdev9 said: if i was in the tri-sate i'd be there once a week. headed to CHI next weekend, its still baseball and its still my mets

keithmace said: have tickets for sunday but even if I can't sell em not going, don't wanna waste $ @ the field to watch them play

sweetcarolynne said: Yeah I will be going in a couple of weeks! No Rain Please!

Wagner to Putz to K-Rod

Back in April, if you told me the Mets would be sporting Billy Wagner, J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez in the same bullpen in August, I would have danced a jig and bought everyone a round.

Now that the Mets are days away from having this become a reality, I’m barely entertained by the idea.

K-Rod, as of late, has been all over the place.  One day he’s great, the other, not so much.  Putz and Wagner are coming back from long stints on the DL after surgery, so their ability is entirely a crapshoot.

Sitting in 4th place in late August, the idea of these three in the pen is more of a novelty and an audition.

Wagner has already been placed on waivers and Putz is going to try and show the Mets if they should pick up the option on the relief pitcher.

Wagner-to-Putz-to-K-Rod were the things Mets fans dreams were made of before the 2009 season began.  Now, it’s nothing more than an amusing storyline in a dismal season.

Manuel’s Musing

“I want us to pitch well.  Hitting comes and goes.”

-Jerry Manuel on pitching and hitting

Discussion with Kerel Cooper on the additions to Citi Field

Recently, Kerel Cooper of On The Black contacted me for a little Q&A over the new things the Mets have installed in Citi Field.

Here’s the interview…

Thanks again to Kerel for putting this together. Head over to OnTheBlack.com for more great videos about the Mets.