Loudburst

Wags Wages War, Arlen Articulates Awfully

BILLY WAGNER HAD 43 MILLION good reasons to take the high road in yesterday's news conference introducing him to the New York media: He should have talked about how excited he was to be a Met, expressed regret that things didn't work out in Philadelphia, shut his pie hole, and moved on. Instead, he pulled the pin on a couple of hand grenades and lobbed them right into the front office at Citizens Bank Park. Likewise, one of my U.S. senators, Arlen Specter, had quite enough on his plate before weighing in on, of all things, the Terrell Owens situation. Perhaps Sen. Specter's staff needs to remind him that he chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has in front of it the little task of conducting hearings on a nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court. Still, it's prudent to examine the content of each man's allegations and determine whether they're true. After all, constructive criticism can come from any source.

Not content with reveling in a surprisingly lucrative contract, Wagner went negative at Shea Stadium. He accused the Phillies of not being committed to winning and said that new GM Pat Gillick has not been around the team long enough to have a plan for improving the pitching staff -- an interesting thought, considering Wagner said just about precisely the opposite after meeting with Gillick a few weeks ago. Regardless, I don't think the Phils' problem is about commitment -- I think they just don't know how to win. Ed Wade was in way over his head, and in bringing aboard Gillick, David Montgomery at least has an operations guy who has a clue. Yes, the club desperately needs to improve the pitching situation, but Wagner's invective was petulant and petty, a reflection of nothing more, perhaps, than the Louisville Slugger-sized chip on the previously damaged shoulder of a mid-30s hurler whose demand for four years was deemed, not unreasonably, as an unnecessary risk by the Phillies. Bob Ford's spot-on take in today's Inquirer:

... Wagner's departure has largely been acknowledged with a shrug. If the Mets want to guarantee $43 million to a 34-year-old reliever, that's their picnic. Hope they enjoy him as much as they enjoyed Carlos Beltran last season.

As for Snarlin' Arlen, his recent blathering about the Eagles violating anti-trust law is laughable. I'm no lawyer, but I know how to read, and what yesterday's papers said was that most labor lawyers thought Specter didn't know what he was talking about. More than that, though, I'm left wondering why on earth he felt he needed to say anything in the first place. It certainly won't win him any points in Philadelphia, where T.O. is about as popular as a gay priest in the Vatican. And if Specter is courting the labor vote, he picked an odd time to do it. Really, if he wants to spout off on things that he doesn't know much about, the Senator should start a blog or something.

Comments

[Oisin]

Perhaps I have rose-tinted glasses on, but I don't remember this kind of nasty dig being thrown at Houston when we traded for him.

I'm glad I didn't see Wagner's press conference on the TV. We wouldn't have one left if I had. The comments were nasty, snide and have changed my opinion of the man irrevocably. Pyschotic, driven competitors I can take. Babbies who throw toys out of the pram when they've been given what they want can go to hell.

[J. Weitzel]

You nailed it, brother. Great article.

[Tom Durso]

Oisin, man, you said it.

Thanks, Jason.

[Oisin]

Well, at least with this final burst by Wagner, there'll be no lingering 'wish he'd come back' feelings. Unlike say, Scott Rolen, who still holds a special place in my heart.

'Course, that could just be me.

Back to looking at pat's simmering stovetop.

[ae]

so i guess we won't be getting the gift blown saves that he gave to the astros, huh?

[Tom Goodman]

As a charter member of the anti-Billy Wagner club I was not in the least surprised by Wagner's cheap shots because, like the man, they were short on logic and long on pettiness. The Phils "aren't committed to winning"? That is stock criticism no. 2 from recently departed players, surpassed only by "I want a ring before I retire". As a matter of fact, the Phils are desperately trying to put a winner on the field, but years of incompetent management have stalled the effort. Never mistake inadequacy for insincerity, Billy.

What Billy wanted from day one he got: money. Next on his list was a one-way ticket out of Philadelphia for just about anywhere else that would throw enough money and a long-term deal at him. Heck, he would have probably considered Kansas City if they'd have offered him a guranteed five year deal at $50 million.

I was also struck by Jim Salisbury's comment in this morning's paper that Wagner would be missed if for no other reason than he was always "good copy". Wagner's candor was lauded by many, including some in the blogosphere. His willingness to shake up an admittedly moribund clubhouse was seen as a virtue. But what Billy was doing all along was telling anyone with a PDA or pen that as far as he was concerned he was outta' here by by mid-summer. By that point he was pitching for his next contract, not his teammates. Maybe the Mets should remember that when he comes into the clubhouse and says they have no chance.

[gr]

Goodsy, you're not just a member, you're the president.

[Tom Goodman]

gr: If nominated, I will run. If elected, I will serve.

[Oisin]

The thought did occur to me that if the mets start to stink up the joint, at least he won't have to move house for his next team. Just hope any gloating mets fans out there bear that in mind.

[George S]

I've always been one of BW's supporters, and I don't begrudge him his desire to get as much $$ as he can get, but when you start trashing your former team for no discernible reason, you lose me.
As far as I can tell, the Phillies under both Wade and Gillick, have done nothing but deal with Wagner in good faith and have tried to put a winner on the field in recent years, so Wagner's remarks are uncalled for and stupid. If he thought the Phillies weren't committed to winning because they wouldn't commit to giving him $45 mil, then he is delusional.
And this season or next, when Glavine and Martinez finally hit the wall, BW will be moaning about a lack of pitching just like he did here.

[Mike]

Maybe someone should send Arlen Specter this link: http://www.profootballtalk.com/TOdecision.mht

[Jer]

Nice piece, Tom. Stuck the landing!

[Brian]

Tom - Just reread this and wow. This should be required reading for all Mets fans. In fact I passed it on to our guy (Always Amazin) when he asked about Wagner's chirpiness.

[Tom Durso]

Thanks, Brian!

[Tom Durso]

Thanks, Brian!