Billy Wagner Blows The All-Star Game
Fact:
Billy Wagner, the Mets’ punk-ass closer, entered the game with two outs, no one on base and the National League holding on to a one-run lead. He left three batters later with the score tied, in a game the American League eventually won, 4-3, in 15 innings at Yankee Stadium.
Billy Wagner was not asked to pitch in the ninth inning, only the eighth. He was asked to retire one hitter, not two, not three, and a left-handed hitter at that. In All-Star Games, nothing goes as planned for Wagner, and it did not again as Tuesday night was about to turn into Wednesday morning.
It’s been a familiar storyline for Wagner, who already had six blown saves (22-for-28) this season. In his last two All-Star appearances, he also was tagged for pivotal runs. Last season at AT&T Park, Wagner served up a two-run homer to the Indians’ Victor Martinez with two outs in the eighth inning of the American League’s 5-4 victory. Wagner didn’t pitch in 2005, but in 2003 at Comiskey Park, he allowed a solo home run to Jason Giambi with two outs in the seventh. The AL also won that year, 7-6.
The veteran closer, tabbed to pitch in the Midsummer Classic at Yankee Stadium despite blowing a whopping six saves in the season’s first half, let another lead slip away last night that led to an eventual 4-3 AL win in 15 marathon innings.
Wagner didn’t waste any time, either, blowing a 3-2 advantage for the National League (who suffered a 4-3, 15-inning loss) in the span of the first two hitters he faced.
After replacing the Giants New York Giants ‘ Brian Wilson with two out and nobody on, Wagner promptly gave up a line-drive single to the Indians’ Grady Sizemore on a 1-1 fastball right over the plate. After Sizemore easily stole second, Wagner gave up a ground-rule RBI double to Evan Longoria of the Rays on a 2-2 slider.
And just like that - and just like far too many ninth innings for the Mets this season - the NL’s hard-fought lead evaporated.
LetsGoMets:
Way to blow the game Lidge! I guess it doesn’t matter to him, not like the Phillies are making it to the World Series anyway.
It’s the above bullshit comment on the post below this one that has me irate this morning. Yeah, LetsGoMets always has some insane Mets logic going on around here and there is no doubt that Brad Lidge got the L today, but it’s the Mets’ closer, Billy Wagner, who blew the game - HE BLEW IT.
LetsGoMets, whatever drugs you are doing. Stop right now and move on to the exact opposite. Uppers? Try downers. Powder? Time for booze. Prescriptions? Time for grass.
Find a way to make some sense to your world.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Uggla cost the NL the game. Three errors (Record in an All Star game) and 0-4 batting.
The All Star game is a JOKE. Winner gets home field advantage in the World Series. Are you kidding me? The point of the game is to give the players a breather mid-way through the season. Managers are put in awkward situation where they can not even use certain players or it’s considered tampering with a rival team.
The team with the best record should have the advantage in the World Series. PERIOD.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:46 am
The only reason I tuned into the game was because it was being held at Yankee stadium. Don’t get me wrong here, I hate the Yankees, but the house that Ruth built is the most historic in the history of modern day sports.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
I hate Billy Wagner as much as the next guy, and don’t believe he should have been an All-Star. But he did not blow the game. He blew a lead, yes. That loss is squarely on Lidge’s shoulders.
July 16th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
He blew the save and was pulled. What are you thinking? He blew this game for the NL - Lidge gave up a sacrifice fly.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Lidge put the winning run on base, allowed him to get into scoring position, and THEN gave up the game winning sacrifice fly. How can you say he didn’t loose this game? F Billy Wagner and his blown save but hey played 7 innings after that. Get your head out of the Phanatic’s ass, and look at the box score.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Theres a bunch of people to blame, if you really look into it.
Uggla, 3 errors, 0-4 hitting, and one of those was a double play with runners on first and third.
Billy Wagner, yes blew the lead in the 8th, but he shouldn’t have been put in the game anyway. Wilson should have been left in the game to finish the inning. Clint Hurdle had no reason to take him out, this isnt an exhibition game anymore. I believe Wagner was put in the game simply to have him pitch in the all star game in the city he plays for. 2 outs in the 8th was the only way this could happen because Lidge would be coming out in the 9th to save it. Poor timing and decision making by changing pitchers at that point.
Corey Hart, he had awful positioning on the game winning sacrifice fly. The ball was over his head as he caught it, which definitely didn’t help him throw it home.
Clint Hurdle, I blame him for the Wagner bit and for having lidge come out in the 15th. he had lidge warm up 6 times and threw close to 100 pitches before having him come in as the last pitcher he had available.
Anyway, the game should have been over in the 11th. McLouth didn’t throw out Navarro, he slid in under the tag. Check out this video at 2:40 http://youtube.com/watch?v=jHtSPMJC2uU
He is tagged in the chest, but his foot is already on the plate, therefore making him safe.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
lidge is NOT to blame, i agree with terry, he threw about 100 pitches and warmed up every inning since the 8th or ninth, it was ridiculous, ridiculous and dangerous, all things considered, i thought lidge did alrite, i think its ironic that the guy that lost the game/inning for lidge was the guy that took burrell’s spot in the all-star game, corey hart had a terrible throw, that ball was like dribbling in to homeplate and was off too, any decent arm would’ve gotten the double play
if lidge warms up regular and pitches the ninth, he gets the save, game over
blame #1 - goes to wagner, who i’ve always said is the biggest choker in the world and am thankful he’s on the mets
blame #2 - in the 10th inning, on the doubleplay that saved rivera, the guy running to second didn’t slide into second to break up the double play, he jus stood there and stopped, if he runs into the second baseman, jus a lil, he throws off the throw enough for the guy to be safe at first, and then the guy at third gets the run, game over
blame #3 - dan uggla - geez, this guy has to be thankful that that game was over, all of a sudden he couldn’t catch the ball (or hit), it was like watching Major League II, twice he had the opportunity to score runs, once with 1 out, and he strikes out, he struck out 4 times!!!
blame #4 - corey hart’s spaghetti arm throw, all of a sudden, i thought i was watching paul fifer tryin to throw the guy out
blame #5 - clint hurdle, for jerkin around brad lidge and tryin to ruin his arm, you beat the phils in the playoffs, do you really have to try to take out their shut shutdown closer too???
July 16th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
“blame #1 - goes to wagner, who i’ve always said is the biggest choker in the world and am thankful he’s on the mets”
Totally agree.