Yuku free message boards

My favorite parts in bold


Billy Wagner had nothing to do with the outcome of the Mets' game Thursday. He had nothing to do with their questionable base-running or inept offense, their squandering of the best start of Mike Pelfrey's young career or their third loss in four games to the last-place Washington Nationals.



Barton Silverman/The New York Times
José Reyes being tagged out by Washington's Cristian Guzmán after he tried to take an extra base on a bunt by Luis Castillo.
Which seemed to be Wagner's point as he left his locker in a huff after the Mets' 1-0 loss, lashing out in a way that could create tension in the clubhouse of a team still struggling to make fans forget last season's collapse. Spicing his remarks with expletives, Wagner wondered aloud why reporters were asking him questions, since he did not pitch, and not instead questioning players who did play and whose lockers were across the room.

"I get it," Wagner said. "They're gone."

The they, from the direction of Wagner's angry gesture, seemed to be Carlos Beltrán, Luis Castillo and, most particularly, Carlos Delgado. Beltrán and Castillo had indeed spoken to reporters before departing, but Delgado, who lined into a game-ending double play, had dressed and left without doing so. Wagner, it was clear, was suggesting that some Mets players are accountable, and others are not.

On its own, the Mets' uninspired play - they finished this seven-game homestand against last-place teams with a 3-4 record - had already created enough uncomfortable questions for them as they head to the Bronx for this weekend's interleague series with the Yankees. But now they have Wagner's pointed comments to deal with as well, and the repercussions from those will not be known until the clubhouse doors open Friday afternoon.

The 36-year-old Wagner has never shied away from saying something he felt like saying. Two weeks ago, after an embarrassing loss to Pittsburgh, Wagner criticized Oliver Pérez for not battling to stay in the game and aid a tired bullpen. In that case, Wagner's remarks were construed as coming from someone speaking up for his fellow relievers and as an older member of the team calling out someone who was younger and, by nature, less likely to respond in kind. But by apparently criticizing the 35-year-old Delgado, Wagner is going after a veteran with a good deal of major league accomplishments, and Delgado may have something pointed to say in return.

All of this comes at a time when more jeers are being directed toward Manager Willie Randolph, who was booed in the eighth while returning to the dugout after a pitching change, and with a growing sense of unease surrounding the team. Since last May 29, when the Mets defeated San Francisco to improve their record to 33-17, they have gone 75-76, nearly an entire season of games. At 20-19, they are a .500 team now, just as they were a .500 team for much of 2007.

"We've been hot then cold, hot then cold," David Wright said. "We have to get hot and stay hot for a little while to prove to ourselves, to get that winning attitude and swagger."

Pelfrey did his part, holding the Nationals hitless through six innings before Aaron Boone hit a leadoff single to right in the seventh. He lost his shutout in the eighth when catcher Jesús Flores doubled and later scored on Felipe López's sacrifice fly. The Nationals are one of the lowest-scoring teams in the National League, but one run was enough to beat the Mets.

"You see the Washington Nationals, you don't expect to lose three out of four games," Moises Alou said.

The Mets thought their offense had taken strides during a weekend series against Cincinnati. But in the last two days, they were overmatched by Tim Redding and Jason Bergmann, who was recalled from the minors to make his first start in more than a month Thursday.

And on the bases, the Mets did no better. Castillo and Wright failed to run hard on Wright's two-out fly ball in the third inning. When right fielder Austin Kearns dropped it, Castillo who had been on first and was jogging, was able to make it only to third. And Wright was not able to make it to second.

In the eighth, José Reyes reached on a swinging bunt, took second on Castillo's sacrifice and, upon seeing no one covering third, tried to take an extra base. But the speedy shortstop Cristian Guzmán quickly reacted, giving Boone a target as he raced toward third and Reyes ran up behind him. Guzmán caught the throw, reached back and tagged Reyes a few feet from the bag.

"It was my first completion of my career," Boone said facetiously. "That was awesome."

In the ninth, with Beltrán on third base and one out, the Mets signaled to Beltrán to run on contact. Then, in Randolph's words, "The worst thing that could happen happened." Delgado lined out to Boone, while Beltrán strayed far off the bag and was doubled up for the final out.

"Game over," Beltrán said.

As Beltrán was finishing his interview, Wagner appeared at his locker, lips pursed, and offered his first comments of the day.

"Who knows?" Wagner said. "Who knows what we need?"


Too funny

One day ol' Wags is going to realize he's more of the problem than the solution. He's your textbook clubhouse cancer. I would suggest trading him for a big bat and find someone else to close.