Stokes vs. Wagner

"He's [Billy Wagner] nobody to me," an angry Stokes told The Post yesterday.

Good for Stokes. Wagner's various comments in the media this week were pretty douchey, especially for a guy making $10.5 million this year to rehab. Let the clubhouse fighting begin.

Thanks to Pat Andriola for the link.

4 months ago James Kannengieser 27 comments 0 recs |

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"Know your place, old man"

You mess with Socks!, you mess with me.

You’d think at 38, he’d finally realize how not to throw his teammates under the bus. I won’t miss this shmuck at all. He’s said some stupid things over the years.

I guess that’s what happens when you spend most of your time fraternizing with livestock.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jul 18, 2009 12:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I didn't have a problem with this quote for the following reasons:

1) Stokes never pitches.
2) The Mets have been downplaying Wagner’s rehab all season.
3) It facilitates due criticism of the Mets organization and Jerry Manuel.

by All Shook Down on Jul 18, 2009 12:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

is that in so many words Wagner called Stokes a mop-up guy (which he basically is, whatever). As a teammate you don’t come out and specifically say something like that. Wagner is an arrogant prick who has made a habit of publicly putting down or calling out teammates and I don’t care for that.

by James Kannengieser on Jul 18, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This

You should expect better from a veteran making $10.5 million a year. This is not the first time this has happened and there is no need for anything he ever says.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jul 18, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I mean you're probably right.

But if say on MetsBlog, Cerrone chided Boron, calling him his fifth-string blogger beeyotch. Cerrone wouldn’t be wrong. It’d come off as mean-spirited, but it’d be hella entertaining.

I feel the same way about this situation. I couldn’t care less about the principals involved and it gives me fuel for Omar criticism. See what happens when you sink money and years into aged players and RELIEF PITCHING!

by All Shook Down on Jul 18, 2009 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Slippery slope Will

I’m all for Omar criticism (believe me, I’ve been secretly spearheading fiyahminayah.com, in due time) but I don’t want to see a dude like Wagner sit out a year and at the same time have massively negative words to say about the bullpen. STFU billy, enjoy your absurd paycheck and do whatever it takes to make it back to the big club. Boron is another story. Opinion: Do opinions really opine?

by James Kannengieser on Jul 19, 2009 4:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Opinion: Opine?

…i didn’t know that opine and opinion were related…i always thought that when you opined it was like you were in a forest or something…you learn something new every day thanks to JamesK for email…

by All Shook Down on Jul 19, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But seriously

I suppose you’re right. And Wagner is responsible for the never-ending discussion about the Mets’ lack of leadership. The whole, “Let me guess, they’re gone. F*ckin’ shocker!” tirade fueled the “Mets have a toxic clubhouse” storyline. The Mets aren’t going to win because Carlos Delgado didn’t stick around for Joel Sherman’s Q&A conducted with a pencil in his ear and the racing form in his back pocket!

by All Shook Down on Jul 19, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think this was Wagner's subtle critique of the management.

King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president

by Sam Page on Jul 18, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh definitely not.

But Billy Wagner is a breathing example of the Omar Minaya GM tenure.

by All Shook Down on Jul 18, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He doesn't care about the organization anyway.

All he cares about is Fred Wilpon (from his mouth). I hope his arm falls off after we get the Draft Picks.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jul 18, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure we'll get draft picks, as it's based on production the last two years, and he has no production so far this year.

We might be better off picking up his option and trading him, but only if he is shown to be effective.

by twon8 on Jul 18, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't risk it. We don't need to get stuck with an $8 million set-up guy with a bad attitude coming off Tommy John.

He is projected to be a Type A. Hopefully that sticks

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jul 18, 2009 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But should he be offered arbitration?

I think he’ll likely get more via that route than the open market and there is a good chance he’d accept.

by twon8 on Jul 19, 2009 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't think that his last move would be a money play

He knows he’s not closing here so I would think he’d take an opportunity in Tampa or something where he could close, even if it cost him a couple million. It will probably be his last season and he’s an arrogant sucker so I don’t see him taking a back seat to Frankie no matter what.

I’m sure they’ll speak with him and figure out whether he’d accept or not.

Personally, I highly doubt he would.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jul 19, 2009 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he is offered arby

I believe he can only get a very small decrease in salary if he accepts. So he would probably still make at least 6 million or whatever, if not more through arb. I doubt he would make that on the open market. It is risky. On another note, just since the Mets are so horrible, it would be neat if we could grad a type A guy and keep our 1st pick, huh? Maybe even take a run at Holliday if he comes at a discount. I wouldn’t mind playing him in RF, possibly resigning Sheff (if he isn’t looking for a lot of money), and letting Fernando start the year at AAA again, and be the first reinforcement for the outfield. Then, for better or worse the rotation for 2010 should be locked in at Johan, Pelf, Maine, Perez, Niese. If we would have a middle of the order core of Beltran, Wright, Holliday, Sheff, with Reyes and Castillo up top, you can deal with a Murphy/Evans platoon in the 7 spot and a Schneider/Santos type platoon in the 8 spot.

As bad as things are, the Mets are still poised to reload and come back hard for 2010.

"It's like the old phrase goes.....The balls in your court now Mr.Church, so you take that ball, you dribble it up the court and....................................... get a layup"
- Keith Hernandez

by nrmax88 on Jul 19, 2009 5:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Arbitration

“I believe he can only get a very small decrease in salary if he accepts.”

This is only true for players who are not yet eligible for free agency. Players with six years of service time or more have no such restrictions on salary determined via arbitration.

by Eric Simon on Jul 19, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They wouldn't even offer Luis Ayala arbitration and he was a friggin' Type B.

by All Shook Down on Jul 19, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

After the way he pitched for us, Omar was probably terrified he'd accept.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Jul 19, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You could always cut him the way he did Duaner Sanchez

It was worth the gamble considering the Mets first draft picks was number 72 this season. The Mets are better served flexing their financial might taking these kind of gambles as opposed to paying premium dollars for relief pitching and veteran bench players.

by All Shook Down on Jul 19, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs