Wagner's Year Finished; Met Career May Be, Too

Wagner's Year Finished; Met Career May Be, Too
New York Times


"Four months ago, after a numbing 1-0 Mets loss to Washington, Billy Wagner lashed out in the clubhouse at teammates who, in his mind, had been too quick to depart after the game.

In his expletive-laced comments, Wagner did not cite anyone by name. But he seemed, by the direction of his gestures, to be singling out the empty locker of Carlos Delgado, who had been playing dismally and who had indeed dressed and left without speaking to reporters. It was an emblematic moment of what was shaping up as a sour season and a month later, with the Mets still playing lackluster baseball, Willie Randolph was out as the manager.

A lot has happened to the Mets since then, and to Delgado and Wagner, and little of it could have been foreseen. Under Jerry Manuel, the Mets are now atop the National League East, trying to hold off Philadelphia, the team that embarrassed them in 2007. Delgado has dramatically rebounded to become the team's most formidable hitter and a somewhat improbable candidate for National League Most Valuable Player honors. In his third season with the Mets, he is also finally assuming a more active role as a team spokesman and seems certain to be back with the club in 2009.

But Wagner, a 37-year-old closer, has probably thrown his final pitch as a Met, and perhaps as a major leaguer. The Mets announced Monday that Wagner would need season-ending reconstructive surgery on his left elbow to repair his medial collateral ligament and flexor pronator muscle. With one season left on Wagner's four-year, $43 million deal with the Mets, and with the recovery period expected to last a full year, the Mets will now move on without him.

In Wagner's absence, the Mets have gone 22-10 by employing an ever-increasing hodgepodge of relievers. Still, despite his struggles this season - his seven blown saves were already a career high - Wagner was clearly the team's best reliever, and Monday's announcement made the Mets' postseason quest a little more precarious."


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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/sports/baseball/09mets.html?_r=1&ref=baseball&oref=slogin

Lester helps Sox zero in on the Rays
Boston Globe

"His face, underneath its cool exterior, broke enough for a muted celebration. Standing by the dugout railing, watching the other Jon finish up what he had started, Jon Lester accepted momentary congratulations, then closed again.

Lester, of course, is not one for much outward emotion. Not one for self-promotion or major expressions of excitement or joy. Unlike, say, Jonathan Papelbon, who had just closed out another stellar performance from his starter.

But, no matter how calm Lester is, there is one undeniable fact. He can dominate.

And he did last night. Though it wasn't quite his no-hitter or his nine-inning shutout in Yankee Stadium, it was a stellar performance in a game the Sox needed to have. Because there's not much better than keeping a down team down. And coming into this se ries in Fenway Park, that's exactly where the Rays seemed to be, a theme that continued with last night's 3-0 loss to Lester.

"It was important, I think a little bit more important than a normal start," Lester said. "Obviously they're ahead of us right now, and we're trying to get back in first place. It was a good atmosphere tonight in the ballpark. It almost felt like we're in the playoffs."

That's where they're headed, if this was any indication. No matter that the Rays had lost all six games in Boston this season, and that they had come into Fenway Park carting a three-game losing streak, they still hold the top spot in the division.

That hold is now in jeopardy.

With the Sox taking the first game of the series, Tampa Bay's lead in the American League East is down to a half-game - a single game in the loss column. For that, the Sox can thank Lester, who outdueled Edwin Jackson with 119 scintillating pitches that left the Rays shut out and hurting.

"I thought all his stuff was good," said manager Terry Francona. "Two-seamer. Had some explosion on his fastball. Cutter. Again, when you start throwing 94, 95 with some movement on both sides, then you throw a breaking ball, give you a little different look. He's got a lot of ways to expand the plate."

He looked strong, as he has all year. He looked ready. And the Rays didn't look to have much of a chance. Over 7 2/3 innings, Lester allowed just six hits - two of which came in the eighth and led to his departure - and three walks. (And one of those hits, off the bat of Jason Bartlett, easily could have been ruled an error on Dustin Pedroia.) He struck out nine and watched just two runners get as far as third base, as he improved his record at Fenway Park to 9-1 with a 2.66 ERA."



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