2005 OTD: Mets signs Billy Wagner

In 2005, Mets revived and ended the season with a record of 83-79 under a new manager. Willie Randolph (They became 71-91 in 2004 Art How). Despite the significant performance gains, Mets had no blockade.

Year 2005, Braden Looper The team was closer. The looper stats season was modest (4-7, 3.94 ERA, 28 saves, 8 blow saves, 59.1 IP, 27 K). The 2004 Looper line was similar to the Mets (2-5, 2.70 ERA, 29 saves, 5 blow saves, 83.1 IP, 60 K).

After spending the 2005 season with Phillies Billy Wagner I became a free agent. He made 38 saves in 2005, only 3 saves. Wagner was Philly in 2004 and before that he spent nine seasons at the Houston Astros, scoring 225 saves and averaging 12.4 K / 9.

Wagner seemed to fit Mets, who signed the rescuer on November 28, 2005 for $ 42 million for four years. Wagner had 40 saves in 2006 and it was a very good year. He wasn’t good in the postseason. He made three saves, but his ERA after the season was 10.40.

Wagner entered the mixed season in 2007, with good performance in the first half (17 out of 18 saves) and low effectiveness in the second half (13 out of 17 saves). He blew the key in a series that Phillies wiped out on his way to the division championship in Game 4 of an important series against Phillies in Philadelphia in August.

Wagner was an all-star in 2008, recording 27 saves during the season ending prematurely due to injury.

He missed almost all of the 2009 season. Tommy John Surgery in the second half of the 2008 season. In almost the full season of three years as Met, Wagner recorded 101 saves, 5-5 and 2.37 ERA. During his career at Mets, Wagner defeated 230 batters with 189.2 IP (10.9 K / 9).

Wagner had a great moment as Met, but what stood out to me was his performance with the Yankees on May 19, 2006. The game was a back-and-forth battle and was drawn nine times.Wagner takes the mound, hits the side, excites the crowd, and Mets David Light‘s walk off Mariano Rivera..

You can see Wagner’s innings at the 1:30 mark in the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KFMy-G8TjY

Wagner finished his career at the Braves in 2010, recording 37 saves, including his 400th career. He finished with 422 saves.

It’s a little confusing that Wagner hasn’t received more consideration about the Hall of Fame. Wagner accounts for 31.7% of the votes cast, well below the 75% required for guidance. Wagner’s 422 saves are the sixth in history and the second by left-handed players (John Franco 424).

Wagner’s 101 saved when Met came in sixth on the team’s list (Franco leads with 276). Wagner spends his post-baseball time in his home state of Virginia, coaching baseball at Albemarie’s Mirror School.