Mets Closer Rips Coaching Staff

New York Mets closer Billy Wagner has been quoted in a New York magazine that he is disappointed with the Mets coaching staff’s lack of knowledge of pitching. Regarding Manager Willie Randolph and Pitching Coach Rick Peterson, Wagner says that “We’ve [the bullpen] been throwing four innings a night – for months! Our pitching coach has no experience talking to a bullpen. He can help you mechanically, but he can’t tell you emotions. He has no idea what it feels like. And neither does Willie. They’re not a lot of help, put it that way.”

Following up on comments made earlier in the year regarding pitchers not knowing their roles in the bullpen, Wagner let it all hang out on the day that the Mets clinched one of the worst collapses in Major League Baseball history. Even though 10 National League clubs used their bullpen more than the Mets, Wagner felt that the amount of innings the clubs non-starters threw was too much.

He also used his time to take a shot at the Shea faithful saying that “If I walk in after a save and this fan’s up there yelling, ‘We love you!’ – yeah, you love me today. I blow a save, ‘We hate you!’ Well, you hate me today.”

Neither Willie Randolph nor Rick Peterson have been reached for comment regarding Wagner’s comments. Wagner finished the season with 34 saves, but did not record one in his last five outings of the season; he is due $10,500,000 in each of the next two seasons.