The Pressure Cooker

The tension was palpable in the clubhouse. Another frustrating loss. Jobs on the line.

And Billy Wagner was being asked to sum it all up - again. Wagner hadn't pitched in the game, but he was left to explain what was wrong with the Mets. And he had enough.

"Can somebody tell me why the (bleep) the closer is being interviewed and I didn't even play?" Wagner said, his voice rising. He paused and waved his hand in the direction of the lockers of Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran. "Why they're over there not being interviewed. Oh, I got it. They're gone. (Bleeping) shocker."

With that Wagner stalked out of the room. While a similar episode tagged Paul Lo Duca as a racist last year when he said, "Other guys in this room speak English," this was not a racial split as much as it was a divide between the players who are held accountable and those who bolt. Beltran did speak after the game, something that Wagner probably could not see. But Delgado was gone quickly - and not the only one.

Perhaps the most frustrating thing for the players who talk every day - Wagner, David Wright and a handful of others - is that the players who are struggling the most are the ones who don't often speak about it.

Comments

[Joe D]

WOW! The writing is on the wall.. The divide inside this clubhouse was cleverly covered up last season by Omar and Willie. But now it's gotten as vast as the San Andreas Fault. Willie might be the first one to fall into the crack, but Omar can't be too far behind. My gut tells me that neither will step foot onto Citi Field next spring. It's the end of the world as we know it!

[JRJ]

Fortunately the subway series is here and I think something will happen after this weekend. Either the Mets will take at least 2 out of 3 and they'll all be on the same page - or they'll lose 2 out of 3 and heads will roll Monday.
http://sportslocker.blogspot.com/

[GravediggerHebner]

Wagner always seems to be right when he makes a public point, yet the Phillies were more than happy to see him go. I guess the truth hurts whatever city you play in.

The Mets seem to be filled with a bunch of players who are happy to put in their time at the park, punch the clock, pick up their check and go home unconcerned with the result, although I can't dwell on Wright and Castillo jogging on the bases during a 'routine' fly ball yesterday as almost every major leaguer does that.

Traditionally I like to wait until Memorial Day to judge my favorite team. If by then the Mets are still a .500 lackadaisical team then a change will need to be made, and you can't fire the players despite the fact they may deserve it.

The Mets have 16 games remaining in May. Anything less than 10-6 and I think the team has a new manager June 1.