It's gone from bad to worse for the New York Mets. The bad? Losing three out of four to the Washington Nationals, wasting two great outings from their starting pitching in the process. Worse? Billy Wagner tearing his teammates a new one for ducking the media after their latest debacle, a 1-0 loss where they couldn't get Mike Pelfrey a win after he no-hit the Nats for six innings.Wagner looked over toward the area of first baseman Carlos Delgado's locker and blurted: "Someone tell me why the (expletive) you're talking to the closer. I didn't even play. They're over there, not being interviewed. ... I got it. They're gone. (Expletive) shocker."There once was a time where Paul Lo Duca complained about the media going to the same three or four guys after ballgames. Problem was that Lo Duca's message was blurred by the fact that he made a comment about the rest of the team being able to "speak english", causing a small racial controversy. Now with these comments by Wagner, we know that these issues within the clubhouse have nothing to do with race ... it has everything do to with players not making themselves accountable for this season which seems to be spiraling out of control.
And while you may dismiss this as Billy being Billy again, maybe Billy needs to be Billy and start causing some sort of commotion and get some things aired out. The Mets are playing some terrible baseball lately (with that roster, one game over .500 does qualify as terrible), and somebody has got to do (or say) something. It doesn't seem to be their manager Willie Randolph, who when we last saw him, was standing in the dugout like a statue while one of his best hitters (Moises Alou) was ejected from the ball game on Wednesday night. The fact that it's the reliever who's pitched all of 15 and 2/3's innings that's the one trying to light a fire in Flushing should tell you something about the direction this team is headed (hint: not up.)
Bad Blood Between Teammates
Mets closer Billy Wagner, left, isn't afraid to point a finger when the going gets tough. After a loss against the Nationals, Wagner looked in the direction of Carlos Delgado's locker and lashed out with profanities. Click through to see some of the terrible teammates in sports history.
AP (2)
Earlier this month, new Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh had a very rough experience during his first minicamps with the team. Nearly all 85 players in Baltimore camp were involved in a brawl after two tackles exchanged punches.
Rob Carr, AP
After Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Chad Johnson, left, demanded to be traded in April, teammate T.J. Houshmandzadeh, right, said there could be internal problems if Johnson isn't dealt.
AP
Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, right, raised some eyebrows when he called out teammate Brandon Marshall, left, in April after the star receiver popped up in the news for the wrong reasons, including a DUI charge.
Getty Images (2)
Terrell Owens verbally stabbed quarterback Jeff Garcia in the back several times with the 49ers. Immediately after breaking off ties to San Francisco, Owens wrongly insinuated that Garcia was homosexual in an interview for Playboy magazine.
Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images
Owens moved on to the Eagles, but brought with him his penchant for trashing his quarterback. His feud with Donovan McNabb, left, divided the team, and Owens later intensified their clash by ripping him in a tell-all book entitled "T.O."
Jamie Squire, Getty Images
Roush Fenway Racing took a twisted turn when Carl Edwards, right, grabbed teammate Matt Kenseth by the shoulders and faked a punch after a race last October in Martinsville.
Todd Warshaw, Getty Images
Even though they've fought three times already, neither Brendan Haywood, left, and Etan Thomas of the Wizards has indicated their beef is over. Both players have received benchings and suspensions as a result.
Mitchell Layton, NBAE via Getty Images
Shaquille O'Neal, left, and Kobe Bryant presented a big brother-little brother image before their mutual dislike spewed publicly. They eventually made peace after O'Neal was traded off the team.
David S. Sherman, NBAE via Getty Images
Tonya Harding, right, forever tarnished her reputation when her accomplice took a club to Nancy Kerrigan's knee when they were competing for berths on the U.S. Olympic figure skating team. The two refused to speak to each other even in passing.
Pascal Rondeau, Getty Images
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-15-2008 @ 8:54PM
pigskin said...
go mets
Reply
5-15-2008 @ 9:38PM
LoveBasball said...
Way to go Billy!!! We miss you in H-town!!!
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5-15-2008 @ 9:47PM
NBA Phenom05 said...
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ OUT the door
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5-15-2008 @ 10:16PM
Joel said...
Time has come to send Willie packing
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5-15-2008 @ 10:22PM
Bob said...
Big money does not equate to a guaranteed winning team! Ask the Yankees. It's apparent the team hasn't recovered from last season collapse, and they aren't playing/jelling with what they bought and traded for.
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5-15-2008 @ 10:51PM
AtTheWall said...
Ill just be so happy when Omar Willie Heilman are gone. End the torment
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5-15-2008 @ 11:15PM
Bronx Tale said...
Get rid of Randolph NOW. Wake Reyes up. The Mets are an embarresment.
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5-15-2008 @ 11:19PM
George B Vieto said...
Billy Wagner is just doing his job by ripping his teammates in the press so they can get mad at themselves and play baseball the right way and not sleep walking.
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5-15-2008 @ 11:53PM
dj said...
first off how can anybody say its omar minyay's fault. Omar has been nothing but a great gm. Willie on the other hand just makes really dumb moves like putting heilman in when we have a lead. Heilman has to go along with willie. But Omar has done nothing wrong since he's been here. He's only done great things. like gettin beltran n johan n schneider n even better ryan church
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5-16-2008 @ 12:08AM
Harry said...
Get Real Met Players
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5-16-2008 @ 12:34AM
AtTheWall said...
He had a right to voice his opinion but he may have created more problems with some of his teammates by showing them up even though I believe what he said was right.
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5-16-2008 @ 1:17AM
jorge said...
Wagner is a rat! He sucked as a team mate in Philly and he wore out his welcome in Houston -- I'm glad the Mets have him -- He'll always be a distraction. Perhaps, he should shut his mouth and grow up. We are the team to beat and you know who I'm a talkin about!
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5-16-2008 @ 1:17AM
vish731 said...
Billy said nothing but the truth. The mets have been playing awful baseball. Mets cannot come up with a hit when they need it. Carlos Delgado seems to be getting worse and dragging the team down with him. Mets need to get rid of him or send him to the minors for a while.
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5-16-2008 @ 5:52AM
truth said...
aol blog sucks
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5-16-2008 @ 7:20AM
Jonathan Wilkins said...
I would like to see them add some youth, the team seems to be playing in go slow mode...
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5-16-2008 @ 7:48AM
vinny bop said...
they better get off there dead ass's and start playing some baseball or thy will end up in last place, which may be where they belong
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5-16-2008 @ 8:30AM
Len Rosenkrantz said...
It starts at the top and until Willie the zombie Randolph is gone there will be no fire in their stomachs. The Met's are just walking through the motions of playing baseball. Bring back davie Johnson!!!
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5-16-2008 @ 8:59AM
roy said...
trade delgado and heilman for nady and let him play first base........
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5-16-2008 @ 9:37AM
Alan Friedman said...
It's about time that someone say something. Unless things radically change.....another season will be lost for this organization.
There are far too many games where this team seems tired and sluggish. Unfortunately, the bottom line is that the manager must be held accountable. Willie may be a nice guy...but so was Bud Harrelson!
Ho Jo also seems to be low keyed....Gary Carter may be a bit to media hungry himself.
Time for the Wilpon's to make an offer to the best man for the job. An offer that he can't refuse.
KEITH HERNANDEZ WOULD BE A GREAT FIELD MANAGER AND WAS ALWAYS GOOD WITH THE MEDIA...
Don't know if he would want it but I would hire him in a minute!
LET'S GO METS!
Reply
5-16-2008 @ 10:15AM
UMBulldogs said...
Billy Wagner just can't point fingers at players that didn't do good in the games. It wasn't just Carlos Delgado fault for not getting a run in, it was every player in the Mets team fault including Wagner.
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