Last night Billy Wagner picked up his 30th save of the season and finished his 50th game of the season, activating his 2011 option worth $6.5MM. However, the closer reiterated his desire to call it a career to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Wagner made his intentions clear once again this afternoon, writes David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“I’m retiring,” the 38-year-old lefty said to O'Brien. “I don’t know how to say it in a politically correct way, that anybody’s going to believe me.
Wagner's 2010 totals suggest that he still has plenty of baseball left in him. The lefty has a 1.68 ERA with 12.9 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9.
As Tim Dierkes recently pointed out, a guaranteed $6.5MM wouldn't mean a great deal to Wagner as he would make at least that much on the open market anyway. It also doesn't sound like Wagner, who has 415 career saves, is sweating the opportunity to eclipse John Franco's 424 saves to have the fourth most all-time. Back in April, Billy the Kid said that he wasn't concerned with the mark.
I know it’s a forgone conclusion, but I really really hope that he doesn’t retire.
Me too! He’s always been one of my favorite closers since he was with Houston. He always had electric stuff, and he always was a lot of fun to watch pitch. He still is a great pitcher too, and when he retires I’ll miss him.
But whatever happens, future hall of famer.
Definitely. Hope to see him in the postseason so he can have one last taste before he and Bobby Cox ride off into the sunset.
Really cause Lee Smith and John Franco deserve to be in there before Wagner Does. I think the only 2 songs, closers will be singing to the HOF are Hells Bells and Enter The Sandman.
Franco is eligible this year and he will get in at least before Wagner is eligible. Smith should definitely be in as well. But the point is Wagner will eventually get in.
also, I didn’t see your edit at first but let me say this, living in New York and going to a ton of Yankee games this might sound a little bit bias but listen, Enter Sandman is the best entry song for a closer EVER!
Billy Wagner actually used Enter Sandman before Mariano did and still uses it.
I am a little concerned with Wagner and his respectability for baseball. I mean as a kid groing up baseball was life and life was baseball. But most importantly it was fun in every aspect. Wagner never seems to have that “Fun” part down. Ya he has done great things with 415 saves but you can’t tell me one ball player that doesn’t wan’t his name in the books. Baseball doesn’t seem to give him the thrill anymore and if he doesn’t want to play, noone should make him. Best of wishes for Wags.
Well hes 5th all time…thats still in the books and that is still very good.
He’ almost 40 years old. There’s something to be said for going out on top. A lot of people retire from jobs they love, jobs they hate, jobs they don’t care much about either way-because there are other things they want to do.Greg Maddux did the same thing; Mike Mussina did too. They wanted to be able to see their own kids play ball. I’m a recent empty nester-you don’t get that time back. I applaud Wagner and his decision.
He’ll pull a Favre
Not even Wagner is that indescisive.
Oh god I hope not. One FavRAH is enough in sports.
Another Wagner quote from the article:
“Until I don’t show up next year, nobody’s going to believe me. Brett Favre’s f—ed it up for everybody.”
He still has plenty left in the tank. Maybe Chipper can talk him out of it over the fallwinter while they are trying to shoot Bambi.
yeah wagner is pretty great, and he should pitch next year. the story of how he throws lefty is great, wasnt it that he was hurt and just started chucking a baseball at a barn lefty until he got it right? thats pretty amazing since he was throwing 100mph. one memory i will always have of him though is mike lowell homering off of him in a game in philly for his 3rd of the night on a 101mph fastball. anyways i think he could easily get to 500 if he pitches the next 2 years.
gotta love wagner. although we all hate eachother, i think mets, phillies, and braves fans can agree that he did wonders for all of our teams. but damn, seeing him put up this type of season in atlanta while k-rod is nursing the hand it took him to beat up a senior citizen? well, thats just what being a mets fan is all about…..):