Billy Wagner has made the NL All-Star team for the sixth time in his 13 seasons. Wagner has an ERA of 1.85 and 19 saves in 23 chances.
Marty Noble, of http://www.mlb.com/, reports that it’s the second time in his three seasons with the Mets that Wagner has been named an All-Star.
The Mets have one selection for the first time since 2003, when Armando Benitez, also a closer, was selected.
The Mets have had two, three, six and four representatives in the subsequent four years. Carlos Beltran had been voted to the team in each of his first three seasons with the Mets. David Wright and Jose Reyes had been voted to the teams in 2006 and '07. All three lagged well behind in the fan voting this year.
Wagner, who will turn 37 on July 25, was named to teams in 1999, 2001 and '03 when he pitched for the Astros and in '05, when he was the Phillies' closer. He is the fifth Mets closer named, following Tug McGraw (1972), Jesse Orosco ('83, '84), John Franco ('90) and Benitez (2003). Wagner pitched in the 2007 Midsummer Classic, allowing a two-run home run by Victor Martinez of the Indians in the 5-4 American League victory.
Wagner has had a fine season and is nearly on course statistically to match the 40-save season he produced in 2006, his first season with the Mets.
Opponents have a .184 batting average against him this season, reducing his career figure to .190, the lowest average against any active pitcher.
He began his season pitching 18 innings without allowing an earned run.
When he saved the Mets' 5-3 victory against the Marlins on May 27, Wagner put his career save total at 368 and moved past Jeff Reardon and into sixth place on the all-time saves list. He had 377 through Saturday and needed 13 to tie Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley.
No comments:
Post a Comment