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Billy Wagner Opens His Mouth

Billy Wagner had some choice things to say on Wednesday about his status with the Mets for the rest of this season.

Wagner, who is rehabbing from Tommy John's surgery, is expected to return to the Mets bullpen by late August, but the vocal lefty is in no hurry.

Wagner, who was interviewed by New York Post writer Mark Hale , didn't sound optimistic that he would have a big role on the team when he returns. "No. Not at all. I can't see it. I think that would be foolhardy to ever insinuate something like that," Wagner said in reference to the possiblity of pitching late in games. "I think what I would be is a Brain Stokes-type of player."

You have to appreciate Wagner's honesty here. He is right; if he should return to the Mets this season, he will likely be reduced to lefty-lefty matchup, and maybe, maybe, seventh inning duty, that is if J.J. Putz returns at the same time to reclaim his job as K-Rod's set up man.

However, some other comments that Wagner have quite interesting implications.

"I'm not killing myself to get back for them ... I want to get back because of Fred Wilpon and that's it."

Who is the "THEM" that Wagner refers? Is it his teammates? Is it Jerry Manuel? Omar Minaya? Wagner has developed a reputation as a divisive teammate; ask Pat Burrell about their days together with the Phillies earlier in the decade; ask about what a great teammate Wagner had been.

Still, the "THEM" fascinates. Remember 2007 when Paul LoDuca told reporters that the Latin players in the clubhouse spoke English as well? That created a huge media frenzy. Remember last summer when Wagner asked the media, "Why do you keep talking to me ... oh,wait -- the others are not here"? This was an indirect reference to the Carols Delgados Jose Reyeses and Carlos Beltrans of the world, three prime players who very rarely face the media after a loss?

Could there still be some residual aftertaste affecting the clubhouse for the disastrous 2006 NLCS, the 2007 collapse, and the 2008 collapse? Or is Wagner just looking at the standings and the roster and reaching the conclusion that the current season is lost before it even starts?

One will never know, but it certainly raises questions about what has truly bothered this Mets franchise since Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS. It's a story that must be explored and told by the people who were there. In the final analysis, we will have to wait with bated breath.

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