Pedro Feliciano
No Great Choices for Mets Closer
The news has been bad and keeps getting worse for Mets closer Billy Wagner. A forearm strain has morphed into elbow pain, and Wagner faces a further diagnosis Tuesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. There is no timetable for his return, and even if he does come back, it is far from certain that he’ll be able to take on the regular work of a closer.
This potential loss brings a major flaw of New York’s this season into sharp focus—the team has lacked a single pitcher to hold down the eighth inning all season long. Relievers such as Scott Schoeneweis and Joe Smith are ideally lefty and righty specialists, while Aaron Heilman and Duaner Sanchez have been inconsistent all season. read more »
