#Listen to Episode 13 of ‘Amazin’ But True’: Diaz, Bullpen Woes Deja Vu feat. Billy Wagner

The Mets opened the season behind Jacob deGrom’s arm and Yoenis Cespedes’ bat on Friday to the tune of a 1-0 victory. After that, it all went downhill Saturday and Sunday against the Braves. To react to the 1-2 start to the season, we present to you a brand new episode of the “Amazin’ But True” podcast with me and former Met Nelson Figueroa.

Figgie and I open up talking COVID-19 hitting the Marlins, with 11 players testing positive and the impact on baseball. We then dive into the series, which included Edwin Diaz’s déjà vu, giving up a game-tying home run to Marcell Ozuna before the Mets would lose 5-3 in 10 innings. We also talk about Sunday’s embarrassing loss on ESPN, the frustrating broadcast, the awful performance from Rick Porcello and Corey Oswalt and whether there is any reason for concern for the team this early into the season.

New York Post sportswriter Zach Braziller then makes his debut on the podcast. Braziller talks about potential options for the fifth starter, Diaz actually locating his pitches well, if he is concerned about the team and the bullpen. The fellow Astorian then gives his Mount Rushmore of Astoria food places.

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Former Met and one of the greatest closers in baseball history Billy Wagner then joins the show. Wagner opens up to somehow not being in the Hall of Fame and what might be the reason for that, despite his unbelievable career stats. He also talks about finishing his career with his best numbers and why he retied at that time. Wagner discusses coming back quickly from Tommy John surgery and still being great, what Jerry Manuel said to him that made him want to keep pitching and prove him wrong and the pressure pitching in New York and what Diaz could change. The lefty then talks about Willie Randolph not putting him in Game 7 of thee 2006 NLCS, despite him wanting to come in.

Wagner on Willie Randolph not putting him in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS: 

“Well yeah I think in that situation I needed to be in that game. Not that Aaron couldn’t get it done, but I could’ve just went in there and done the same thing. But in that situation, I believe your best player in your bullpen is the guy you win or lose it with. I was warming up ready to do whatever. I think giving up the runs the night before, I personally think Willie was like holy s–t what am I going to do? I don’t have Mariano Rivera what am I gonna do? I don’t think he had very much faith in me at that point.

It was, but I’m not going to be selfish enough to say something too arrogant. The manager is the manager, I felt that way. I felt like I should’ve been in there. I get every question in the world. Were you not ready? Were you sore? Were you hurt? You get all those weird questions but it comes down to Willie didn’t have confidence in me to go out there in that game after having a not so good Game 6. But that’s part of the game. I would’ve loved to be in that game … I’m sure Willie would be the first to admit, he’s told me face to face many times that I’m not Mariano Rivera, but I’m 100 percent sure he would be the one to sit there and say I wasn’t his favorite guy. I wasn’t his favorite guy because of Game 6 and I mean we won that game. Game 7 he was very apprehensive.” 

Catch up on all episodes of “Amazin’ But True,” a New York Mets podcast, by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow Jake on Twitter @JakeBrownRadio and Nelson @FiggieNY. The next episode of the show drops Thursday.