Categories: Posts

Billy Wagner Gets Steamed In Exhibition Game

Since we all love a good Billy Wagner anger-trip story, David Lennon of Newsday has this unbelievable moment from the Mets game against the University of Michigan:

Billy Wagner nearly started a beanball war with the University of Michigan after one overzealous Wolverine tried to bunt on him in the fourth inning. With a runner on second and one out, centerfielder Kevin Cislo pushed his bunt foul.

Wagner, clearly annoyed, shook his head a number of times, and Cislo wisely swung away, grounding out. Wagner said he couldn’t believe that Cislo, a junior, bunted.

“If he got that bunt down, I would have drilled the next guy,” Wagner said. “Play to win against Villanova.”

I could say a number of things. I mean, the Wolverines here are playing to win â€” they’re playing the Mets! It’s a competitive game for these guys â€” a game most of them (who won’t make the show) will never forget. So he bunted, Billy, run a little bit, go for the ball, toss it to first. I could say that (I just did). Or I could point out the interesting option Wagner took of mentioning Villanova. That seems weird. Or I could quote the great Harry Doyle, who told us The Duke in “Major League” threw at his kid in a father-son game. But let me back you up to Friday, when Wagner railed on the “young” Phillies:

“If one of their little 25-year-olds wants to come out and whip my ass, they can brag that they whipped a 37-year-old manâ€™s ass. Well, good for them. Itâ€™s always good to play that underdog role.”

Obviously, Wagner has a real problem with young adults. I wonder if he hates Facebook, iPods and the new NBC series “Quarterlife.” Just more bait to throw at the rat when he steps foot in Philadelphia April 18.

By the way, the Wolverines played to win, and the Mets played to tie. Final score: 4-4.

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.