Comments on: The Braves would be a sweet spot for Billy Wagner

By: Moriah Lokke

Moriah Lokke — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:08:40 +0000

Thanks for taking the top out to write this great/ post.

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By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:04:42 +0000

Heh, that’s pretty awful. But in California, you’re not expected to listen to music with your natural faculties.
So how do you feel about Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head? Or are they still an Irish problem?

By: Mark Runsvold

Mark Runsvold — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:07:58 +0000

I didn't mean to say Pound was in the "sort of arguably famous" category. If he's not famous, then we don't have any famous natives. Anyway, I blame the fascism and eventual insanity on his leaving Idaho. Happens all the time. I do disavow any geographical connection to Phoenix or Reeves or that downer of a movie. Also, these Californians and their attempt at irony can suck an egg: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fxfrxqegldhe~T2

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:46:45 +0000

Thanks for sparing an overworked hauspaterfamilias in the throes of Native American Extermination Day dinner planning the effort of having to go look that up, Mark. I can understand your ambivalence about Pound, but honestly, his virulent fascism and mostly unreadable doggerel aside, wouldn’t you rather be represented in the public imagination by Pound than by Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix?
Also, it seems to me that a pitcher who keeps serving gophers in the bottom of the ninth is still a closer of sorts, isn’t he?

By: Mark Runsvold

Mark Runsvold — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:49:58 +0000

It really blows my mind that his name is being bandied about as a “proven closer option” or some such nonsense. His career FIP is over 4, as is his career ERA. He’s a below average relief pitcher, who happens to throw very hard. Good for him.
If he gets more money than Rafael Soriano, I will quit baseball fandom. For like ten minutes.

By: Beanster

Beanster — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:17:21 +0000

I would not wish Rodney and his career 4.6 BB/9 on anyone in need of a “closer”.

By: Mark Runsvold

Mark Runsvold — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:27:16 +0000

It certainly was Idaho, Gator! We keep careful track of our famous (and sort of arguably famous) people here.
I have a distaste for teams signing name, free-agent relievers, but Wagner at a discount wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. He struck out 26(!) in 15.2 innings last season, so his stuff is obviously still getting the job done.
P.S. Losing Gonzalez and Soriano at the same time… Ouch.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:07:56 +0000

When Ezra Pound arrived in Italy from Idaho (or whichever flyover state it was that he had fled), he famously said something to the effect of, "This is a nice place to arrive at from Idaho - but then, anyplace is a nice place to arrive at from Idaho." (Pardon my lethargy this morning - I'm too worn out from stuffing possum and gator tail for dinner tomorrow to be bothered looking up the exact quote. I'll do it Friday if this entire thread hasn't been subsumed into cyberspace like seafloor plate at a subduction zone.) But I digress. Point is, for Billy Wagner, anyplace would be a nice place to arrive in from that cross between Groundhog Day and Titanic called the New York Mets.