Results tagged “billywagner”

The magic number is twelve. That's all that really matters, when you think about it; true, the Red Sox failed to complete the sweep of the Southern California Regional Angels of Los Angeles, and true, Billy "Country Time" Wagner suffered his first Boston loss. But these things happen.

The pitchers wing of the geriatric baseball hospital must have been unusually ebullient when the Sox shut out the Blue Jays, 7-0, yesterday afternoon. Paul Byrd, Billy Wagner, and Takashi Saito, ages 38, 38, and 39, respectively, gave a new meaning to the phrase "old-timer's day," combining for 8 innings of scoreless ball. (Spring chicken Manny Delcarmen pitched the seventh innning.)

He spent the first two months of the season making us think of the end of Old Yeller. He spent some time in the last month under a cloud of suspicion and betrayal. But last night, he was the Big Papi that New England loves and remembers, as David Ortiz hit two home runs, including a walk-off, as the Red Sox made it six straight wins against teams that aren't from New York.

It wasn't enough to get everybody free tacos, but Jacoby Ellsbury made history in the Red Sox' win over Chicago last night, stealing his 55th base of the season and breaking Tommy Harper's club record. Never known for being a fleet team, the Sox have gone entire seasons witout the entire roster stealing 55 bases. Just in case you remember only those dark days, the Globe has provided us with a stolen base primer. The low point in recent years, according to our research, was 1983 (shut up; it's recent to us), when a team full of sluggards and plodders managed to swipe only 30 bases the whole season (leader with 11: Jerry Remy). So as far as team records go, stolen bases was a nice, easy, attainable one. Which doesn't mean our hat's not off to Jacoby, or that we're not going to eat a taco in his honor later today.

After days of hemming and hawing, former closer and Tommy John surgery victim Billy "Country Time" Wagner will be joining the Red Sox after all, reports the Globe. The lefthanded pitcher, who has led the Astros, Phillies, and Mets on wild rollercoaster rides of competence, comes to Boston with a career ERA of 2.40, 385 saves, and a record of 39-37. The Sox are sending the Mets a pair of lower tier prospects in exchange for the reliever, and this guy is going to have to get a new t-shirt.

Tony Massarotti cites an unnamed source to report that the Red Sox' waivers bid for former Mets closer and Tommy John surgery victim Billy Wagner is "probably dead." Wagner, one of Jonathan Papelbon's favorite pitchers, will likely exercise his no-trade clause to keep the ailing Mets from shipping the pitcher to Boston. The sticking point? Wagner didn't want to endanger his newly repaired elbow while pitching during meaningful innings with a team that's making an actual playoff bid.

Tazawa's arm, Youk's bat keys to victory The day after a historically bad pitching performance overwhelmed a more-than-adequate offense, the Red Sox pitching and hitting came together for a rout of their own as they dominated the Yankees, 14-1, in an important win for the team.