Wagner’s out for NLDS, and potential NLCS, now hoping for World Series shot – updated
After two pain-numbing shots Sunday morning didn’t help matters, Braves closer Billy Wagner conceded Sunday he wouldn’t be able to pitch this round or the next.
The Braves substituted reliever Takashi Saito on the roster for him for the rest of the division series. By rule, Wagner won’t be eligible to pitch in the National League Championship Series. But his strained left oblique wasn’t going to let him anyway.
Wagner, 39 and fifth all-time on the career saves list (422), is left to wonder if he’s pitched the last game of his 16-year-career. He had delayed retirement one more year for a shot at his first trip to the World Series. Now it will take that from the Braves to give him a chance to even get back out on the mound.
“Depends on my teammates now,” Wagner said in a press conference before Sunday’s game. “…In a week, couple days, maybe it’s different. So we’ll just keep pushing along and see what happens, and hopefully I’ll get lucky.”
Either way, he’s prepared to face the fact that he might have thrown his last pitch. It was remarkable that he even got the pitch off at all, considering he had just strained his oblique trying to field an Edgar Renteria bunt.
“All I know is when I threw it, somebody shot me in the side,” said Wagner, who went down to one knee after making a throw to first on an Andres Torres sacrifice.
Wagner said this injury won’t change his plans to retire at the end of the season, whether he’s able to come back or not.
“Honestly, I’ve had a great career and I don’t need to define my career by having a successful season,” Wagner said. “We all would like to draw it up as having a World Series and everybody dog pile on us, but that doesn’t happen all the time….Maybe it’s not going to happen the way I want it to, and that’s just life.”
Wagner takes some solace in knowing he’s done everything he could to make it happen, including convincing team doctors Thursday morning to go forward with the injections.
“They said normally they wouldn’t do that because you run the risk of really tearing,” Wagner said. “I got asked numerous times: are you sure you’re retiring? Are you sure you’re retiring? They didn’t want to run that risk that if I did get the shot and went out and pitched and tore that muscle worse that I would hamper me for next year.”
Even still, Wagner could not get comfortable enough moving around while playing some light catch to get the “miracle” he hoped for when he walked into Turner Field Sunday morning.
“The problem is I can pitch, but I can’t move any further than that,” Wagner said. “I don’t know how long I could actually stay out there. It just kept spasming and getting further up under my ribs so that I was really starting to have trouble breathing.”
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30 comments Add your comment
BravesFan86
October 10th, 2010
2:10 pm
When will we know about permission by league that Saito can go? GO BRAVES!!!
Richard Simmons
October 10th, 2010
2:22 pm
Ohhh silly second!!!!
Gene Garber
October 10th, 2010
2:35 pm
Let’s go Bravez. I’ll even give closing a shot if you need me!!
Gene Garber
October 10th, 2010
2:36 pm
Let’s go Braves. I’ll even give closing a shot if you need me!!
justin1
October 10th, 2010
2:56 pm
No good, no good. But that’s the theme of this year’s Braves’ team afterall. Get hurt, lose more fans, overcome the adversity, get the “fans” back, shock ESPN, and do it all over again until the ultimate goal is accomplished.
NEVER GIVE UP ON A TEAM WHO DOESNT GIVE UP ON THEMSELVES!!
LETS GO BRAVES FANS, STAND BY YOUR TEAM!!!
justin1
October 10th, 2010
2:56 pm
No good, no good. But that’s the theme of this year’s Braves’ team afterall. Get hurt, lose more fans, overcome the adversity, get the “fans” back, shock ESPN, and do it all over again until the ultimate goal is accomplished.
NEVER GIVE UP ON A TEAM WHO DOESNT GIVE UP ON THEMSELVES!!
LETS GO BRAVES FANS, STAND BY YOUR TEAM!!!
Rilo
October 10th, 2010
2:56 pm
Next thing you know, we’ll lose our two best hitters and a good number 4 starter. Wait…..that already happened. Whoever is holding the VOODOO doll could you please stop???? Enough is enough!!!
misterd
October 10th, 2010
2:57 pm
Kyle Farnsworth looks like an ace reliever, but I’ve never actually seen him get anyone out.
Bravefaninok
October 10th, 2010
3:00 pm
misterd
October 10th, 2010
2:57 pm
Kyle Farnsworth looks like an ace reliever, but I’ve never actually seen him get anyone out.
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You missed the 10th and 11th inning of game 2 a SF?
braves21
October 10th, 2010
3:21 pm
Lineup?
savannahdawg
October 10th, 2010
7:52 pm
Thanks Mr. Conrad……….you piece of crap for a ball player!!
Fred
October 10th, 2010
8:15 pm
Billy, thanks for a great job this season. Thaks for the memories. Enjoy retirement.
It's a chopper to Chipper
October 10th, 2010
9:34 pm
Billy, I really wish we could turn back time so the Braves could have signed you a few years ago. It’s been a pleasure watching you this season. Thanks for the memories and well done, sir.
Ron Meany
October 10th, 2010
9:47 pm
That decision was made tonite by Booby.
Braves’ Wagner hoping for World Series return | sportstalktoday.com
October 11th, 2010
7:40 am
[...] "Depends on my teammates now," Wagner said in a press conference before Sunday’s excruciating loss, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Hopefully I’ll get lucky." [...]
Braves’ Wagner hoping for World Series return | sportsnewsstream.com
October 11th, 2010
7:41 am
[...] "Depends on my teammates now," Wagner said in a press conference before Sunday’s excruciating loss, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Hopefully I’ll get lucky." [...]
THE CURSE OF DAVID JUSTICE LIVES IN THE ATL
October 11th, 2010
11:04 am
LAST GAME FOR BOOBY,AND IM GLAD!
THE CURSE OF DAVID JUSTICE LIVES IN THE ATL
October 11th, 2010
11:05 am
LONG LIVE THE CURSE UNTIL BOOBY LEAVES!
. Don
October 11th, 2010
11:36 am
Bobby Cox continues to prove beyond any doubt that he is the most overrated or one of the most overrated managers in the history of the game.
. Don
October 11th, 2010
11:36 am
Once again, in Sunday’s game, the MVP for the opposing team is our own Bobby Cox.
LittleRockBravesFan
October 11th, 2010
12:39 pm
This is a truly sad way for Billy to end his career. Billy, thanks for the awesome job you’ve done this season! I’ve really enjoyed watching you close out games.
As a Braves fan for almost 30 years, I’m definitely NOT giving up on our team tonight! GO BRAVES!!!
Braves Fan Since "80
October 11th, 2010
6:29 pm
Take Chipper with you….please
Braves’ Wagner hoping for World Series return | yoursportsinfo.com
October 11th, 2010
11:41 pm
[...] "Depends on my teammates now," Wagner said in a press conference before Sunday’s excruciating loss, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Hopefully I’ll get lucky." [...]
Braves’ Wagner hoping for World Series return | sportslocalnews.com
October 12th, 2010
12:13 am
[...] "Depends on my teammates now," Wagner said in a press conference before Sunday’s excruciating loss, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Hopefully I’ll get lucky." [...]
Braves’ Wagner hoping for World Series return | sportsinfoworld.com
October 12th, 2010
12:41 am
[...] "Depends on my teammates now," Wagner said in a press conference before Sunday’s excruciating loss, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Hopefully I’ll get lucky." [...]
Braves’ Wagner hoping for World Series return | sportscitynews.com
October 12th, 2010
12:53 am
[...] "Depends on my teammates now," Wagner said in a press conference before Sunday’s excruciating loss, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Hopefully I’ll get lucky." [...]
Braves’ Wagner hoping for World Series return | sportsreportsite.com
October 12th, 2010
1:24 am
[...] "Depends on my teammates now," Wagner said in a press conference before Sunday’s excruciating loss, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Hopefully I’ll get lucky." [...]
Braves’ Wagner hoping for World Series return | wapsportsnews.com
October 12th, 2010
1:45 am
[...] "Depends on my teammates now," Wagner said in a press conference before Sunday’s excruciating loss, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Hopefully I’ll get lucky." [...]
Braves’ Wagner hoping for World Series return | sportsregionalnews.com
October 12th, 2010
1:53 am
[...] "Depends on my teammates now," Wagner said in a press conference before Sunday’s excruciating loss, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Hopefully I’ll get lucky." [...]
Braves’ Wagner hoping for World Series return | hotsportsinfo.com
October 13th, 2010
11:55 pm
[...] "Depends on my teammates now," Wagner said in a press conference before Sunday’s excruciating loss, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Hopefully I’ll get lucky." [...]