Brian Wilson (split from Mets News)

[Guest Swan Swan H]

This is not quite news yet, but I think I'll pass.

[smg58]

Obviously it depends on Wilson's health (and the price tag), but a healthy Wilson upgrades our pen by a LOT. Any facial hair-related distractions that come along with not sweating the ninth inning would be tolerated.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Wilson was very ordinary in 2011 (1.47 WHIP, 1.7 K/W rate) and he's coming off major surgery. Low guarantee and a bunch of incentives to throw him into the mix, fine, but counting on this guy as a closer is a huge risk. Plus, he's just about entered late-era Dennis Rodman territory as a personality.

[metirish]

Yes, he's fine watching him act the eegit(while winning) on some other team....low risk though.

[TransMonk]

Swan Swan H wrote: Plus, he's just about entered late-era Dennis Rodman territory as a personality.

Yeah...if this guy put up All-Star stats every year, I could try to live with his douchiness.

As it is, he's one of my least favorite (hate is a strong word) baseball players right now.

[bmfc1]

TransMonk wrote: As it is, he's one of my least favorite (hate is a strong word) baseball players right now.

Same here. I didn't like that attention whore when he was a Giant.

[Edgy MD]

smg58 wrote: Obviously it depends on Wilson's health (and the price tag), but a healthy Wilson upgrades our pen by a LOT. Any facial hair-related distractions that come along with not sweating the ninth inning would be tolerated.

It's hard to imagine signing him would mean not sweating ninth innings.

[metirish]

I am enthused by the idea that Alderson thinks this team needs(another) a closer.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

metirish wrote: I am enthused by the idea that Alderson thinks this team needs(another) a closer.

Oh I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be enthused...

[ashie62]

The Angels wanna wear Brian Wilsons shoes..

and trade Francisco for an OF

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Edgy MD wrote: smg58 wrote: Obviously it depends on Wilson's health (and the price tag), but a healthy Wilson upgrades our pen by a LOT. Any facial hair-related distractions that come along with not sweating the ninth inning would be tolerated. It's hard to imagine signing him would mean not sweating ninth innings.

That's true, but we're going to be sweating them now with Frank Frank. Actually, we're sweating then cursing loudly with regularity.

I don't think I'd oppose an incentive-laden deal with Wilson. If he can come close to what he was, then it would be a steal. If not, well, he's Kelvim Escobar.

I don't mind the personality as long as he's getting the job done.

[Edgy MD]

My point, I think, is that nobody will ever cover the ninth inning to the fans' satisfaction. Perhaps nobody did it as well as Armando Benitez and few Mets are spoken with in such hostile terms as he is.

So when deciding along the lines of "I can take his personality if he's awesome enough," assume he won't be. The job is too big, and the role is too small (if you get the distinction). Closers are set up to fail. And a closer with an act that cries for attention that loudly can only see his career end one way, and that's on a rail.

[Vic Sage]

i guess i haven't been paying attention, because i don't know what Wilson does that is so irritating. Besides the fact that he used to get hitters out, and now not so much. Are people offended by beards? I don't care, i'm not shaving.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Hard to tell if this is some sort of performance art aimed at pricking the bubble of fame, or if he's just a loon. Probably some of both, but I think this stuff gets tiresome very quickly.

[Edgy MD]

Charlie Sheen thinks he's awesome!

[Ceetar]

He'll entertain the beat writers at least, which means the interest the Mets have shown is probably overstated by their desire to talk about him.

[MFS62]

He and Dillon Gee would give the Mets the most interesting collection of beards since ZZ Top.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

Vic Sage wrote: i guess i haven't been paying attention, because i don't know what Wilson does that is so irritating.

Maybe the fact that both Lady Gaga & Madonna think he's a publicity whore.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Aren't closers supposed to be a little loopy?

[Edgy MD]

They certainly seem to trend in that direction more than other positions, but I'd disagree with "supposed to be..."

And it certainly becomes a cart/horse thing regarding whether "loopy" players become closers or closers act loopy to put a brand on their act. But I think "loopy" is a more generous description than I'd use.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

"Aggressively, self-consciously quirky" might be more the thing. (And even then... that's a bit generous, maybe.)

[seawolf17]

Does he make the bullpen better? I say yes. Maybe not $9 million a year yes, but yes.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Most likely, yes.

But assuming we're working within a budget here, I'll take, say, Marcum-plus-marginal-reliever over Wilson-plus-marginal-fifth-starter all day, every day.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

I'm leery of big-name relievers. Relievers seem to have a shorter shelf-life than other positions. I'd rather FA money and/or trades go to beefing up other positions and try developing a closer from within.

[Edgy MD]

Well, we've looked outside the organization for a closer five times since sunsetting Armando in 2003, counting Putz.

Spent a lot of money and pleased nobody.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Edgy MD wrote: Well, we've looked outside the organization for a closer five times since sunsetting Armando in 2003, counting Putz. Spent a lot of money and pleased nobody.

This is not contrary to what I wrote, in fact it supports it. Armando and Franco before him came from outside the organization as well.

[Edgy MD]

I didn't mean to contradict you. I agree.

[batmagadanleadoff]

To use their limited resources on a "closer" when the team probably won't win half their games, even with the prime of Mariano, is dumb.

[Gwreck]

Edgy MD wrote: Well, we've looked outside the organization for a closer five times since sunsetting Armando in 2003, counting Putz. Spent a lot of money and pleased nobody.

The lack of pleasure is a combination of overpaying for players and comparison to an unrealistic standard across town.

Ie. Wagner was a fine player, just not worth the money he was paid. Blows one save in the playoffs, everybody hates him.

[Edgy MD]

I certainly agree (and have said so in this thread) that closers encounter unrealistic expectations.