Amid all the Bobby hysteria, I almost forgot that Billy Wagner made his retirement official yesterday as well.
"This year has been nothing but great for me," Wagner said. "I thank God I got to retire as a Brave. It's the greatest honor I could ever have -- to be on the favorite team of my childhood. About the only thing [better] would have been if I could have snuck Dale [Murphy's] number on. That would have been about it."
Such an awesome professional. I respect his decision to hang 'em up, but I really wish he was coming back. We would absolutely NOT ridicule him if he were to change his mind. Yes, we'll be fine with Kimbrel and Venters, but they would be really good seventh and eighth inning options if Billy could come back and hold down the ninth once again next year.
0 recs | 49 comments
Man of His Word
He’s a man of his word but I just can’t see him retiring after getting hurt in the playoffs. He would have closed out Game 3 and maybe we would be in the NLCS. Making the playoffs and being close to the World Series, with this overachieving team, him being such a competitor, I can’t see him retiring. I’d like to see all the veterans take a pay cut so we can definitely afford the 1 or 2 missing piece. Lowe, Chipper, Wagner
braves077 - October 12, 2010
I disagree.
I definitely believe he’s done. He’s not the type who needs to go out in a blaze of glory to validate his career.
Tarkus - October 12, 2010
Wags
Awesome to see you in a Braves uniform and see you pitch live.
CLAP CLAP CLAP!
dank7 - October 12, 2010
That's awesome
“The greatest honor.” Wow, that’s awesome. We’ll miss you, too, Billy!
TheRickMoranis - October 12, 2010
Today
Kinda sucks…
HansonManCrush - October 12, 2010 via mobile
agreed.
but there is still tomorrow….maybe
rookiefan - October 12, 2010
It’s a sad day for Braves fan. On the bright side. Chipper Jones will be back!!!!
rcates - October 12, 2010
Billy we hardly knew ye
J-Freak - October 12, 2010
At his age after all these years...
All he did was dominate and post a career-best ERA in a Braves uni… Say it ain’t so Billy, don’t go yet!!
HansonManCrush - October 12, 2010 via mobile
"I thank God I got to retire as a Brave."
You’re a class act, Billy. It was a pleasure to see you in a Braves uniform.
DolphinNation - October 12, 2010
I would love to have him back,
but our pen will still be strong next year, especially if we get one more veteran arm to give CK another year of prep….maybe a certain San Diego closer who may be available?
king of games - October 12, 2010
I think that Kimbrell is ready. The only issue he may have is location. That is something that can be controlled. I also noticed that he didn’t walk batters like he did in AAA.
The bullpen. EOF, Dunn, Venters, Kimbrell, Moylan.
Venters can pitch against lefties and righties. He’s that good.
rcates - October 12, 2010
Has
EOF got his vision back yet?? Any updates??
HansonManCrush - October 12, 2010 via mobile
I agree CK is fully capable,
but Heath Bell is available, he’s a free agent after next year, and a full year of setup for CK would be more help than hiderance.
king of games - October 12, 2010
I won't forget it
I was at Braves/Marlins game earlier this year and my cousin got a ball from the bat boy after a dead play that started with a Wags pitch… I told her not to ever lose that ball because it had been held by Wags and if she lost it it would break my heart…
HansonManCrush - October 12, 2010 via mobile
Instead of a final photo showing Billy hurting, I'd rather remember him like this:
I admire and respect Billy as a great pitcher, but also as a man. He’s a straightforward, no BS kind of guy that means what he says. I’m glad I got to see him pitch in person both when I lived in Houston for a while and now as a Brave. HE was a big part of why we made it to the post season.
Enjoy your post baseball life and your family now Billy – you’ve earned it.
NCChopper - October 12, 2010
This
You were a fierce competitor and thank you for giving the Braves a great season.
Pavy848 - October 12, 2010
This times a million.
The Keith Lockhart Era - October 12, 2010
+421
a class act on and off the field. While I would love to see him back next year, I truly admire him for sticking to his word and going out on top to spend more time with his family
ByrneSupremacy - October 12, 2010
Now imagine if Bobby, Chipper and Wagner were all retiring. Walmarts in the Atlanta area would run out of tissues.
MBL1 - October 12, 2010 via mobile
He couldn't finish the playoffs
Therefore he owes us another season. It’s in the Constitution. Look it up.
buzzdeadwax - October 12, 2010
The 37 1/2th Amendment
J-Freak - October 12, 2010
See?
I told you it was there. Let me get the Attorney General on the phone…
buzzdeadwax - October 12, 2010
Exactly! This is a decision that's best left up to the suits in Washington...
Just like cannibalism and racism
http://www.hulu.com/watch/37197/its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia-cannibal-and-racist
Going to miss Billy and Bobby!
bradleyjah - October 12, 2010
Bird law.
The Keith Lockhart Era - October 12, 2010
Pretty great to see a guy who played for the team one season to say, “I thank God I got to retire as a Brave. It’s the greatest honor I could ever have”. Just another way to show how great being a Brave can be. Too bad to see him go, but he stuck to his word.
That said, anyone heard of this Kimbrel guy? Heard he was pretty good and Wagner said he’d be a pretty good closer someday.
CharlotteChop - October 12, 2010
Poor guy, stuck playing for the Mets all those years. Great that he pitched so well this year though, and the Mets closer…..well, enough said.
king of games - October 12, 2010
Let's move on now. New manager and new closer. Go Braves!!!
taney71 - October 12, 2010
On the last game of the regular season, I took video of Billy’s last entry with Metallica blaring. Glad I was there.
ryantex - October 12, 2010
Glad I was too. Drove 700 miles in 32 hours but can proudly say I got to see it.
The Keith Lockhart Era - October 12, 2010
I actually got to talk to Billy Wagner at Dodger Stadium earlier this season. My brother and I got seats that were right next to the Braves bullpen. I chatted with Venters, Eddie Perez gave me a ball. It was great. It was about the 7th inning and Wagner comes in to sit down. There is a guy on the other side of the bullpen (Dodger fan) that wanted to say hello to Billy. The fan looked a lot like Billy complete with beard. The fans around the guy started telling Billy that the guy was his twin and he couldn’t help but laugh. My brother and I were the only Braves fans in our section and he looked over at me and said “What do you think?” I told him that it’s pretty close but I would get a DNA test if I were him. Everyone else laughed at that. I had never spoken to Wagner before that but he seems like a really cool guy. He did great for us this season. Sorry to see him go.
jayjaxon - October 12, 2010
He was awesome this year; I still think he’s got one more good season left.
Oh well. We’ll miss you, Billy!!
TonyAlmeyda - October 12, 2010
I was not
A fan of signing Wagner at the beginning of the season. Thought it was a bad move, just because Bobby had always wanted him didnt mean now that he was old, and available, we should sign him. Boy was I wrong. Wagner has shown he was very capable for the job and was a key piece of this team. The more I heard him talk about baseball, the more respect for him I gained. I think Billy is a class act, has the ultimate respect for the game, and I will miss him playing for the Braves. I wish he could come back as a bullpen coach, I think he had a big influence on Kimbrel and the others. I understand and respect his decision to put his family first. Cheers to you Billy, congrats on a fabulous career, and on being a great person!
HeyMikey - October 12, 2010
The guy was simply awesome; wish he would come back next year, but I understand.
ChrisK562 - October 12, 2010
Thanks for everything Billy! We NEVER would have made it this far without you!
jdmarine - October 12, 2010
HOF
I wonder what the odds of BW heading into the hall as a Brave would be…
kalesi - October 12, 2010
Slim to none, another season and he would have been pretty close to a lock.
king of games - October 12, 2010
Agreed
I think if he’s voted in he’ll go as an Astro… I’d doubt he’d go as a Met and lord knows he hates Philly as much as I do
HansonManCrush - October 12, 2010 via mobile
Zero.
He was a Hall of Famer before he ever pitched for the Braves. And you don’t get your logo on a player’s bust for one year.
Tarkus - October 12, 2010
Relief pitchers have had pretty rough sledding in Hall of Fame voting.
Still, he’s certainly one of the most deserving relievers of his era.
SS451 - October 12, 2010
He may have officially retired, but I’d talk to him in May and see if he wanted to change his mind. A Clemens contract (come in July/August) might suit him.
Broccoman - October 12, 2010
Never had such a turnaround in regards to liking a ballplayer.
I hated Billy when he was a Phillie. I really hated him when he was a Met. I admit I was annoyed and disgusted when we signed him. And yet, in the ten months since we signed him, my hatred has transformed to respect, admiration and love. He only spent a year with us but to me, he’s a Brave forever. So long Billy, you will be missed.
E-Lizz - October 12, 2010
This post fits me to a tee. I really respect the guy now. Will miss him so much.
FitzFan - October 12, 2010
What an honor
for us to have him say he was glad to be retiring as a Brave. That says volumes about this organization.
BravesFaninAZ - October 12, 2010
I made it to 6 games this year
And everytime Wags came in I got chills! I wish him wel in retirement
707kid - October 12, 2010
We'll miss ya, Billy.
He only spent a year with us, but he seemed like he’d been one of us for his entire career. He’ll always be a Brave to me.
Thanks for the memories this year, Billy. Won’t ever forget seeing your 400th save in person.
Sarahbeth - October 12, 2010
It's officially time:
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12784007
Scott Coleman - October 12, 2010
Yes sir. Downright nasty.
The Keith Lockhart Era - October 12, 2010
Reply fail to mvhsbball
The Keith Lockhart Era - October 12, 2010
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