Well at least it was quick. It didn’t linger for 10 minutes or more. It wasn’t excruciating watching Wagner give up the game. He didn’t allow the tying run to score after walking a couple then giving up a hit so that we could squirm hoping we could at least get another chance to hit in extra innings. No, this one was merciful and quick. A first pitch bloop single, a couple of pitches then a sacrifice, then the next pitch and were done. Blown save number five for Billy Wagner.

Just when you thought it was safe to bring in Wagner, he blows another one. Oh well, its going to happen. They in the media keep comparing to last year when he only blew three. Well that was last year and this is this year. Quite simply, Wagner is not having as good a year as last year. Let’s face it; in a town where you always compare to Mariano Rivera, any closer is going to look bad. Closers blow leads and that’s the norm. The lights out Rivera is the exception and of course it is made worse by the fact that he plays for the hated Yankees.

Let’s do a little research. Here are the top 10 closers in the National and American league in terms of saves along with the number of blown saves.

National League

American League

As you can see, there is not one closer in what is currently the top ten list in either league with no blown saves. The best is not even Mariano when you only consider the blown save column. That distinction belongs to Joe Nathan from the twins. Here’s a better look at closers in terms of saves to blown saves. If we add together the saves and blown saves then divide by saves, we get a percentage of saves to blown saves. Take a look…

National League

American League

See, would you have guessed that the best closers in the National League and the American League respectively are Tom Gordon and Joe Nathan. I certainly wouldn’t have but there you have it.

The point is these are the best closers in baseball. None have no blown saves. The worst of the best has 8 and the best of the best has 1. Even the great Mariano Rivera is not the best even though most anyone would draft him first.

Billy Wagner is not having as good a year as last and it certainly was painful last night to watch him cough up a game that the Mets could have won. However as the stats show, he more than not gets the job done and will continue to do so in the future. Hopefully he can get right back on the horse tonight. Protecting a one run lead is tough and in my opinion the Mets as a team blew this one. They should have scored more than one run in the first, Reyes tripping over third base did not help. The Mets left runners on base in the eighth and ninth inning hitting into double plays in each frame. So there were opportunities to tack on runs but they failed to do so. Also the Marlins scored their first four runs when there were two outs. In both innings they scored, Pelfrey got the first two outs and then left the barn door open. So in fairness to Billy, last night’s loss was a collective effort, Wagner simply put the icing on the cake.

Extra Innings: While the Mets lost last night all other Eastern Division teams won so even though it’s still early, the Mets magic number did not change. It remains at 45.

I tuned into the Braves-Pirates game on MLB.TV to see Nady’s first at bat. He grounded to short. He ended up with one hit in his Pirate debut.