From Views to Fastballs, Wagner Won’t Hold Back

[bigh0rt]

His unvarnished opinions come across as if he has been injected with a truth serum. And this season, which the Mets open Monday against the Florida Marlins, Wagner will be delivering his views during a weekly radio segment on 1050 ESPN in New York. No subject — not steroids, not teammates, not managerial decisions — will be off-limit, Wagner said. And, he expects at some point his answers will be magnified or misconstrued, and he will have to explain himself once again.

“When I comment on something, I’m not trying to generate controversy or stir the pot,” Wagner said. “It’s that I have no problem saying what I feel to be the truth. If I’m wrong about something or if I stunk that night, I’ll be the first to admit it.”

“If I’m asked about José Reyes, I’ll say that he’s one of the best players in the game,” Wagner said. “But I’ll also say that he’s got a lot to learn. That’s not a knock. People these days are too sensitive. They can’t handle bluntness.”

With pride, Wagner calls himself one of the least-liked players in baseball. “Not too many guys have me on speed-dial,” he said, adding that the dislike comes from his outspoken reputation.

...“When I’m retired, no one’s going to see me or care who Billy Wagner is or care where I am,” Wagner said. “It’s all about doing it the right way now, the way I know how. There’s no use trying to beat around the bush. I never have and I won’t start now.”

NY Times | FULL STORY

[Amazinz]

I'm really looking forward to this. It's not just 1050, he'll be making a weekly appearance on the Michael Kay show. Now Wagner is a bit of a tool but there is no bigger tool in NY sports than Michael Kay (although honorable mention for Russo). I believe the interview is every TUE. I missed the first two but was able to listen to the second here. Probably not such a great thing for the Mets but this is a train wreck waiting to happen and there's no love lost between these two. Wags has called Kay out in the past and Kay has referred to Wagner as Jethro.