Closer? We Don't Need No Stinking Closer.

The M.A.S.H. unit known as the New York Mets just got hit with another wounded player this week. Billy Wagner will have an MRI this morning and was diagnosed with inflamation in the shoulder. The team says it is unlikely that Wagner will be available against the Phillies.

I'm torn. Do I cry or rejoice?

While Wagner is arguably one of the top 5 closers in the National League, I'm not too disappointed to see him unavaiable against the Phillies. Why? Do you remember his performance against them just 10 days ago? A certain Jayson Worth home run? A 10-1 lead that got nervously close at 10-9 and almost became a loss?

Wagner has a propensity for the dramatic in big situations. The hype surrounding this series is big and these games are meaningfuly ones as we head into the dog days of August. I can easily see Wagner leaving his fastball over too much of the plate in a tight game.

Losing Wagner for an extended period of time would be seriously damaging to the Mets, but having him out for a series against the Phillies isn't that horrible.

Johan Santana will just have to pitch a complete game shutout. 3 days in a row.