bring it

Went to an Atlanta Braves game a few years back. Billy Wagner was on in relief for the Houston Astros, attempting to nail down one of the 385 saves he has today. He threw a fastball, and the board that registers pitch speed hit 100. Never had seen that before. Never will forget it. The Braves signed the former Jackson Generals left-hander to be their closer for 2010. Good move. He is an old-school warrior and an upgrade over Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez, both of whom were shaky last season. Wagner showed last year with Boston that he can still bring it after Tommy John surgery in 2008, posting a 1.98 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings. He’s 38, so he’s not a long-term solution. But he’ll man the post capably until one of the ex-Mississippi Braves, Luis Valdez or Craig Kimbrel, is ready to take it over, probably in 2011.