Former Mets closer Billy Wagner, on the ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame a 10th and final time, throws some high heat in a Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby:
Q: Is there anxiety waiting for next month’s Hall of Fame decision after missing by five votes last time and this being your 10th and last chance?
A: Absolutely. It’s probably the most disturbing part of this whole thing. There’s nothing else you can do. It’s a political-type thing. I can’t go out and get saves, I can’t blow any saves, thank God. The kiss of death always, people saying you’re a shoo-in, things like that. I’ve never been one to count the eggs before they hatch. Each year it’s gotten more difficult. I try to kinda stay away from it. This year will be definitely the hardest if this don’t work out. I don’t plan to follow it, or sit by my phone or do any of those things. If it works out, that’s just another blessing from God. If not, obviously there’s one door shut, window’s open somewhere. So I’m just gonna try to stay as positive as I can.