Mets cough up three run lead without Wagner

With Billy Wagner unavailable, Duaner Sanchez and company couldn't quite slam the door on the Phillies in the ninth inning, surrendering six runs.

I don't subscribe to Gary Cohen's theory that pitching in unfamiliar roles was a significant contributor to the the relievers' performance. Duaner Sanchez has both closed and had really bad innings in the past, and once you get him out of the game there's not really a term for the guy who gets brought in after the closer spits the bit.

The primary problem is that Billy Wagner wasn't available to pitch and the other guys aren't as good. They don't have to be (and probably aren't) any less effective in the ninth inning than they are in the eighth.