Bon voyage, Aaron Heilman

It seems Aaron Heilman was getting trotted out there all the time and for no thanks to put it mildly. He seemed to me to be an intimidator and fighter on the mound and did his share of standing up off the mound. You always hear Heilman wants to be a starter, but Mets Fever noted Billy Wagner saying Heilman would be a great closer. 4/1/08:

• "As reported by the Star Ledger, Billy Wagner believes that Aaron Heilman is the heir apparent to the closers role. Not only does Wagner believe Heilman has the stuff but also the metal toughness to handle the pressure packed role. While I've never thought of the idea before, it maybe the only way the Mets keep one of the best righthanded changeups in the league, unless they somehow after six years decide to put him in the rotation. Wagner does have the eye for finding his replacement, he was the closer in Houston who groomed Brad Lidge until he made himself replaceable. ...

"Awesome," said closer Billy Wagner, who watched from the bullpen. "Heilman's the closer of the future. They just don't know it yet.

• Heilman will be the closer here in two years."

"He's got the stuff, but mentally he's got what it takes, too," Wagner said. "The people that do the evaluating in baseball, they've never pitched. They don't know what it takes. But he's got it. There's no doubt in my mind." source Star Ledger." (The link goes to present day Star Ledger, not the article)

• Good luck, Aaron. photo from Mets Fever.

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