NEWSDAY uncovers a fantastic quote from Billy Wagner regarding the Mets’4-4 tie with the Michigan Wolverines. Apparently the closer was thisclose to chuckin’ one high and hard at UM batter Kevin Cislo.

Cislo was attempting to bunt with one out and a runner at second base, and that was enough for Wagner to go into a tizzy. Later he told reporters “If he got that bunt down, I would have drilled the next guy […] Play to win against Villanova.”

The Wolverines had just come off a three-game sweep of Villanova, so no, they can’t beat them again.

How can anyone fault college kids for trying to win a meaningless game against one of the best pro baseball teams, especially when they almost did? The Wolverines — no slouches in the college ranks, mind you — had a 4-2 lead in the ninth inning with two outs and nobody on, but the Amazins were able to salvage a 4-4 tie.

I, myself, can’t believe the audacity of a baseball player using fundamentals to win a game. Bunting in a baseball game? And what if he got a base hit, scoring a run? Play to win against Northwestern. Cislo should have had the right of mind to just strike out on three pitches and going back to Ann Arbor, doing whatever it is these college kids do these days, like kick around the ol’ hackeysack widget on Facebook.